- The government is upgrading the NIC and POC frameworks under the “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 officially upgraded the National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) frameworks as part of its “One Nation – One Identity” vision.
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, stricter fraud controls and improved facilitation for citizens.
One of the highlights is the legal introduction of the Quick Response (QR) code as a security and authentication feature on identity documents. The rules now define the QR code as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode that stores encoded identity information and allows for instant verification once scanned. Importantly, the amendments also authorize NADRA to use “QR code or any other technological functionality,” ensuring that Pakistan’s identification infrastructure can evolve with emerging innovations without requiring recurring legal changes.
With this reform, citizens will carry a uniform ID card, replacing the previously parallel formats of chip and chipless cards. The QR coded architecture strengthens Pakistan’s digital identification ecosystem and aligns with the national data exchange layer, enabling rapid offline and online verification, faster service delivery, reduced manual checks and significantly reduced risk of fraud or identity theft.
The government has also strengthened fraud prevention mechanisms. Under the revised rules, once an ID card is suspended, all associated verification and authentication services are automatically discontinued, thereby blocking any attempts to use the suspended ID on digital or institutional channels.
Biometric security has also been improved, with rules now explicitly recognizing fingerprints and iris scans as formal modalities of authentication, strengthening the transition to multimodal biometric identification.
In a major facilitation step, citizens aged 60 and above, whether residents or foreigners, will be issued with an identity card valid for life bearing a distinct senior citizen logo. This eliminates the need for repeated renewals and reflects a more focused approach to serving older Pakistanis.
The amendments also introduce standardized identification for people belonging to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, requiring their cards to include a specific inscription defining their residency status.
To complement the modernization drive, the government has fully updated the specimen formats for all major identity categories, including resident citizens, overseas Pakistanis, persons with disabilities, children’s certificates, organ donors, combined categories and residents of AJK. 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: improving digital trust, protecting against fraud, enabling real-time verification, and providing meaningful facilitation measures for citizens. The reforms also prepare Pakistan for future digital governance through an interoperable, secure and modern identity architecture.
