Islamabad, 30 May 2025: NADRA Mega Center a major digital infrastructure project has officially broken ground in Islamabad’s Sector I-8, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi laying its foundation stone on Friday.
The high-rise 10-storey facility, expected to be operational by June 2026, is designed to expand NADRA’s capacity and ease the burden on existing service centers.
The new NADRA Mega Center aims to improve citizen access to identity-related services by introducing upgraded infrastructure and advanced technology.
Authorities believe the center will play a vital role in delivering more efficient and accessible registration facilities across the capital.
READ MORE: NADRA Launches Online B-Form Registration
Push for Centralized Biometric Data and Facial Recognition
During a strategic session held at NADRA headquarters, the Interior Minister also reviewed critical issues surrounding biometric security.
NADRA Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar raised concerns about the fragmentation of sensitive biometric records, with multiple departments and service providers storing personal data independently.
He emphasized the urgency of transitioning toward a centralized system governed by NADRA’s secure database.
As part of the reform, a nationwide rollout of facial recognition technology was ordered to support citizens who face difficulties with fingerprint authentication.
Authorities have been instructed to dismantle all parallel biometric storage systems, with a deadline set for December 31, 2025.
SIM Deactivation Linked to Expired CNICs
In another key decision, the Interior Ministry announced a phased campaign beginning with CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier to block SIM cards registered under expired or invalid identity documents. This measure also applies to SIMs still active under the names of deceased individuals.
READ MORE: NADRA Launches Online B-Form Registration
The move, coordinated with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), is aimed at strengthening digital identity protection and curbing misuse of personal data.
These developments underline the government’s firm resolve to enhance digital security and service accessibility through the expanding role of the NADRA Mega Center.
