By Fasahat Mohiuddin
Karachi: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) is likely to introduce chip-based Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC), making it a multi-purpose card, The News has learnt.
Sources at Nadra said that the new technology was currently under research, and was likely to be introduced in stages by August 14 this year. The contents of the chip have not decided been yet either, but it is possible that it will have details such as national identity information, driving license date, and immigration and health records, in addition to a variety of functions such as payment at highway tolls, parking and public transportation fees, and ATM transactions.
The present green-coloured cards will continue to work, sources maintained, while the chip-embedded cards will also enjoy complete legal status. The colour of these cards might be changed to white, and its cost will be nominally more than the one charged for regular cards.
The chip-based card will initially be introduced as a pilot project in a smaller programme to test its capabilities and technical requirements, sources said, adding that the launch date of the scheme has not been finalised as yet, sources claimed.
The chip card technology is being imported from abroad, sources said, adding that the cost of the machinery is being negotiated so that cost of chip-embedded cards is at the minimum affordable cost for the end-user. Similar projects have been implemented in other countries over the past three to four years, but Nadra is gearing all its available resources and engineers to put the system into operation, sources said.
Nadra has been imparting training to its software engineers to introduce the chip system, while other officials are being trained to make and handle these cards, sources said. The announcement to launch the project will be made by the head office in Islamabad after the programme has been tested and approved, while Nadra will also launch a campaign to motivate people to get these cards, sources added.
Source: The News
Date:4/5/2010
