Tariq Malik, the Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), resigned from his post due to the prevailing “charged political environment,” as confirmed on Tuesday. His tenure saw numerous advancements under his leadership, with his performance and initiatives profoundly impacting NADRA.
In his three-page resignation, Malik reflected on his contributions as NADRA’s chief and advised the federal government against appointing serving or retired bureaucrats as NADRA’s head. His resignation was accepted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed appreciation for Malik’s contributions to the country. Malik’s early career also saw him serving as the NADRA chairman, the son of notable scholar and educationist Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik.
Before being appointed NADRA chief in June 2021, Malik was well-recognized globally for his significant contributions to ‘Digital Governance.’ At his appointment, he served as the Chief Technical Adviser for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), advising more than 130 member states worldwide. He also held a pivotal role in the World Bank as a Senior Technical Consultant, instrumental in initiating the global ‘ID for Development’ (#ID4D) Programme and drafting the framework for international digital identity standards.
In his illustrious career, Malik was part of the World Bank’s Technical Experts Group (TEG), aiding client countries in ID planning and implementation. A European think tank, Apolitical, included his name in the World’s 100 Most Influential People in ‘Digital Government.’ He was also recognized among the Top 100 Digital Influencers by One World Identity (OWI), a New York-based research and strategy think tank.
Before his association with the World Bank, Malik worked with Teradata Inc USA, helping various governments optimize their use of Big Data and advanced data analytics.
