NADRA to issue first CNIC free of cost within 15 days

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will issue the first computerized national identity card (CNIC) free of cost within fifteen days, instead of forty days.
This was stated by Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad while talking to the media at NADRA Headquarters on Friday.
He said that fifty new NADRA centres will be opened across the country to serve the general public. He said that offices of passport and ID cards will be opened in all the embassies of Pakistan, which will be supervised by NADRA and supported by the Foreign Office.
He said the number of NADRA mobile vans will be increased to 300 to facilitate the people residing in far-off areas of the country. The Interior Minister said the government is also fully committed to sort out issues of overseas Pakistanis as well.
On political front, the interior minister has predicted the participation of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties in the upcoming Senate polls. He said that Senate polls can be held after February 12.
“The Supreme Court (SC) is expected to announce its verdict over the matter of holding Senate polls through the show of hands between February 12 to March 12,” said the minister, adding the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) parties will start crying again if PTI gains a majority in Senate polls. “I bet, PM Imran Khan is not going anywhere, he will complete his term,” the minister confidently said.
Replying to the long march call of the opposition parties, Sheikh Rashid sarcastically invited them to come to Islamabad soon as the weather is also fine now. He said that by-elections will be held if opposition leaders tender their resignations from the assemblies.
Replying to a query about the extradition of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, he said that there is no agreement of swapping the wanted persons between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. “Now only God can bring him back,” he added.
Separately, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) delegation on Friday called on the interior minister at his office.
The MQM-P delegation comprised Federal Minister Aminul Haque, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Haider Abbass Rizvi. The MQM delegation discussed the party’s reservations with the interior minister in the meeting.
The MQM-P leaders raised issues of missing party workers and return of the party offices so that they can freely exercise their right of doing politics. They also urged the minister to take notice of the disappeared party workers, false FIRs filed against the party and the non-arrest of the killers of the MQM-P workers.
Rashid assured the visiting delegation of prompt action for the arrest of the killers involved in MQM-P workers’ assassination. The delegation hoped that their demands would be met in accordance with the law.
On Thursday last, the MQM-P delegation also met Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Khan assured coalition partners that their all reservations will be addressed and the party will also be kept in the loop in consultations over Karachi projects. – TLTP