Pakistan: Whether the new computerized national identity cards (CNICs) have replaced the old national identity cards (NICs) throughout Pakistan; whether Pakistani citizens are required to replace their old NICs by the new CNIC; whether the CNICs have any markings, such as circular hole punches or crescent moon-shaped holes to indicate that an individual has applied for a passport or has voted; the extent to which the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) has been issued to Pakistani expatriates (January 2003 - November 2004)
This Response replaces PAK41503.E of 1 May 2003.
The Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC)
In Pakistan, an individual is required to have a national identity card in order to open a bank account, acquire a passport, finalize real estate transactions, obtain employment, initiate legal proceedings (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003), vote (ibid. 27 Dec. 2003a), write examinations at academic institutions (ibid. 26 May 2003), be admitted into a post-secondary academic institution (ibid. 22 Sept. 2003; ibid. 27 Dec. 2003a) and to arrange for electricity and telephone connections (ibid. 24 Nov. 2003).
A representative of the Consular Section of the High Commission for Pakistan, in Ottawa, stated in a 29 April 2003 telephone interview that all Pakistani citizens, whether they live in Pakistan or abroad, are required to replace their old National Identity Card (NIC) by the new computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and that old NICs are under no circumstances being issued any longer in Pakistan. According to the representative, all Pakistani citizens living in Pakistan had to convert to the new computerized card by 1 June 2002 as specified by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the government agency responsible for the issuance of the new card (High Commission of Pakistan 29 Apr. 2003). He added that no old NICs have been submitted to the High Commission since December 2002. However, Pakistani citizens living abroad were given no deadline to apply for a new card (ibid.).
The representative also stated that CNICs, unlike the old NIC, bear no markings or punch holes to indicate that an individual has applied for a passport or voted and none of the new CNICs submitted so far to the High Commission had such alterations (ibid.). According to Dawn, The CNIC is valid for a fixed period, after which time an individual is required to reapply (24 Nov. 2003). More recent information on CNICs could not be obtained by the Research Directorate from the High Commission of Pakistan, in Ottawa.
Although the Embassy representative declared that all Pakistani citizens living in Pakistan had to obtain the CNIC by 1 June 2002, Dawn news reports stated that that date was extended to 31 December 2003 (4 July 2003), then to 31 January 2004 (Dawn 27 Dec. 2003b) and finally to 12 February 2004 (ibid. 30 Jan. 2004), at which point the NIC ceased to be a legal document (ibid. 4 July 2003). The Ministry of Interior officially announced on 21 February 2004 that the old NICs were no longer valid and that NADRA would continue to process applications and issue CNICs (PakTribune 21 Feb. 2004).
Pakistani citizens in Pakistan who apply for a CNIC are required to pay a fee of Rs60 (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003) ([CDN $1.20] Bank of Canada 17 Nov. 2004), while those who file an application for a CNIC on an urgent basis are required to pay a fee of Rs180 (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003) ([CDN $3.61] Bank of Canada 17 Nov. 2004). According to NADRA, those who paid a fee of Rs60 would be issued a CNIC within one month, while those who paid a fee of Rs180 would be issued a CNIC within ten days (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003). However, as Dawn reported, "not a single card was issued close to this schedule" (16 Jan. 2003).
Throughout the period of January 2003 to September 2004, local media reported that citizens in Pakistan have experienced various problems with the issuance of CNICs, including:
- CNICs were not being issued within the timeframes established by NADRA (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003; ibid. 21 Dec. 2003a; ibid. 8 July 2004; ibid. 23 July 2004; ibid. 8 Sept. 2004; PPI 9 Feb. 2003). News articles reported that some citizens had waited months, while others waited over a year for their CNIC (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003; PPI 9 Feb. 2003). There appeared to be no real difference in the waiting period between applications filed on an urgent basis and those filed on a non-urgent basis (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 26 May 2003; ibid. 22 Sept. 2003; ibid. 23 July 2004).
- After waiting for extended periods of time for their CNICs, many applicants approached a NADRA office, which informed them that their application was missing and that they had to reapply by filing new forms and paying another fee (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003; ibid. 27 Dec. 2003a). In one case, a woman had applied on three separate occasions to obtain a CNIC (ibid. 8 Sept. 2003).
- After waiting for extended periods of time for their CNICs, many applicants inquiring about the status of their applications were sent from one NADRA branch to another, without obtaining the sought after information (Dawn 8 Sept. 2003b; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003a).
- NADRA officials "[t]ime and again ... asked for verification of [the] same documents [and] did not accept certificates issued by local Nazims" (ibid. 30 Apr. 2004).
- CNICs contained information (i.e. gender, father's name, etc.) that was incorrect and different from the information provided by applicants on their forms (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003a). In some cases, the CNICs contained photographs of an individual that was not the applicant (Dawn 16 Jan. 2003; ibid. 8 Sept. 2003a).
In July 2004, Dawn reported that "[a]round 10,000 computerized national identity card seekers have become rolling stones between the offices of National Database and Registration Authority and old registration offices" (8 July 2004). Another article published the same month reported that some citizens who had applied for a CNIC had complained that some of the officials of the NADRA office in Sheikhupura were demanding bribes for issuing CNICs (Dawn 23 July 2004).
In an attempt to correct the problems in CNIC processing, several measures were implemented, including the following:
- April 2003: NADRA issued a directive which stated that beginning 10 April 2003, "applicants would get their CNICs from the same district registration offices (DROs), sub-district registration offices (SDROs) and NADRA swift registration centers (NSRCs) where they submit their application for a CNIC" (Dawn 10 Apr. 2003).
- July 2003: NADRA opened a Central Distribution Centre at Awami Markaz, Sindh province, which is equipped with 22 counters and is open from 9:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. for the issuance of CNICs (ibid. 8 July 2003; see also ibid. 11 May 2003).
- July 2003: NADRA established complaint management call centres in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to solve citizens' complaints, provide citizens with information about the status of their CNIC applications, provide assistance in filing for a CNIC and offer guidance in having information on their existing CNIC corrected, (PPI 12 Oct. 2003; see also Dawn 9 July 2003). During the month of September 2003, the centres registered 4,800 citizen complaints (PPI 12 Oct. 2003). More recent statistics could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
- October 2003: The Minister of Interior, Faisal Saleh Hayat, ordered NADRA to issue CNICs "within 15 days to the applicants who ha[d] submitted their forms during the last two months" (ibid. 2 Oct. 2003).
- December 2003: NADRA announced that applications for CNICs of senior citizens can be submitted on the applicant's behalf by a second party, who may also pick the card up provided that the applicant has provided a letter of authority to the second party (ibid. 21 Dec. 2003b).
- August/September 2004: Initially NADRA had centralized the distribution of CNICs through its only centre at Awami Markaz (Dawn 8 Sept. 2004). However, in light of the delays surrounding the issuance of CNICs, sometime between August and September 2004 NADRA opened another two distribution centres in Liaquatabad, Karachi, Sindh province, and Malir, Sindh province (ibid.).
- By April 2004, NADRA had established 171 Swift Registration Centres (SWC) throughout Pakistan (Dawn 19 Apr. 2004), which were established to address delays in the issuance of CNICs (ibid. 11 Feb. 2002). NADRA had plans of opening another 37 centres in the "near future" (ibid. 19 Apr. 2004). Information as to whether these centres have in fact been opened could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
As at April 2004, 36.3 million CNICs had been issued by NADRA (ibid. 19 Apr. 2004). According to 2002 voters' lists prepared by the Pakistan Election Commission, there were 72 million voters in Pakistan (ibid. 2 Feb. 2004).
For additional information on the CNIC, including its full description, please consult the NADRA's Website at <http://www.nadra.gov.pk/cnic.html>.
National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)
Pakistani citizens who have been living abroad for six months or longer are required to obtain a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) (Gulf News 11 June 2003). The NICOP is a machine-readable identification document in English that
...offers unique privileges and facilities to its holders including visa-free entry into Pakistan, protection of Pakistan government in any foreign country or state, membership to Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OFP) and above all trouble-free handling at Pakistani airports as there will be a separate line for NICOP holders (ibid.).
Upon return to Pakistan, NICOP holders are entitled to obtain a CNIC at no charge (ibid.; ibid. 12 Aug. 2004).
As in the case of the issuance of CNICs, one news article reported that Pakistan citizens living abroad had also experienced long delays in obtaining their NICOP (Gulf News 30 Mar. 2004). To address this, NADRA established an SWC in the United Kingdom in August 2004 (Dawn 3 Sept. 2004). In April 2004 NADRA announced that it also planned to open such centres in Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, which have "large Pakistani expatriate communities" (ibid. 19 Apr. 2004). However, information on whether such centres have been opened since April 2004 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
As at September 2004, out of 888,368 applications for the NICOP, NADRA has issued 829,531 such cards (ibid. 3 Sept. 2004).
For additional information on the NICOP, including its full description, please consult the NADRA's Website at <http://www.nadra.gov.pk/nicop/>.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bank of Canada. 17 November 2004. "Exchange Rates." <http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/exchange.htm> [Accessed 18 Nov. 2004]
Dawn [Karachi]. 8 September 2004. Arman Sabir. "Karachi: Nadra's Distribution Centres Fail to Deliver." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/08/local4.htm> [Accessed 9 Sept. 2004]
_____. 3 September 2004. "0.8m CNICs Issued to Overseas Pakistanis." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/09/03/nat22.htm> [Accessed 7 Sept. 2004]
_____. 23 July 2004. "Sheikhupura: Citizens Protest Against Nadra." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/23/local34.htm> [Accessed 29 July 2004]
_____. 8 July 2004. "Gujrat: Nadra Fails to Deliver." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/07/08/local33.htm> [Accessed 12 July 2004]
_____. 30 April 2004. "Larkana: Call to Simplify CNIC Procedure - Panel Formed to Prepare Proposals." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/04/30/local41.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 19 April 2004. "Nadra to Set Up 'Swift Centres' Abroad" <http://www.dawn.com/2004/04/19/nat18.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 2 February 2004. Arman Sabir. "33 Million ID Cards Issued." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/02/02/nat12.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 30 January 2004. Shujaat Ali Khan. "SHC Stays Cancellation of ID Cards Till Feb 12." <http://www.dawn.com/2004/01/30/nat19.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 27 December 2003a. "Hyderabad: NADRA Teams' Visits to Remote Areas Urged." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/12/27/local18.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 27 December 2003b. "Cut-Off Date for NICs Extended Till Jan 31." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/12/27/top7.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 21 December 2003a. "Dera Ghazi Khan: 61pc of Dera People Await CNICs." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/12/21/local46.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 21 December 2003b. "Karachi: CNIC Procedure for Elderly Simplified." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/12/21/local3.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 24 November 2003. "People Asked to Apply for CNICs by Dec 1." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/11/24/nat12.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 2 October 2003. "Nadra Asked to Issue Cards in 15 Days." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/10/02/nat19.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 22 September 2003. "Lahore: 'Nadra Delaying Urgent CNICs'." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/09/22/local15.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 8 September 2003a. Arman Sabir. "Karachi: People Facing Proglems in Getting CNICs." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/09/08/local1.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 8 September 2003b. "Delay in NICs Delivery Criticized." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/09/08/nat21.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 9 July 2003. "Nadra Offers Phone Facility for Inquiries." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/07/09/nat8.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 8 July 2003. "Karachi: Centre for Delivery of CNICs Opened." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/07/08/local19.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 4 July 2003. "Old Identity Cards to Expire by Year End." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/07/04/top11.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 26 May 2003. "Gujranwala: Nadra Fails to Deliver NICs Urgently." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/05/26/local46.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 11 May 2003. "Karachi: Nadra Plans Delivery Centre." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/05/11/local3.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 10 April 2003. "CNICs to be Issued From Point of Applications." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/04/10/top5.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 16 January 2003. Shamsul Islam Naz. "Nadra Fails to Issue Identity Cards." <http://www.dawn.com/2003/01/16/fea.htm> [Accessed 9 Nov. 2004]
_____. 11 February 2002. "Karachi: Centre for Swift Delivery of ID Cards Opens." <http://www.dawn.com/2002/02/11/local14.htm> [Accessed 10 Nov. 2004]
Gulf News. 12 August 2004. Nissar Hoath. "Pakistanis Can Now Check Status of Identity Card Application Online." (Dialog)
_____. 30 March 2004. Ashfaq Ahmed. "Delay in Issuing New ID Cards Angers Pakistanis." (Dialog)
_____. 11 June 2003. Ashfaq Ahmed. "Pakistan to Set Up ID Card Centre." (Dialog)
High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. 29 April 2003. Telephone interview with representative.
Pakistan Press International (PPI). 12 October 2003. "NADRA Received 4,800 Complaints in September." (Dialog)
_____. 9 February 2003. "People Waiting for Computerized ID Cards." (Dialog)
PakTribune. 21 February 2004. "Interior Ministry Announces Cancellation of Old Manual ID Cards." <http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=55695>
Additional Sources Consulted
The High Commission of Pakistan, in Ottawa, did not respond to a letter requesting information.
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), BBC, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom in the World 2004, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Ministry of Interior of Pakistan, World News Connection (WNC).