Millions of Pakistanis cannot enter country without required digital ID

After three years of trying unsuccessfully, a woman from the Pakistani city of Karachi named Rubina finally succeeded in getting her digital national identity card by taking her case to court.

Before that time, Pakistanis like Rubina, who were reared by single moms, were unable to obtain the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) since they were required to provide the ID card of their father.

The card is required for voting, enrolling in a public school, receiving medical care, opening a bank account, or applying for a job.

Whenever Rubina, now 21, would go there, she would be asked to provide identification that her father had signed off on.

Since my biological father left my mother and me shortly after my birth, I don’t have any of his identification documents.

Frustrated, Rubina took her case to the Sindh province high court, which decided in her favour in November, ordering the government department responsible for issuing CNICs to provide her with a card based on her mother’s citizenship status.

If Rubina’s mother’s position as an attendant at the state education department becomes vacant when she retires, she will be eligible to apply for the position.

Voting, attending a public school, getting medical care, creating a bank account, and applying for jobs all necessitate the card.

Rubina, now 21, had to provide identification that her father had approved of every time she went there.

I don’t have any of my biological father’s identity paperwork because he abandoned my mother and me soon after my birth.

As a last resort, Rubina appealed to the Sindh province high court, which ruled in her favour in November and ordered the government agency responsible for issuing CNICs to issue her a card based on her mother’s citizenship status.

Assuming the position of an attendant at the state education department becomes available when Rubina’s mother retires, Rubina would be qualified to apply for it.