Senate directs Nadra to open offices in foreign countries.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate Standing Committee on Interior Friday directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to open its offices in those countries where large number of overseas Pakistanis are residing and facing difficulties in getting their identity cards.

The committee also directed the national registration body to facilitate the far off areas of Balochsitan for issuance of their computerised national identity cards (CNICs) either through deployment of mobile registration vans or establishment of new offices in the province.

The committee that met under the chair of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Rehman Malik directed the Ministry of Interior and Chairman NADRA Usman Yousuf Mobin to open offices at least in Mali, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique to facilitate the overseas Pakistanis in maximum. 'I have received dozens of complaints from overseas Pakistanis living in these four countries that they are facing unavoidable problems in getting their CNICs and registering their children,' he said.

He said Pakistanis living there have to travel to other adjacent countries for getting their documents.

In his response, the chairman Nadra told the committee that Supreme Court in its judgment had restricted the authority that it could only open up to 10 offices abroad and the direction of the committee would be tantamount to violation of the apex court order. He said that online facility to apply for CNIC was available for all overseas Pakistanis and they could apply for their registration documents through it.

However, the chair viewed that people used to face problems while applying online and Nadra should depute at least one official in Pakistan's each foreign mission abroad to facilitate the people online. 'This will not be a violation of the court judgment,' he said.

The Chairman Nadra asserted that the local embassy itself can employ someone for the facilitation of the Pakistanis and Nadra should not be involved in the process.

The committee expressed concerns over the closures of Nadra offices in some areas of Balochistan. The committee directed the Ministry of Interior to reopen these offices there.

Senator Malik said that the committee will visit passport and Nadra offices in Balochistan during its visit to the province. He also directed that keeping in view the current security situation, more security features may be...