NADRA verification for Cell connection creates confusion in Pakistan
Pakistan Times Federal Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD: At a time when mobile phone has become a necessity and cellular sector is making splash in the country, a recent announcement by the government regarding verification of intending mobile customers, has created a lot of confusion among all the stakeholders.

As per government’s decision, from February 01, no person would be issued mobile connection unless his data is verified by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao but both Nadra and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which were also represented at the meeting, are still not clear as to how the decision is to be implemented.

As the situation is still not very clear, the people desiring to get mobile connections are to face difficulties in future. The situation would become more complex when it comes to those who are still keeping old national identity cards and have not applied for new ones being issued by Nadra.

A common man is more disturbed over the situation as to what is going to happen with him!

Sherpao Vows

Sherpao when contacted said that both the holders of old ID cards and computerized national identity cards (CNICs) would have to go through the verification process. "The mobile companies will send old cards to Nadra offices to verify their record while data of CNICs holders could be verified online," he said.

The minister clarified that Nadra was also keeping data of old cardholders.

He said the decision has been taken in view of the fact that the criminals are using nameless and fictitious mobile connections and the verification process would put an end to such connections.

A Nadra spokesman said that they could provide the online verification dial-up system-’VERISYS’- in a day. "It is not a big deal to provide online verification system to mobile phone operators and we can do it in one day," he said.

He reminded that Nadra’s verification systems ‘VERISYS’ and ‘BIOSYS’ were already functioning at 201 different locations, including banks and passport and immigration departments, without any fault or failure.

The VERISYS

Spelling out details of ‘VERISYS’, the spokesman said that the operators using this system while sitting on a computer need just to enter Nadra’s system through its website by applying a password and he could get required data of an applicant in just two seconds.

He said so far over 42 million CNICs have been issued, one million cases remain in pipeline while approximately 13 million people are yet to apply for Nadra cards. "The government has already announced, a year back that the old cards are no more valid for any purpose," he recalled.

Rocoplan Xavier

Chief executive officer of a pioneer cellular company, Rocoplan Xavier said, "The government and all stakeholders had a very open and constructive discussion last Thursday about the requirement to check the identity cards of people acquiring a mobile phone connection.

He said that parties recognised that if it is true that some criminals are using mobile phones, mobile operators are already cooperating with the government of Pakistan to track these individuals. "If these criminals are using mobile phones, there are at least opportunities to identify and to track them as well as the people they are getting in touch with", Xavier said.

He said many governments are getting this information from mobile operators to support them in their investigation. This is already happening in Pakistan and some mobile operators have received an award for their support to some government entities.

Xavier said that as per estimates, currently there are only 42 to 45 million holders of CNICs whereas a large segment of population, particularly those residing in remote areas, are yet to get the Nadra cards.

He said mobile operators will support Nadra to encourage people to get a new CNIC but it is important that until the penetration rate of the new CNIC is enough, the old identity cards can still be used to acquire a mobile phone connection. Mobile operators will still confirm the validity of the old identity card with Nadra, he added.

He, however, said that the mobile operators have to issue mobile connections on old cards as a large number of population, was still without CNICs.

He said the verification of old national identity cards would take a couple of days and there would be no problem for customers who want immediate connections. "The detailed process will be worked out by the parties over the next few days," he remarked.

Zubair Tahir

Official spokesman of PTA, Zubair Tahir said that the authority would shortly announce a comprehensive policy to sort out the problem. "The issue needs to be handled very carefully so that it does not create inconvenience for customers and mobile operators," he said.

He said the PTA would also take care of people particularly students who are yet to reach the age of 18 and are not eligible to apply for CNICs. "After all parents want to remain in touch with their children when he or she is out of home," he argued.

To a question, he said there is a proposal that Nadra should not handle individual cases for verification instead the cases would be sent to it by a mobile company in bulk after issuance of connections.

"The verification will be carried out after issuance of connections and the customers whose record is not verified will be issued a warning and their connection could be withdrawn," he added. He said Nadra would issue computerised cards to those old identity card holders who apply for mobile connections.●