Business Desk 
May 30, 2025
To safeguard citizen information, the government has decided to block any SIM card linked with expired or deceased CNICs.
The decision was made at the high-level meeting of NDMA chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at Nadra headquarters in Islamabad, with the policy first applying to SIMs attached to CNICs issued in 2017 or earlier, whereas cancelled CNICs issued after 2017 will be examined in future phases.
NADRA to block SIM cards registered against expired CNICs
As per officials, only SIM cards attached to currently active CNICs in Pakistan will be permitted to continue operating.
The requirement is expected to eliminate browsing or misusing identity cards that are expired, cease any illegal activities, and enhance telecom and identity security in Pakistan.
The Nadra chairman was briefed on recent updates, where he indicated that they opened by saying they opened 87 new registration centres and a total of 417 counters.
Moreover, he indicated that now they implement facial recognition technology to assist users that have trouble completing biometrics with our fingerprints to ensure they have a successful biometric outcome.
Furthermore, they noted that biometric data must be protected and could be achieved through a secure use of local databases.
Naqvi, in reviewing Nadra's expansion of service, stated that there were now services that have incorporated a total of 44 new tehsils and union councils while announcing that all 31 union councils in Islamabad will end point service by 30 June.
He also laid the foundation stone of a 10-storey Nadra Mega Centre in Sector I-8, Islamabad, which is expected to be completed by June 2026.
The interior minister ordered the complete rollout of facial recognition technology by December 31, 2025. He also approved new Nadra offices in Multan, Sukkur, and Gwadar.
