NADRA restores issuing identity documents to Pakistani seafarers.

ISLAMABAD -- National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has resumed process of issuing Machine Readable Seafarer Identity Document (MRSID) to Pakistani seafarers which remained suspended since January 2019 due to some technical reasons. Official sources in Maritime Ministry said here on Monday that taking notice of the sailor?s issues, the maritime minister Ali Zaidi were issued directions on April 24, to NADRA, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Shipping Master to coordinate and resolve the problems of seafarers at earliest. Following minister's directions KPT has provided printer and space at KPT head office where NADRA has installed computers and technical staff and started issuing cards to the seaman. As a sequence of establishing measures and procedures to prevent acts of terrorism that threaten the security of passengers, crews and the safety of ships, NADRA had developed a Machine Readable Seafarer Identity Document (MRSID) for the solution.

NADRA was issuing MRSID to Pakistani sailors in compliance with International Labor Organization Convention (ILO) C-185. The MRSID issued by NADRA was not only vital in enhancing security at seaports but also in facilitating international...