Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has ordered the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to block all phone SIMs that are registered on an invalid or expired identity card.
The security czar visited the NADRA headquarters on Thursday in Islamabad and directed authorities to establish NADRA offices all over Pakistan, just as the model police stations were established in Punjab.
He also stated that by establishing model NADRA offices, service delivery will be enhanced.
Nayyab Ali, a transgender person from the federal capital city of Islamabad, and Sobia Khan, a transgender individual from Peshawar, are all set to contest in the upcoming general elections.
Nayyab Ali, a resident of the federal capital city of Islamabad, has submitted nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to contest the upcoming general elections from National Assembly Constituency 47. Nayab is the second transgender individual to submit nomination papers for the 2024 elections so far.
Nayyab took to X (former Twitter) and worte, “Just arrived at the returning office to submit my nomination papers for NA46 & NA47 as a candidate for the National Assembly. Proud to represent the trans community as the sole candidate thus far. Grateful for the warm welcome from the community!”
Her supporter were chnting, “Aap ka na Janaab Ka, Vote Hai Nayyab ka.”
Peshawar native Sobia Khan, has filed nomination papers for a provincial assembly seat in constituency PK-81. The upcoming polls are scheduled to be held on February 8 next year.
Sobia Khan was also the first transgender person to be elected as a jirga member of the Dispute Resolution Council (DRC) in March 2021.
Running as an independent candidate, Sobia Khan aims to be a voice for the transgender community, women, and children, advocating for their rights if she secures victory in the elections. With a Bachelor’s degree to her name, Sobia holds the distinction of being the first transgender radio jockey in the province.
She said that not only her family but also the people of the area are supporting her. Sobia said that she would request NGOs and social welfare to support her election campaign.
She will also ask the district administration to provide security to her during this time as it has happened for the first time that a transgender is directly participating in the elections.
Sobia Khan said that she will conduct a door-to-door election campaign in the area and will also meet the women of the area to support her. She also praised Assistant Commissioner Syed Ahsan Ali Shah who encouraged her a lot while submitting nomination papers.
Sobia Khan said that because there was no separate seat for transgenders, she submitted the papers for the general seat. It should be remembered that Sobia Khan belongs to Peshawar district. She holds a BA and also holds the distinction of being the first transgender broadcaster of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The general elections are set for February 8 next year across the country, following the Supreme Court’s directives.
It is pertinent to mention that in the 2018 elections, Maria, the lone transgender candidate from KP, secured 536 votes as an independent candidate, surpassing the votes of many women candidates.
National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Lieutenant General Munir Afsarhas has revealed that the organisation’s own employees have been involved in the issuance of fake Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs).
As reported by The News, the chairman brought the matter to light on Wednesday during an address to the Senate Committee as other related concerns were raised regarding fake CNICs, citizens’ family data in the black market, and issuance of multiple SIMS on a single CNIC and its use in illegal activities.
He highlighted Afghans had been included in fake family trees and that officials kept tampering with fake documents, without fingerprint or photo records due to which actions were taken against the officials.
Chairman NADRA, however, said that NADRA has established a transparent and firm system to prevent fake identity cards.
He stated that NADRA had already taken action against the employees who resorted to illicit activities. While 84 officials have been suspended up until now, others have escaped “punishment due to the absence of a law dealing with the Privacy of Data Law”
Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, mover of the bill, brought the attention to The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2023, highlighting that the false accusations and “malicious criminal prosecution” is a grave concern.
Through this Amendment bill, the period of punishment for the aforementioned offences is to be increased.
And while the matter concerns provinces, the secretary of interior told the committee that a letter had been sent which is yet to be responded to.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has set a new date for the general election in January, which is about three months later than originally planned. This decision was made to clear up confusion about when the election would happen and to help the struggling economy.
In this article, we will explain how you can sign up to vote in the upcoming election.
To register to vote, you need to send in an application along with a copy of your Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to the District Election Commissioner (DEC), Registration Officer, or Assistant Registration Officer in the district where you want to vote.
You can find the necessary forms online on the ECP website or get them for free at the offices of the District Election Commissioner, Registration Officer, Assistant Registration Officer, or Display Centre Incharge.
To be eligible to vote, you must meet these criteria:
(a) You must be a citizen of Pakistan.
(b) You must be at least eighteen years old.
(c) You need to have a CNIC issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) up until the last day for submitting claims, objections, and applications for updating the voter list.
(d) You must not have been declared legally unfit (unsound mind) by a court.
(e) You must either live in the area where you want to vote or be considered a resident under section 27.
Even if your NADRA ID has expired, it’s still valid for registering to vote or casting your vote in an election.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif paid a visit to a flour distribution centre in Islamabad on Friday to oversee the work.
During the visit, the premier directed authorities to give priority to the distribution of flour bags to aged persons and women.
He also decided to provide two flour bags instead of one so that the people do not need to visit the distribution centres frequently.
He asked relevant authorities to chalk out a facilitatory mechanism for the person who can only present the photocopy of CNIC in case the original card is missing.
Under the Ramzan package jointly initiated by the prime minister and the Punjab government, 20 million bags of free flour have been distributed among deserving citizens by the 10th day of the programme.
Bank Alfalah’s e-marketplace, Alfa Mall, has recently launched a new service that offers interest-free installments for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) approvals on some of the most popular and expensive smartphones. The smartphones that qualify for this service include the Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Ultra, iPhone 13, and all iPhone 14 series phones.
According to the Alfa Mall website, the total PTA charges for these phones range between Rs130,000 to Rs190,000, which can be paid in 3 to 6 monthly installments with 0 per cent markup. The process is simple: customers need to select an installment plan, enter their CNIC number, and also provide the IMEI code of their phone.
It is important to note that the PTA approval process may take up to 3 to 5 working days, and customers will be notified of their approval through a confirmation call from the merchant.
With this new service, Alfa Mall aims to provide customers with a more affordable and convenient way to purchase high-end smartphones without the burden of upfront payment for PTA approvals.
You can visit this link for more details: How to pay PTA fees in installments
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has made it nearly impossible for Apple fans to get iPhones in the country by significantly raising the tax on the overall iPhone 13 series.
It is worth noting that the PTA approval costs for the iPhone 13 have been raised at a time when the iPhone 14 is likely to be released at the beginning of next month. However, it is unclear what prices the PTA will set for the approval of newer iPhones.
The following are the latest PTA approval rates for the iPhone 13 lineup:
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Tax Payable:
Rs108,000 for passport holders
Rs132,000 for CNIC holders
Apple iPhone 13
Tax Payable:
Rs108,000 for passport holders
Rs132,000 for CNIC holders
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Tax Payable:
Rs108,000 for passport holders
Rs132,000 for CNIC holders.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
Tax Payable:
Rs108,000 for passport holders
Rs132,000 for CNIC holders
Read more: 12 important things you need to know before buying a used iPhone
These taxes must be paid within 30 days after importation if the phone is registered on a passport, and within 60 days if it is registered on the national identity card.
The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has confirmed that Muhammad Ahsan, an orphan who has been trying to get a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) for four years will finally get his identity card within a week.
Nadra responded to a tweet of SAMAA News correspondent Irfanul Haque and confirmed that they would issue a CNIC.
Nadra chairman has taken notice of an incident and gave directions to the concerned authority to resolve the issue at its earliest.
A few days back, an abandoned orphan, Muhammad Ahsan, a resident of Orangi Town in Karachi, approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a petition against Nadra under section 199 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for not issuing a CNIC.
Ahsan had been trying to get CNIC for four years to get admission to a university but every time he did, Nadra refused to let him apply for an identity card. He was asked to come with blood relatives.
An abandoned orphan man, Muhammad Ahsan approached the Sindh High Court and has filed a petition against the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) under section 199 (False statement made in declaration which is by law receivable as evidence) of the Pakistan Penal Code for not issuing a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
Ahsan is a resident of Orangi Town in Karachi who has been trying to get CNIC for four years to get admission to a university but every time he does, NADRA refuses to let him apply for an identity card. He is asked to come with blood relatives.
According to Ahsan, his mother abandoned him when he was only six years old because his father was a drug addict. He was brought up by his grandparents but they also died later. His father also passed away in 2008. His uncle took responsibility for him and also assisted in getting him an education.
The petition stated that he submitted the death certificate of his father as one of the requirements of NADRA. However, they insisted he come with a blood relative.
It is too stressful to stand in the long line outside the NADRA office to renew your National Identity Card. The National Database and Registration Authority, NADRA also gives you a convenient method to renew your identity card while sitting at home.
Here are the following steps you need to follow for the renewal process.
Click on the given link https://id.nadra.gov.pk/e-id/getRegistered
Your application will be completed after following all the steps and NADRA will initiate your renewal process. Your new card will be delivered to your chosen address.
To check out the fees of various services, click on https://id.nadra.gov.pk/fee/ .