The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) launched a new QR code-based Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) on Independence Day, August 14, 2026.
This new card replaces old microchip designs with a secure, machine-readable QR code that allows fast identity checks via smartphones, cutting production costs and removing reliance on imported tech.
According to NADRA, the initiative is a major step toward self-reliance and making digital identity verification more convenient and accessible.
In a press release, the authority said the new polycarbonate card has been manufactured by the National Security Printing Company (NSPC), Karachi. The imported microchip has been replaced with a secure QR code, eliminating reliance on chips sourced from abroad while also making digital identity verification easier.
It may be noted that the federal government approved the issuance of the new card on February 23, 2026.
The new card features a secure QR code instead of a microchip, which can be read and verified on a smartphone through the PakID mobile application.
The QR code will contain the cardholder’s relevant identity information and photograph. This will allow various institutions to enter names, addresses and other required identification details into their computerized systems more easily and consistently, while also reducing errors during data entry.
The new card will also display the family number, along with special symbols identifying persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors, and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The cardholder’s name and address will be printed in both Urdu and English. The card’s visible and concealed security features have also been modernized in line with current requirements and the manufacturing capabilities available in Pakistan.
NADRA said the new card is being introduced in phases. In the first phase, beginning August 14, 2026, the new QR-code-enabled polycarbonate card will replace the currently issued chipless national identity card made of Teslin material.
From January 2027, the same new card will be issued for all types of national identity cards, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Juvenile Cards. In the final phase, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also be transitioned to the new chipless, QR-code-based card.
NADRA clarified that all previously issued identity cards will remain valid until their stated expiry dates.
