- Government upgrades NIC, POC framework under ‘One Nation – One Identity’ vision.
- QR code formally introduced as legal security, authentication function.
- Fingerprints, iris scans recognized as biometric authentication methods.
ISLAMABAD: In a major step towards a unified and digitally secure identity ecosystem, the federal government has formally upgraded the framework of National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) under its vision of “One Nation – One Identity.”
The amendments – issued through SRO 330(I)/2026 and SRO 331(I)/2026 and gazetted on February 24, 2026 – modernize Pakistan’s identity system with QR-based verification, enhanced biometric features, stronger fraud controls and improved citizen facilitation.
An important highlight is the legal introduction of the Quick Response (QR) code as a security and authentication feature across identity documents. The rules now define the QR code as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode that stores coded identity information and enables instant verification when scanned. Importantly, the amendments also allow NADRA to use “QR code or any other technological feature”, ensuring that Pakistan’s ID infrastructure can evolve with new innovations without requiring recurring legal changes.
With this reform, citizens will have a uniform ID card, replacing the previous parallel formats of chip-enabled and non-chip cards. The QR coded architecture strengthens Pakistan’s digital ID ecosystem and aligns with the national data exchange layer, enabling fast offline and online verification, faster service delivery, reduced manual checks and significantly lower risk of fraud or impersonation.
The government has also tightened the mechanisms for preventing fraud. Under the revised rules, when an identity card is suspended, all related verification and authentication services are automatically stopped, blocking any attempt to use the suspended credential across digital or institutional channels.
Biometric security has also been upgraded, with regulations now explicitly recognizing fingerprints and iris scans as formal forms of authentication, reinforcing the shift towards multimodal biometric identification.
As a major facilitation step, citizens aged 60 and over – regardless of whether they are resident or abroad – will be issued an ID card that is valid for life and that bears a distinct senior citizen logo. This removes the need for repeated renewals and reflects a more service-oriented approach to older Pakistanis.
The amendments also introduce standardized identification for persons belonging to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, requiring their cards to contain a specific inscription defining their residency status.
To complete the modernization drive, the government has comprehensively updated the sample formats for all major ID categories, including permanent residents, overseas Pakistanis, persons with disabilities, child certificates, organ donors, combined categories and AJK residents. These new formats unify the design language and integrate QR-based security as a core feature.
Overall, the 2026 amendments strengthen the backbone of Pakistan’s national identity system – strengthening digital trust, protecting against fraud, enabling real-time verification and providing meaningful facilitation measures for citizens. The reforms also advance Pakistan’s readiness for future digital governance through an interoperable, secure and modern identity architecture.
