-
-
The Saudi government has flagged 1,296 fake Pakistani passports, later confirmed to be held by Afghan nationals, a Senate panel informed.
National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officials disclosed this during a Senate Standing Committee on Interior meeting chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman.
The committee demanded a full report on employees involved in issuing bogus documents and tampering with NADRA’s database, to be presented in the next session.
Officials also addressed reforms related to Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), stating renewals every 10 years are mandatory due to biometric and data updates.
The chairman raised the issue of non-relatives being added to family trees. NADRA officials stated that a new mobile app will be established to help verify family records in real-time.
READ: World’s most powerful passports of 2025: Check Pakistan standing?
Physical and biometric verification of family members is now mandatory for record updates to curb identity fraud, the committee was told.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed delays in CDA’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects which drew criticism as only Rs5.2 billion of Rs9.78 billion has been released so far.
Senator Saifullah Abro warned about inflation-driven cost hikes and stressed the timely use of allocated funds to prevent future escalations.
The 10th Avenue project, only 45 percent complete, was a major concern. Despite receiving Rs3.5 billion, it has missed deadlines twice due to limited budget flow.
The committee also addressed the pending notification for Senator Ahmed Khan’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority appointment, with assurances it would be resolved soon.
