ISLAMABAD: National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Thursday issued a strong nationwide warning, signalling that citizens who fail to renew their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) on time may soon face additional charges and penalties.
The authority said identity documents are issued for a fixed validity period and timely renewal is a legal responsibility of every adult citizen. Delays, it warned, are no longer just an administrative lapse but could soon carry financial consequences.
NADRA cautioned that expired CNICs can disrupt access to essential services linked to identity verification, including banking systems, mobile connectivity and other critical services.
It further warned that individuals with expired identity documents may be excluded from key government support systems, including the Benazir Income Support Programme, subsidy initiatives and official transactions such as property and vehicle transfers.
Officials described the situation as increasingly concerning, with millions of identity records already out of date. According to available data, more than 27.4 million CNICs, 2.3 million overseas cards, 11.6 million child registration certificates, and around 229,000 juvenile cards have expired across the country.
NADRA confirmed that reminder messages have been issued nationwide, including alerts to parents whose children have reached the age of 18 but have yet to obtain their first CNIC.
In parallel, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reinforced compliance requirements, making it mandatory for mobile users to maintain a valid CNIC for uninterrupted service.
Authorities warned that SIMs linked to expired identity cards — or registered in the names of deceased individuals — may be blocked without prior notice. Current figures show over 8.1 million SIMs are active against approximately 4.5 million expired CNICs, with more than 223,000 cards remaining expired for over a decade.
While NADRA has not yet enforced penalties, it made clear that it holds the legal authority to do so. Officials indicated that if compliance does not improve, penalties and additional renewal charges could be introduced in the upcoming fiscal year after June.
The authority has urged citizens to act immediately, warning that continued delays could result in service disruptions, financial inconvenience and restricted access to essential systems.