| Document Name: | Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) |
| Document Type: | Identity document |
| Date First Issued: | 1973 (paper-based) 2000 (computerised card) 2012 (smart card) |
| Using Jurisdiction: | National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) |
| Valid Jurisdictions: |  Pakistan |
| Eligibility: | Pakistani citizenship |
| Purpose: | |
| Expiration: | 10 years (No expiry after bearer has exceeded 60 years of age)[1] |
| Cost: | Free |
The Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) (Urdu: {{Nastaliq|قومی شناختی کارڈ) is an identity card with a 13-digit number available to all adult citizens of Pakistan and their diaspora counterparts, obtained voluntarily. It includes biometric data such as 10 fingerprints, 2 iris prints, and a facial photo.[2] [3] The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), was established in 1998 as an attached department under the Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan. Since March 2000, NADRA has operated as an independent corporate body with the requisite autonomy to collect and maintain data independently.[4]
The CNIC includes details such as legal name, gender (male, female, or transgender), father's name (or husband's name for married women), identification mark, date of birth, national ID card number, family tree ID number, current and permanent addresses, issue and expiry dates, signature, photo, and thumbprint (fingerprint).
Though not mandatory by law, the CNIC is essential for numerous transactions in Pakistan, including voting, passport applications, land and vehicle purchases, driver's license acquisition, ticket bookings, mobile SIM card acquisition, utility services access, education and healthcare access, and financial transactions.[5] [6]
Efforts to establish a national ID system in Pakistan began in 1973, following the enactment of Article 30 of the Second Amendment.[7] This initiative aimed to collect demographic data, addresses, photographs, and thumb impressions from citizens for the purpose of maintaining a statistical database. However, the process relied on physical files and lacked the adoption of emerging technologies by the Directorate General of Registration. As a result, the government's ability to provide a reliable document for ID verification was limited.[3]
In 1999, the Pakistan Army, tasked with conducting a nationwide census, began considering merging two institutions: the Directorate General of Registration, responsible for issuing national ID cards, and the National Database Organization, established in 1998 for census purposes. This merger aimed to computerise census data collection and utilise it for issuing computerised cards. The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Ordinance, 2000, effective from 10 March 2000, formalised this merger, combining the functions of both entities. The goal was to streamline the process of registering individuals and issuing biometric data based national ID cards while reducing government intervention. The Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) contains a 13-digit unique ID, a photo, signature, and a microchip storing iris scans and fingerprints.[5]
In 2007, NADRA began implementing fingerprint deduplication for national ID card issuance. By 2008, the data architecture was enhanced to include a full set of 10 fingerprints and a digital photograph. This technology proved highly effective in deduplicating the national database, significantly reducing instances of dual IDs and identity theft.[3]
In October 2012, NADRA introduced the Smart National ID Card with enhanced security features to deter forgery and broaden its application in government services. Compliant with international standards, ICAO standard 9303 and ISO standard 7816-4, it incorporates a data chip, 36 security features, and a match-on-card applet, enhancing smart card authentication security by storing ID data on the card itself.
NADRA faced significant challenges in issuing ID cards due to limited technical capabilities from 2001 to 2005.[8] To address this, they expanded their presence by setting up offices in every district and implementing mobile infrastructure to reach remote areas. With these improvements, registration surged from 54 million in 2008 to 98 million in 2014, with approximately 55 million men and 43 million women enrolled.
In relation, the percentage might be small, but many millions face challenges in obtaining this card, leaving them vulnerable.[9] Studies indicate that women and children of unregistered parents are at risk of trafficking and forced labor due to their inability to obtain CNICs or birth certificates.[10] [11] [5] To address this issue, mobile registration units with female staff and simplified processes to assist vulnerable groups ensuring better inclusion.[12]
The CNIC consists of a 13-digit number. The first five digits represent the applicant's locality, followed by seven serial numbers, and ending with a check digit. The final digit also denotes the applicant's gender, with even indicating female and odd indicating male.
CNIC code for Province starting from
1 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
2 for FATA now merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
3 for Punjab, Pakistan
4 for Sindh
5 for Balochistan
6 for Islamabad
7 for Gilgit Baltistan
8 for Azad Kashmir
CNIC code for Divisions
Divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
11 for Bannu Division
12 for Dera Ismail Khan Division
13 for Hazara Division
14 for Kohat Division
15 for Malakand Division
16 for Mardan Division
17 for Peshawar Division
Divisions of Punjab, Pakistan
31 for Bahawalpur Division
32 for Dera Ghazi Khan Division
33 for Faisalabad Division
34 for Gujranwala Division & Gujrat Division
35 for Lahore Division
36 for Multan Division & Sahiwal Division
37 for Rawalpindi Division
38 for Sargodha Division & Mianwali Division
Divisions of Sindh, Pakistan
42 for Karachi Division
43 for Larkana Division
44 for Mirpur Khas Division
45 for Sukkur Division & Shaheed Benazirabad Division
Divisions of Balochistan, Pakistan
51 for Kalat Division & Rakhshan Division
52 for Makran Division
53 for Nasirabad Division
54 for Quetta Division
55 for Sibi Division
56 for Zhob Division & Loralai Division
Divisions of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan
71 for all three divisions of Gilgit Baltistan: Gilgit Division, Baltistan Division & Diamer Division
Divisions of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
81 for Mirpur Division
82 for Poonch Division & Muzaffarabad Division
Starting in 2012, the card includes essential personal information, including:
Front side
| Feature | Explanation Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Name | Given Name, Family Name in English and Urdu. | |
| 2 | Father’s Name | Given Name, Family Name in English and Urdu. (Husband's name for married females) | |
| 3 | Gender | containing one character for M (male), F (female), or X (transgender) | |
| 4 | Country of Stay | ||
| 5 | Identity number | A unique 13-digit number | |
| 6 | Date of birth | listed in the Gregorian calendar format, in DDMMYY | |
| 7 | Photo of the individual | ||
| 8 | Date of Issue | ||
| 9 | Date of Expiry | written as Lifetime for above 60 year old | |
| 10 | Holder’s Signature |
Back side
| Feature | Explanation Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Present address | ||
| 2 | Permanent address | ||
| 3 | QR code | ||
| 4 | Card serial number | ||
| 5 | Card holder's name→ is entitled visa free entry into Pakistan. | NICOP and POC only | |
| 6 | Machine-readable | NICOP and POC only |
Pakistani citizens living abroad have the option to apply for NICOP, also known as the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis, serving as a registration document. Initially, it was exclusively granted to individuals residing abroad for six months or holding dual nationalities. However, the eligibility criteria have since expanded to include all Pakistani citizens. Furthermore, those with ties to Pakistan, such as marriage to a CNIC or NICOP holder, can opt for a Pakistan Origin Card (POC).[13]
In 2020, a significant data breach involving 115 million CNICs was disclosed to the public.[14] The CNIC database is accessed by 300 public and private service providers, but multiple data breaches indicate inadequate security.[15] In March 2024, it emerged that the sensitive personal data of approximately 2.7 million Pakistanis had been compromised from NADRA's database, notably from the Multan, Karachi, and Peshawar offices.[15]
Leaked personal information can lead to harassment and blackmail, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like women, journalists, activists, and minorities. Due to a missing data protection law, there's no accountability for such breaches.[16] [17]