A private member’s bill introduced in the National Assembly of Pakistan on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) seeks to facilitate the renewal of National Identity Cards (NICs) for senior citizens who are unable to produce documentary proof of residence before 1978 or parental citizenship.

During the introduction of the bill, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan MNA Noor Alam Khan disclosed on the floor of the House that his NIC had been cancelled by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) after the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) wrote to the authority regarding an alleged default on gas dues, which the MNA said he disputed. He added that, as a result, his bank accounts were also blocked by the State Bank of Pakistan. The Speaker assured to inquire into the matter with SNGPL.

What does the bill propose?

The National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians MNA Dr Sharmila Farooqui, proposed the addition of two new sub-sections to Section 10 of the NADRA Ordinance, 2000.

If enacted, the amendment would bar NADRA from refusing the renewal of a NIC to citizens aged 60 years and above who have previously been issued a valid CNIC, solely on the grounds that they are unable to furnish documentary proof of residence in Pakistan prior to 1978 or proof of Pakistani citizenship of their parents.

Instead, such applicants would be required to submit an affidavit regarding uninterrupted residence in Pakistan, along with certification by two Pakistani citizens holding valid NICs attesting to the applicant’s identity and residence.

The proposed amendment also requires NADRA to prescribe the format of the affidavit and define eligibility criteria for witnesses for the purposes of this verification mechanism.

While persons above 65 years of age are exempt from renewal as per the rules, the proposal will facilitate them in case they need replacement cards or require update of their credentials on their NICs.

What happens next after introduction of the bill?

Upon introduction, the bill has now been referred to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control. The committee, under Rule 235 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, 2007, is required to report back to the House on the bill within 30 days. A standing committee’s report on a bill, along with dissenting notes, if any, is required to be published in the gazette, which is the official newspaper of the Government of Pakistan and a public record.

What is the rationale behind the bill?

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the bill aims to facilitate elderly Pakistani citizens who, despite having been issued valid CNICs in the past, are denied renewal due to their inability to meet documentation requirements dating back several decades. The statement notes that, in many genuine cases, proof of residence before 1978 or parental citizenship is impossible to produce due to loss of records, displacement, migration, or administrative limitations of earlier periods.