Pakistan Legally Recognises Facial and Iris Scans as Biometric Identity

Pakistan’s federal government has expanded its biometric identification framework by updating the National Identity Card (NIC) Rules to officially include facial and iris scans in addition to fingerprints. The change was recommended by NADRA and gives legal approval to the nationwide rollout of multiple biometric methods for identity verification.

Following the regulatory update, NADRA has rolled out advanced solutions that enable contactless biometric verification, including facial recognition and touch-free fingerprint scanning. According to the authority, these services are currently available at NADRA registration centers as well as through the Pak-ID mobile application for approved use cases. At present, the technology is being used for vehicle ownership transfers in Islamabad and for processing online passport applications.

Starting January 20, 2026, NADRA will also issue biometric verification certificates based on facial recognition for individuals whose fingerprints cannot be captured or verified. These certificates will be obtainable from all NADRA registration centers at a nominal cost of Rs 20 and will remain valid for seven days. Each certificate will include a verified photograph, CNIC information, a unique tracking number, and a QR code to allow digital authentication.

In cases where fingerprint verification fails during citizen registration, individuals will be directed to a NADRA facility where their newly captured photograph will be matched against existing records. Over time, this service is expected to expand to NADRA e-Sahulat franchises and, following the launch of the Digital ID initiative, become accessible directly through the Pak-ID mobile app.

Nadra has called for the regulators, public institutions, and private companies to upgrade their tech, both software and hardware, to enable the facial recognition-based verification supporting the coming of the new technological era. The authority pointed out that the complete implementation would greatly diminish the problems met by people with old, sick, or poorly scanned fingerprints. Nadra has once more declared its dedication to safe, inclusive, and non-duplicated digital identity services.

Global Adoption of Facial and Iris Biometric Identification Systems

Globally, several countries have adopted multi-biometric systems. India’s Aadhaar supports facial authentication, while the UAE and Singapore use facial and iris recognition for digital ID and border control. The European Union is also piloting biometric-based digital identity wallets to enhance secure online verification.