Pakistan rolls out QR-based national ID system with stricter fraud controls

The federal government has amended the rules governing the National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC), introducing QR-based verification, enhanced biometric authentication and new fraud control measures as part of its “One Nation – One Identity” framework.

The amendments were issued through S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 and published in the Gazette on February 24, 2026. The revised framework updates Pakistan’s identity system by incorporating machine-readable QR codes and allowing the use of additional technological features in the future without further legal changes.

Under the new rules, the QR code has been formally defined as a secure, two-dimensional barcode containing encoded identity information for instant verification. NADRA has also been authorised to adopt “QR code or any other technological feature,” providing flexibility for future upgrades.

The government will introduce a uniform identity card format, replacing parallel chip-based and non-chip versions. The QR-based system is designed to support both offline and online verification and to align with the National Data Exchange Layer, enabling faster authentication and reducing manual processes.

Fraud prevention provisions have been strengthened. If an identity card is suspended, all associated verification and authentication services will automatically be blocked to prevent its use across digital or institutional platforms.

Biometric authentication has also been formally expanded, with fingerprints and iris scans recognised as approved modalities for identity verification.

Citizens aged 60 and above, including overseas Pakistanis, will be issued lifetime-validity identity cards marked with a senior citizen logo, eliminating the need for renewals.

The amendments further introduce a standardised identification requirement for residents of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, mandating a specific inscription to reflect their residency status.

Revised specimen formats have been approved for all major identity categories, including resident citizens, overseas Pakistanis, persons with disabilities, child registration certificates, organ donors, combined categories and AJK residents. The updated formats incorporate QR-based security features across the system.

The government said the changes aim to improve verification processes, reduce misuse of identity credentials and modernise Pakistan’s national identity infrastructure.