In a bid to ease the process of obtaining national identity documents, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab has announced that National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) counters will soon be set up in every union council of the city.
The mayor made the announcement on Friday while inaugurating the upgraded NADRA registration centre at Babar Market in Landhi.
New Facilities and Expansion Plans
The Landhi branch, now refurbished, has expanded its single-window counters from four to seven, doubling its capacity to serve up to 120 people at a time. The centre has also been equipped with facilities that were previously missing, including separate restrooms for men and women, wheelchair accessibility, and drinking water.
Mayor Wahab added that feasibility work will begin immediately for another centre at Kakri Ground in Lyari. At the same time, three large “mega centres” are under construction in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulberg, and Surjani Town to cater to growing demand in those areas.
Citywide Upgrade in Progress
Amir Ali Khan, NADRA’s Director General for Sindh, confirmed that five centres in Karachi have already been modernized, with 21 more scheduled for overhaul. The goal, he explained, is to shorten wait times and provide citizens with more comfortable service environments.
Khan also addressed concerns about NADRA’s mobile app, acknowledging glitches in its early rollout. However, he stressed that once the system stabilizes, it will offer long-term convenience for users by reducing the need for in-person visits.
Why It Matters
Karachi’s population continues to expand, and NADRA’s services—from issuing CNICs to handling biometric verification—remain critical for everyday life. The decision to decentralize access by placing counters in every union council is likely to reduce bottlenecks at larger centres and save citizens hours of travel and waiting.
If implemented smoothly, this plan could become a model for other major cities struggling with similar registration backlogs.
