The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced a new QR code-based National Identity Card (CNIC) that is developed and manufactured in Pakistan, marking a major step towards reducing reliance on imported technology.
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The new identity card replaces the existing chip-free Smart National Identity Card with a secure QR code-based verification system.
The new CNIC is manufactured locally using polycarbonate material and features a secure QR code instead of the imported microchip used in earlier smart cards.
According to NADRA, the QR code will allow authorised institutions to verify a citizen’s identity using a standard smartphone.
Citizens will also be able to verify their identity card through the Pak ID mobile application by scanning the QR code.
Also Read: NADRA Imposes New CNIC Rules for First-Time Applicants in Pakistan
The code contains relevant identity information and the cardholder’s photograph, allowing verification without manually entering details.
The new system is expected to reduce errors associated with manually entering information such as names, addresses and other identity details.
NADRA will provide QR verification software to authorised organisations and institutions, including telecom companies, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police and other authorised bodies. These organisations will be able to scan the QR code on the new CNIC and digitally verify the cardholder’s identity information.
The new card will continue to display key information about the cardholder while introducing several additional features. The CNIC will include the family number and designated symbols for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The cardholder’s name and address will also be printed in both Urdu and English.
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NADRA will begin rolling out the new QR code-based CNIC in phases from August 14, 2026. Initially, the new card will replace the existing chip-free Smart National Identity Card.
From January 2027, the QR code-based system will be expanded to all types of national identity cards, including CNICs, NICOPs and Juvenile Cards. In the final phase, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also transition to the new chip-free, QR code-based format.
Citizens who already possess CNICs do not need to immediately replace their cards. NADRA has clarified that all previously issued CNICs will remain valid until their respective expiry dates.
