The CNIC re-verification 25 million households in two months snagged due to a lack of connectivity between the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and cellular companies.
According to NADRA sources, around 0.7 million text messages have been received at the 8008 short code ever since the re-verification drive was launched on July 1. However, only 400,000 citizens have received a positive reply so far.
Several citizens, upon sending their particulars to the given short code, have received the response: “Presently NADRA does not have data on your mobile number and cannot entertain your request at this time, Please try again later.”
A NADRA official told local daily English newspaper ‘Dawn’ that only text messages from numbers that have been registered with the database by the CNIC holders themselves were receiving positive replies.
This has led to widespread confusion among those whose numbers are not available on NADRA’s records.
One such user, who is also the head of his family, told Dawn that his mobile number was also biometrically registered in his name. “If there is a problem with the mobile number, then how has it been working for more than a year now,” asked Syed Ali, adding: “I fear they might cancel my ID card.”
Biometric verification of mobile SIMs was completed by mobile network operators in May 2015, leaving 114 million active mobile connections in the country.
The latest data, issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), shows that there are 133 million mobile connections in the country, all of whom are biometrically linked to the CNIC of the purchaser.
But NADRA officials say that their greatest concern was the protection of classified data. A spokesperson for the authority told Dawn they were working on a system to ensure that classified data of CNIC holders cannot be leaked or mishandled.
“Under the existing system, there are fears that anybody could forward the CNIC number of any citizen to 8008 – but it would be unfair and illegal if confidential details are forwarded to an unauthorised person,” said Nadra spokesperson Mohammad Faiq.
On the other hand, mobile companies say it is the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) that is resisting moves to allow NADRA to access their databases.
PTA spokesperson Khurram Mehra said “PTA does not want the details of mobile numbers to be given to any unauthorised hand, which includes government departments,” (PhotoNews / Dawn News)
