Islamabad, February 24, 2026 – In a major stride toward building a unified, secure, and future-ready digital identity ecosystem, the federal government has officially upgraded Pakistan’s National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) frameworks under its flagship vision of “One Nation – One Identity.”
The reforms were introduced through S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026, published in the official Gazette on February 24, 2026. These amendments modernize the national identity system by introducing QR-based verification, enhanced biometric authentication, stronger anti-fraud controls, and improved citizen facilitation measures.
QR Code-Based Verification Introduced
A key highlight of the amendments is the formal legal introduction of the Quick Response (QR) code as a core security and authentication feature across identity documents. The QR code is defined as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode that stores encrypted identity data, enabling instant offline and online verification through scanning.
Importantly, the new rules also authorize the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to use “QR code or any other technological feature,” ensuring that Pakistan’s digital identity infrastructure remains adaptable to future innovations without requiring frequent legal amendments.
Unified Identity Card and Enhanced Digital Security
Under the revised framework, citizens will now carry a single standardized identity card, replacing the earlier parallel formats of chip-enabled and non-chip cards. This uniform QR-based architecture significantly strengthens Pakistan’s Digital ID ecosystem, enabling seamless interoperability with the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL).
The modernization will facilitate faster service delivery, reduce reliance on manual checks, enable real-time verification, and dramatically lower the risk of identity fraud and impersonation.
Stronger Fraud Prevention and Biometric Controls
To tighten security, the updated rules mandate that once an identity card is suspended, all associated verification and authentication services are automatically blocked, preventing misuse across digital platforms and institutional systems.
Biometric authentication has also been reinforced, with fingerprints and iris scans now formally recognized as approved authentication modalities, marking a shift toward multi-modal biometric verification.
Major Relief for Old-Age Citizens
In a significant citizen-friendly move, individuals aged 60 years and above, whether residing in Pakistan or overseas, will now receive lifetime-validity identity cards featuring a distinct senior-citizen logo. This reform eliminates the need for repeated renewals, offering greater convenience and dignity to old-age citizens.
Updated ID Formats and AJK Identification
The amendments also introduce standardized identification formats for residents of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), requiring a specific inscription to define residency status.
Additionally, the government has comprehensively updated the specimen formats for all major identity categories, including:
• Resident citizens
• Overseas Pakistanis
• Persons with disabilities
• Child registration certificates
• Organ donors
• Combined-category cards
• AJK residents
These newly designed formats unify the visual identity of all cards while embedding QR-based security as a central feature.
A Major Leap Toward Digital Governance
Overall, the 2026 amendments significantly strengthen the foundation of Pakistan’s national identity system by enhancing digital trust, security, and service efficiency. The reforms also position Pakistan for the next phase of digital governance, backed by a secure, interoperable, and technologically advanced identity infrastructure.
The initiative marks a crucial step in ensuring transparent, reliable, and citizen-centric public service delivery, aligned with global digital identity standards.