The National Database and Registration Authority of Pakistan has initiated a significant data clean-up operation, cancelling 4.2 million identity cards as of March 12, 2026. This move aims to enhance the integrity of the country’s national identity system.
Officials revealed that the cancelled identity cards belonged to individuals recorded as deceased in the civil registration system but not updated in NADRA’s database. The discrepancy arose due to relatives reporting deaths to provincial bodies without notifying the national authority.
Under the Nadra Ordinance and Identity Card Rules, this action was deemed necessary to prevent inconsistencies in national statistics and demographic data. Approximately three million relatives have already acted to cancel these cards, aligning records with the national database.
This initiative follows recent facilitation measures by the national authority to streamline the process for cancelling identity cards of deceased individuals. The authority emphasizes the importance of maintaining accurate records to ensure reliable national statistics.
Looking ahead, NADRA plans to continue its efforts to reconcile discrepancies between provincial and national databases, thereby strengthening Pakistan’s identity management system.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, March 12, 2026
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