No action has been taken against those responsible for a major data breach at National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which led to the theft of data from 2.7 million Pakistanis. This was revealed in a recent meeting of Pakistan’s National Assembly Committee on Interior, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz.
According to Ajj News, during the session, Member of the National Assembly Agha Rafiullah said that the issue wasn’t the data theft of 2.7 million people; the real concern arose because the data of a few important individuals had been leaked.
NADRA Chairman Muhammad Munir Afsar claimed that the people responsible for leaking the data are still employed at NADRA in senior positions, and no real disciplinary action has been taken against them.
He explained to the committee that they are unable to expand NADRA offices because doing so would require increasing the ID card fees. He mentioned that there are 61 tehsils without NADRA offices, where the government announced new offices but hasn’t set boundaries for them.
Chairman NADRA added that NADRA’s operations are funded by the fees from ID cards, but many citizens delay renewing their cards, which impacts NADRA’s funds.
The committee also discussed the issue of fake ID cards, especially cases involving Afghan nationals, and asked NADRA about the steps taken to address these concerns. Agha Rafiullah mentioned that even some lawmakers may have had involvement in these matters.
During the session, Agha Rafiullah expressed frustration with NADRA’s delay in addressing the identity issues faced by the Bihari community, who have struggled for recognition despite migrating to Pakistan decades ago. He insisted that unless the government resolved the issues faced by the Biharis, he would oppose passing any government bills.
The meeting highlighted ongoing challenges at NADRA, including issues of security, identity verification, and operational limitations in providing services across Pakistan.
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