ISLAMABAD – The National Database & Registration Authority has increased the fee for the computerised national identity cards in all categories ahead of next general elections in Pakistan.
The federal government through a statutory notification (SRO) has increased the fee for CNICs in all categories for more than hundred percent.
The fee has been doubled in all the categories while in the category of urgent CNIC the fee has gone up by 300 percent.
According to the notification, a new Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) would cost Rs1,150 for urgent issuance, while the executive one would be for Rs2,150. The CNIC would be modified for Rs400, issued on urgent basis for Rs1,150 and the executive one would cost Rs2,150.
Similarly, the fee for the normal smart card (chip-based CNIC) has been increased from Rs400 to Rs750, the urgent smart card from Rs800 to Rs1,500 and executive smart card from Rs1,600 to Rs2,500.
Meanwhile, the fee for overseas Pakistanis has been slashed. The Gazette of Pakistan has accorded approval to the increase in the fee for CNIC.
According to a senior official at NADRA, the rates have been revised to reduce the subsidy that is given by NADRA for every CNIC.
The swell in prices ahead of the general elections would affect the public because scores of new identity cards are made before the electoral tussle especially in villages and far-off places.
