Pakistan to update CNIC’S with QR codes for smarter security

The federal government has formally upgraded Pakistan’s national identity cards, introducing QR-code verification, tougher anti-fraud measures and better biometric standards as part of a major digital governance reform.

Officials say the QR code, will encode key identity information and enable instant verification when scanned at authorized points, ensuring accuracy and trust in the verification process. 

The new rules also authorize NADRA to adopt “QR code or any other technological feature” instead of the existing microchip, allowing flexibility to keep up with emerging digital authentication technologies.

According to reports, the key aim of the reform is to streamline Pakistan’s identity infrastructure by replacing the current dual format of cards, with and without microchips, with a uniform QR-enabled card that integrates with the National Data Exchange Layer for secure online and offline checks.

Moreover, the update helps with anti-fraud controls, including new rules that automatically deactivate all digital verification and service access if a card is suspended. 

Biometric standards have been expanded to formally include both fingerprint and iris recognition as part of a modern multimodal system.

Furthermore, the government will also issue lifetime smart identity cards for citizens aged 60 and above, marked with a senior-citizen logo and free from renewal requirements.