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The government has decided to overhaul Pakistan’s national identity verification system by gradually replacing fingerprint-based verification with a modern facial recognition system, aiming to strengthen security and curb financial fraud. The decision was shared during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior on January 29, 2026.
The move marks a major shift in how citizens will be verified for identity-related services in Pakistan. Officials say the change is necessary after repeated cases of fraud linked to fake fingerprints, particularly in SIM card issuance and financial transactions.
For years, NADRA’s biometric fingerprint system has served as the backbone of identity verification across banks, telecom companies, and government departments. However, authorities revealed that criminal groups have exploited weaknesses in the system by using artificial or cloned fingerprints, leading to identity theft and financial losses for citizens.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the committee that fingerprint-based verification is being phased out due to serious security concerns.
“Numerous cases of financial fraud have emerged through fake thumb impressions, putting citizens’ identity and financial safety at risk,” he said, adding that adopting facial recognition technology has become unavoidable.
According to Interior Ministry officials, the facial recognition system will provide faster, more accurate, and more transparent identity verification. It will be integrated across NADRA, the telecom sector, and banking institutions, significantly reducing the chances of impersonation and unauthorized transactions.
While welcoming the decision, committee members stressed the need to safeguard citizens’ privacy and personal data. Officials confirmed that a comprehensive legal and technical framework for facial recognition is being finalized, and implementation will begin in phases once approvals are completed.
Experts believe this transition aligns Pakistan with global digital security standards, as several countries have already adopted facial recognition for national identity verification to combat fraud and enhance service delivery.
