The National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched an online identity verification service aimed at facilitating power-of-attorney (POA) applications for Pakistanis living abroad. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the initiative is designed to make the process faster, more secure, and fully digital.
The service, which was piloted in 2021, received encouraging feedback from overseas Pakistanis. According to NADRA, the system allows citizens residing outside Pakistan—estimated to be over 9 million—to upload scanned documents, photographs, and complete biometric verification through the Pak-ID online platform.
As part of the process, applicants and two witnesses submit their paper-based data online, which is verified in real time against the national database. A dedicated video interview module enables consular officers at Pakistani missions to interview applicants and witnesses and formally notarize their consent for executing the power of attorney.
NADRA Chairman Tariq Malik stated that the new system is particularly beneficial for citizens who live far from embassies or consulates, allowing them to grant representative authority digitally with reliable identity verification, both physical and virtual. He also confirmed that 116 Pakistani diplomatic missions worldwide have been trained to deliver the service.
Over the past 16 months, more than 8,000 POA applications have reportedly been processed from the United Kingdom and the United States, with London, New York, and Houston leading in submissions. Additionally, around 1.5 million overseas Pakistanis have accessed the POA portal so far.
To further improve accessibility, NADRA has also introduced an alternative biometric solution for elderly citizens with faded fingerprints.
