Pakistan Introduces Locally Made QR Code-Based National Identity Card

ISLAMABAD, August 20, 2026 (Nazrana Times) — Pakistan has taken a significant step towards technological self-reliance and more accessible digital identity verification with the introduction of a new chip-free, QR code-based National Identity Card (NIC) developed and manufactured domestically.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has introduced the new secure polycarbonate identity card, which replaces the imported microchip used in the existing smart National Identity Card with a secure QR code. The new card has been manufactured in Pakistan by the National Security Printing Company (NSPC), Karachi, in accordance with NADRA’s technical and security requirements.
The move is aimed at reducing dependence on imported microchips while providing a simpler and more practical mechanism for secure digital identity verification.
The federal government approved the issuance of the new card on February 23, 2026. Under the new system, the QR code can be scanned and verified through NADRA’s PakID mobile application using a smartphone. The QR code contains relevant identification information and the cardholder’s photograph, enabling authorised institutions to retrieve and verify identity details more efficiently and consistently.
The system is also expected to reduce errors in the manual entry of names, addresses and other identification information by allowing authorised organisations to obtain verified data electronically.
The new card will carry the family number as well as designated symbols for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The cardholder’s name and address will be printed in both Urdu and English. Visible and concealed security features have also been upgraded in line with modern requirements and Pakistan’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.
The chip-based Smart National Identity Card was introduced around 14 years ago. However, the practical benefits of its embedded chip remained limited because chip readers and the necessary supporting infrastructure were not widely available. The new QR-based system is intended to overcome this limitation, as verification can be performed using ordinary smartphones or cameras equipped with appropriate software.
NADRA will provide verification software to authorised institutions, including telecom operators, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways, police and other relevant organisations. These institutions will be able to scan the QR code and verify the identity information stored on the card.
The new card is being introduced in phases. From August 14, 2026, the QR code-based polycarbonate card will initially replace the chip-free National Identity Card currently issued on Teslin material.
From January 2027, the new card will be extended to all categories of national identity cards, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Juvenile Cards. In the final phase, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also be shifted to the chip-free, QR code-based format.
NADRA has clarified that all identity cards already issued will remain valid until their stated expiry dates. Holders will therefore not be required to replace existing cards immediately solely because of the introduction of the new QR code-based system.
The initiative represents a major shift in Pakistan’s national identity infrastructure, combining domestic production, reduced reliance on imported technology and smartphone-based digital verification in an effort to make identity services more secure, accessible and practical