ISLAMABAD, 14 August, 2026 (Ghufran): The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a new chipless National Identity Card featuring a secure QR code, marking a significant step toward self-reliance in digital identification and reducing dependence on imported microchips. The newly designed polycarbonate card has been manufactured domestically in Pakistan by the National Security Printing Company (NSPC), Karachi, in accordance with NADRA’s technical and security specifications. The new card replaces the imported microchip with a secure QR code that can be scanned and verified through smartphones using the PakIdentity (PakID) mobile application, and the system is aimed at making digital identity verification more accessible, secure and efficient. According to NADRA, the QR code contains basic identification information and the cardholder’s photograph, enabling authorized institutions to retrieve biographical information with minimal manual data-entry errors. The new identity card also includes specialized symbols and indicators for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, organ donors and residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to the traditional family number. Names and addresses of cardholders are printed in both Urdu and English to facilitate readability and official use, and the card also incorporates updated visible and concealed security features in line with modern security standards and local manufacturing capabilities. The federal government formally approved issuance of the new identity card on February 23, 2026. NADRA had introduced the chip-based Smart National Identity Card nearly 14 years ago; however, its widespread use remained limited due to the lack of physical chip readers and compatible infrastructure. The new QR code-based system is designed to overcome these limitations, allowing verification through standard smartphones and camera-equipped devices. NADRA will provide specialized verification software to authorized organizations, including telecom operators, banks, hospitals, Pakistan Railways and law enforcement agencies, enabling instant scanning and verification of identity cards. The rollout of the new cards will take place in phases across the country, and from August 14, 2026, the new polycarbonate QR code-based card will replace the standard chipless Teslin material identity cards currently being issued. From January 2027, the QR code system will be extended to other identity card categories, including the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Juvenile Cards, and in the final phase, the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) will also be shifted to the new chipless QR code platform. NADRA clarified that all previously issued identity cards will remain valid until their respective expiration dates.