ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Pakistan's national agency responsible for maintaining citizens' national ID cards, has developed an innovative new QR-coded CNIC without chips, thus moving away from foreign microchip technologies used in past CNICs. With the issuance of QR-code based CNICs now underway across the country, this development will improve access and decrease dependence on imports.
NADRA said that the new polycarbonate card was produced locally by the National Security Printing Company (NSPC) based in Karachi. This development follows an assertion by NADRA that the introduction of this new format card meets all of their technical specifications, underscoring local production as one of the key pillars of the new national rollout program.
Federal Government Approval For New CNIC QR Code
The Federal Government gave approval for issuance of this latest identity document in February 2026. In contrast to earlier identity documents which utilized chips for storing information, this new identity card will contain a machine-readable QR code that is easily readable via smartphones through an app named PakID.
The QR Code embedded in the card contains relevant identification information along with the photo of the card bearer. According to NADRA, the new scheme will help authorized agencies validate identity-related information faster while automatically recording name and address details on computer databases in order to avoid mistakes when doing so manually.
Apart from the QR code, the new card would include a family number as well as special symbols representing individuals having certain physical disabilities, aged persons, organ donors, and residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Names and addresses of the beneficiaries would be printed in two languages, i.e., Urdu and English.
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The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has updated both the visible and covert security features of the card to match contemporary needs and the current technological production capability of locally-made CNIC QR code cards.
As NADRA continues to distribute new CNIC QR code cards with the improved security features, it seems that the organization is committed to retaining high security measures despite the shift from chip-based cards. The number of investors who registered at the PSX exceeded 500,000 way back in February 2
NADRA launched the Smart National Identity Card (SNIC), featuring chips, almost 14 years ago. Yet there was always one fundamental flaw with this technology – there were no widespread card readers or associated systems infrastructure within the country.
With this latest move towards QR code-based identity verification, NADRA hopes to overcome this barrier and enable users to verify their SNIC cards through any smartphone or device capable of running compatible scanning software.
NADRA states that the approved organizations such as banks, hospitals, telecom companies, Pakistan Railways, and police institutions will be supplied with software that scans and verifies the QR codes, indicating the broad adoption of the new verification process within the organizations that require frequent authentication of identity verification.
This includes organizations like banks, hospitals, telecom companies, Pakistan Railways, and police institutions. The move indicates the smooth integration of the verification mechanism across various industries that frequently use identity verification processes.
Beginning from August 14, 2026, the new QR code-enabled polycarbonate card will replace the existing chipless Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), printed on Teslin paper. The updated identity card is expected to roll out to all categories of Pakistani nationality documents, including NICOP and Juvenile Cards, starting from January 2027.
The National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) currently offers QR code formats for CNICs, NICOPs, and POCs under their ID formats.
However, it is worth noting that existing identity cards will continue to be considered valid up to their respective expiration dates, which means that individuals with old-format cards do not have to rush out to replace them merely due to the introduction of a new format. Individuals who receive new CNICs or replace expired CNICs will gradually move toward adopting the QR Code format across the country.