National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance (NADRA), 2000

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THE NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY 
ORDINANCE, 2000 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  CONTENTS 
  ___________ 
 
 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 GENERAL 
 
SECTIONS: 
1.  Short title, extent, and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTHORITY 
 
 
3.  Establishment of the authority. 
 
4.  Meetings of the Authority, etc. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
PURPOSE, OBJECTS, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS 
 
 
5.  Purpose, objects, functions and powers of the authority. 
 
6.  Powers regarding schemes of databases, data ware-houses, networking, interfacing and 
registration 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
NATIONAL DATA WAREHOUSE 
 
 
7.  National Data Warehouse. 
 
 
 
Updated till 7.10.2022
 
 
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CHAPTER V 
 
REGISTRATION 
 
8.  Registration of persons, etc. 
 
9.  Registration of citizens. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
CARDS 
 
10.  National Identity Cards. 
 
11.  Pakistan Origin Cards. 
 
12.  Overseas Identity Cards. 
 
13.  Alien Registration Cards. 
 
14.  Powers and functions regarding issuance of cards, etc. 
 
15.  Safe and proper custody of cards. 
 
16.  Inspection of cards. 
 
17.  Surrender of cards. 
 
18.  Power to cancel, impound or confiscate cards. 
 
19.  Cards necessary for certain purposes. 
 
20.  Power to exempt. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
INFORMATION TO THE AUTHORITY 
 
 
 
21.  Information relating to births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc. 
 
22.  Information and assistance by user or feeder agencies. 
 
23.  Power to call for proof of information. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
FUND, ACOOUNTS AND AUDIT 
 
24.  NADRA Fund. 
 
 
 
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25.  Authority to be deemed to be a local authority. 
26.  Budget. 
26A.  Surplus to be remitted to Federal Consolidated Fund 
 
27.  Accounts and Audit. 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 
 
 
28.  Information not to be divulged. 
 
29.  Security, secrecy, etc. of data not to be breached. 
30.  Other offences and penalties. 
30A.  Fines and penalties to be credited to the Federal Consolidated Fund 
 
31.  Cognizance of offences. 
 
32.  Trial of offences. 
 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 
33.  Remuneration. 
 
34.  Chairman and members not to engage in certain business, etc. 
 
35.  Registration officers, officers, employees, etc. 
 
36.  Registration Officers, etc. deemed to be public servants. 
 
37.  Delegation. 
 
38.  Reports to the Governments. 
 
39.  Certain arrangements to continue. 
 
40.  Indemnity. 
 
41.  Transfer of employees and assets etc. 
 
41A.  Transfer of assets and liabilities of Alien Registration Authority. 
 
42.  Exemption from taxes. 
 
43.  Ordinance [XCL of 2002] not to apply to Authority. 
 
 
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44.  Power to make rules. 
 
45.  Regulations. 
 
46.  Ordinance to override other laws. 
 
47.  Removal of difficulties. 
 
48.  Repeal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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THE NATIONAL DATABASE AND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY 
ORDINANCE, 2000 
 
ORDINANCE NO. VIII OF 2000 
 
[10th March, 2000] 
 
An Ordinance to provide for the establishment of the National Database and Registration 
Authority so as to facilitate the registration of all persons and the establishment and maintenance of 
multipurpose databases, data warehouses, networking, interfacing of databases and related facilities 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient and necessary to provide for the registration of all persons and for 
the establishment and maintenance of multipurpose databases, data warehouses, networking, 
interfacing of databases and related facilities and services and matters connected therewith and 
ancillary thereto; 
 
AND WHEREAS a new, improved and modernized registration and database system is the 
emergent need of time for its multiple beneficial uses and applications in efficiently and effectively 
running the affairs of the State and the general public thereby achieving (the goals of good governance, 
public service and minimizing scope for corruption and inefficiency; 
 
AND WHEREAS it is expedient to establish the National Database and Registration Authority 
be established to achieve the aforesaid objectives; 
 
AND WHEREAS the National Assembly and the Senate stand suspended in pursuance of the 
Proclamation of Emergency of the fourteenth day of October, 1999, and the Provisional Constitution 
Order No. 1 of 1999; 
 
AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which renders it necessary 
to take immediate action; 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the aforesaid Proclamation of the fourteenth day of 
October 1999, and the Provisional Constitution Order No. 1 of 1999, as well as Order No. 9 of 1999, 
and in exercise of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the President of the Islamic Republic 
of Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:— 
 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
GENERAL 
 
1. Short title, extent, and commencement. —(l) This Ordinance may be called the National 
Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000. 
 **(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.  
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
 
*NADRA shall apply to FATA vide S.R.O. 754 (I)2005 dated 28•6•2005. 
**Also extend N.A., vide S.R.O. 26(KE)2002 dated 8•1•2002 
 
 
 
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2. Definitions. In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,— 
 
(a)  “Alien Registration Card” means a card issued under section 13; 
 
(b)  “Authority” means the National Database and Registration Authority 
established under section 3; 
 
(c)  “Card” means any card issued or deemed to be issued under this Ordinance; 
 
(d)  “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Authority; 
 
(e)  “citizen” means a person who is, or is deemed to be a citizen of Pakistan, under 
the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951); 
 
(f)  “emigrant” means a person who is an emigrant under the Emigration Ordinance, 
1979 (XVIII of 1979); 
 
(g)  “foreigner” means a person who is not a citizen; 
 
(h)  “member” means a member of the Authority and, where the context so admits, 
includes the Chairman; 
 
(i)  “National Data Form” means the National Data Form issued by the Planning 
Commission of the Federal Government during the National Census held in the 
year 1998 under the Census Ordinance, 1959 (X of 1959); 
 
(j)  “National Database Organization” means the National Database Organization 
established pursuant to the Interior Division's; Notification No.F.10/3/98­CI., 
(NDO) dated the 15th May, 1998 read with Interior Division's Notification 
No.lO/3/98•C.II (NDO) dated 19th August, 1998; 
 
(k)  “National Identity Card” means a card issued under sub-section (1) of section 
14 and, where the context so admits, includes an identity card issued under the 
National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973); 
 
(l)  “Overseas Identity Card” means a card issued under section 12; 
(m)  “Pakistan Origin Card” means a card issued under section 11; (n)     
 “prescribed” means prescribed by rules; 
(o)  “Registration Officer” means the Director General or a Director or Deputy 
Director or Assistant Director or District Registrar or Registrar or Inspector, 
appointed or deemed to have been appointed under section 35 and includes, 
subject to and for the purposes of section 37, any person to whom the powers 
of any such officer are delegated or deemed to have been delegated under this 
Ordinance; 
 (p)  “Registration Organization” means both the Registration Organization and the 
Directorate General of Registration as in rules made under the National 
Registration, Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973); 
 
 
 
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  (q)  “regulations” means regulations made under of this Ordinance; 
 
  (r)  “rules” means rules made under this Ordinance; and 
 
  (s)  “thing” or “things” means and includes all animate or inanimate things, plants 
animals, objects, substances, items, concepts, ideas, laws, customs, qualities, 
signs, symbols, circumstances, affairs, events, acts, deeds, works, transactions, 
documents, pieces of movable or immovable property, tangible or intangible 
property, rights, privileges, duties, entities, living or non-living beings other 
than a human being and anything that can be possessed, or owned, or explained, 
whether known or unknown. 
 
    _________ 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUTHORITY 
 
3. Establishment of the authority. —(1) As soon as may be, but not later than thirty days after 
the commencement of this Ordinance, the Federal Government shall, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the National Database and Registration Authority for 
carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of 
property, having perpetual succession and a common seal and shall by that name sue and be sued. 
 
(3) The Authority shall consist of a Chairman, also to be called the Registrar General of 
Pakistan, and 1[not less than] five members to be appointed by the Federal Government: 
 
Provided that till such time the Authority is established the Chairman may exercise the powers 
and perform the functions of the Authority 1[:] 
 
1[Provided further that the Federal Government may, from time to time, by notification in the 
official Gazette, increase or decrease the number of members and prescribe mode of their appointment 
as it may deem fit]. 
 
(4) No person shall be appointed as the Chairman or a member if he has been declared insolvent, 
or convicted for an offence involving moral turpitude, or declared to be disqualified from employment 
in, or dismissed from Government Service. 
 
(5) The Chairman and a member shall, unless he resigns or is removed from office earlier as 
hereinafter provided, hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for 
1[a similar term or terms] as the Federal Government may determine: 
 
Provided that a Chairman or a member shall retire on attaining the age of sixty five years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1Ins. Subs. and Added by Act V of 2007, s. 2. 
 
 
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 (6) In case of vacancy occurring due to death, resignation or removal of the Chairman or a 
member, the Federal Government shall within a period not exceeding sixty days, appoint an other 
qualified person to fill such vacancy. 
 
(7) The Chairman shall be an eminent professional of known integrity and competence with 
substantial experience in the field of computer science, engineering, statistics, demography, law, 
business, management, finance, accounting, economics, civil or military administration, or the field of 
registration. 
 
(8) Every member shall also be a person of known integrity and competence with sufficient 
experience in the field of computer science, engineering, statistics, demography, law, business, 
management, finance, accounting, economics, civil or military administration, or the field of 
registration 1[:] 
 
1[*  *  *  *  *  * *] 
 
(9) No act or proceeding of the Authority shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of a 
vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of, the Authority. 
 
(10) The principal office of the Authority shall be at Islamabad and it may set up offices at such 
place or places as it may deem appropriate: 
 
Provided that all offices including the District Registration Offices, other offices, counters and 
any other formation of the Registration Organization as well as that of the National Database 
Organization along with their entire respective record, shall become and be deemed to be the offices, 
the District Registration Offices, other offices, counters and other formations of the Authority 
respectively along with such record. 
 
(11) The Chairman or a member may, by writing under his hand, resign from his office: 
Provided that his resignation shall not take effect until accepted by the Federal Government. 
(12) The Federal Government may remove the Chairman or any member from office if— 
(a)  upon an inquiry, he is found incapable of performing the functions of his 
office by reason of mental or physical incapacity or has been found guilty of 
misconduct; or 
 
(b)  after his appointment he is disqualified from being so appointed as provided in 
sub-section (4). 
 
4. Meetings of the Authority, etc. —(1) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over 
by the Chairman and, in his absence, by such member attending a meeting who is most senior to other 
members. 
 
(2) Three members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Authority requiring a decision 
by the Authority. 
 
(3) The members shall have reasonable notice of the time and place of the meeting and the 
matters on which a decision by the Authority shall be taken in such meeting. 
 
 
_______________________________________________________________________________ 
1Subs. and Omitted by Act V of 2007, S. 2 
 
 
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 (4) The decisions of the Authority shall be taken by the majority of its members present, and 
in case of a tie, the member presiding a meeting shall have a casting vote. 
 
(5) All orders, determinations and decisions of the Authority shall be taken in writing and shall 
identify the determination or decision of the Chairman and each member separately. 
____________ 
 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
PURPOSE, OBJECTS, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS 
 
5. Purpose, objects, functions and powers of the authority. —(1) The purpose and objects 
of the Authority shall be to formulate and implement policies and plans for— 
 
(a)  the development and establishment of an improved and modernized system of 
registration in the country through appropriate means including technologically 
advanced, effective and efficient means like computerization, automation, 
creation of databases, data warehousing, networking, interfacing of databases 
and related facilities and services; 
 
(b)  the broadening of the registration base to bring within its purview all persons 
and things, wherever and whatever they may be, to the extent and in the manner 
laid down in this Ordinance; and 
 
(c)  the establishment and maintenance of multi-purpose databases, data 
warehousing, networking, interfacing of databases and related facilities and 
services. 
 
(2) The purposes of developing, establishing or maintaining a registration or database system 
may include facilitation of identification, planning, or any other purpose permitted by law. 
 
(3) The Authority may take such measures and exercise such powers and perform such 
functions as it considers necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
 
(4) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers and functions, 
the Authority— 
 
(a)  may develop and maintain, or cause to be developed and maintained, registration 
systems, automated or otherwise, in the prescribed manner for such class or 
classes of persons wherever they may be including citizens, foreigners and 
emigrants, and for such things whatever they may be prescribed; 
 
(b)  may issue or renew, or cause to be issued or renewed, to any prescribed class or 
classes of persons, including citizens, foreigners and emigrants, or to any 
prescribed class or classes of things, who have got themselves, or who or which 
have been, registered in the prescribed manner issued cards in the prescribed 
form and manner and on such criteria and for such period of validity thereof on 
such terms and conditions as may be prescribed and may receive applications 
therefor in the prescribed form; 
 
 
 
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(c)  shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, such 
prescribed or other multipurpose databases, data warehouses, networking, 
interfacing of databases and related facilities and services in relation to any class 
or classes of persons or things for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance 
and, in this behalf, exercise all such powers and perform all functions under this 
section and sub­section (3) of section 6; 
 
(d)  shall ensure and provide by regulations for the due security, secrecy and 
necessary safeguards for protection and confidentiality of data and information 
contained in the registration and database systems developed, established or 
maintained, or so caused to be developed, established or maintained, under this 
Ordinance including any database, data warehouse and networking 
infrastructure; 
 
(e)  shall prepare and submit annual reports to the Federal Government in respect of 
performance and exercise of its functions, powers and its achievements; 
 
(f)  shall perform any other function and exercise any other power as may be 
entrusted to or vested in the Authority by the Federal Government which is 
supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the aforesaid powers and 
functions and the objects and purpose of the Authority; 
 
(g)  may prescribe and enforce by regulations, and shall be exclusively responsible 
for so prescribing and enforcing, standards for establishment and maintenance 
of databases, data warehouses, networking, interfacing of databases and related 
facilities and services and allied matters in all entities, agencies, bodies, 
departments, offices, commissions, boards, or other formations established, 
funded, controlled, or administered by the Federal Government in order to 
achieve the optimum utilization and application of such databases, data 
warehouses, networking, interfacing of databases and related facilities and 
services or the registration systems based thereon, if any; 
 
(h)  may charge the prescribed fees or other sums for its services and other 
transactions, operations and matters including fees or other sums charged for 
registration, or received for or in relation to the issuance or renewal of cards, or 
for provision of any information or report, automated or otherwise, to any 
governmental, private, or any other person or entity from its databases. 
 
(i)  may cause research, studies, surveys, experiments and other investigations to 
be made or contribute towards the cost of any such research, studies, surveys, 
experiments or other investigations made by any person or entity in relation to 
the purpose and objects of the Authority; 
 
(j)  may seek advice and assistance for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance 
from any governmental or private body, person or entity; and 
 
(k)  may regulate, determine and administer all matters concerning the Authority 
and do all such acts and things which may be necessary for the purpose. 
(5) The Authority may, for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance, manage and conduct 
its affairs, perform any or all of its functions and exercise any or all of its powers under this Ordinance 
 
 
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especially for the development, establishment or maintenance of registration and database systems in 
such integrated, co-ordinated or other efficient or effective manner as it may deem fit to the Authority. 
 
6. Powers regarding schemes of databases, data ware-houses, networking, interfacing and 
registration. —(1) The Authority may frame any scheme, proposal or plan for the development, 
establishment or maintenance of registration systems or databases, data warehouses, networking, or 
interfacing of databases or related facilities or services, for the diversified optimum utilization thereof 
at the national, provincial or other regional or local level and submit the same for approval of the 
Federal Government or concerned Provincial Government or local authority with the following 
information, namely:— 
 
(a)  a description of the scheme, proposal or plan and the manner of its execution; 
 
(b)  an estimate of costs and benefits, the allocation of costs to the various purposes 
to be served by the scheme and the amounts to be repaid by the beneficiaries; 
and 
 
(c) any other information necessary for taking an informed and reasoned judgment 
as to the desirability and feasibility of a scheme, proposal or plan. 
 
(2) The Federal Government or concerned Provincial Government or local authority may 
sanction, refuse to sanction or return for reconsideration any scheme, proposal or plan submitted to it 
by the Authority and may call for such further details or information regarding the scheme, proposal 
or plan, or require such further examination of the scheme as it may consider necessary. 
 
(3) The Authority may execute or supervise the execution of any scheme, proposal or plan 
sanctioned by the Federal Government or concerned Provincial Government and local authority and 
the Authority may— 
 
(a)  incur any expenditure, procure plant, machinery, equipment, supplies, services, 
computer software and hardware and any other materials, equipment or services 
required for implementing a scheme, proposal or plan or for the performance of 
its functions; 
 
(b)  enter into and perform all such contracts as it may consider necessary or 
expedient including consultancy services contracts; 
 
(c  acquire by purchase, lease, exchange or otherwise and dispose of by sale, lease, 
exchange or otherwise any movable or immovable property or any interest in 
such property; and 
 
(d)  do any other thing and exercise any other power supplemental, incidental or 
consequential to the above functions and powers including the power to take 
such measures and exercise such powers as the Authority considers necessary 
or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
 
 
  _________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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CHAPTER IV 
 
NATIONAL DATA WAREHOUSE 
 
 
7. National Data Warehouse. —(1) The Authority shall be responsible for— 
 
(a)  development and establishment, or causing the development and establishment, of a 
central database by collection and collation of multi-faceted data regarding citizens 
thereby establishing a database of multi-purpose information relating to citizens to 
be known as Citizen Database; 
 
(b)  maintenance, or causing the maintenance, of Citizen Database by all possible means 
including enhancement and updation of data by, among other things— 
 
(i)  necessary liaison with different entities, agencies, bodies, commissions, 
boards, departments, offices or other formations established, funded, 
controlled, or administered by the Federal Government, or any Provincial 
Government or local authority; and 
 
(ii)  by continuous stream of inputs from systems of registration of birth, death, 
marriage, divorce and any other system of registration or databases, data 
warehouses, networking, interfacing and related facilities and services 
established or maintained by it; 
 
(c)  development, establishment and maintenance, or causing the development 
establishment and maintenance, of a central data warehouse, to be known as 
National Data Warehouse, based on the data and information extracted from the 
Citizen Database as its first and foremost basic input and any or all other data or 
information contained in the systems of registration or databases, data warehouses, 
networking, interfacing and related facilities and services established or maintained 
by it; 
 
(d)  identification of user and feeder agencies from private and public sector, including 
all private persons or entities and entities, agencies, bodies, commissions, boards, 
departments, offices or other formations established, funded, controlled, or 
administered by the Federal Government or any Provincial Government or local 
authority (hereinafter collectively referred to as “user or feeder agencies” and 
individually as “user or feeder agency”); 
 
(e)  establishment and maintenance, or causing the establishment and maintenance, of 
interfacing of user or feeder agencies and their respective databases with the 
National Data Warehouse; 
 
(f)  data sharing, data exchange, data interchange, data mining, data cleansing, data 
normalization, data summarization, maintenance of historical data and any other 
function or process in the National Data Warehouse related to data or information 
from the user or feeder agencies, or the Citizen Database, or any other system of 
registration, or databases, data warehouses, networking, interfacing and related 
facilities and services established or maintained by it; 
 
 
 
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(g)      maintenance and continuous updation, or causing the maintenance and continuous 
updation, of National Data Warehouse by managing and co­ordinating flow of 
inputs from all the sources of data and information; 
 
(h)        establishment, or causing the establishment, of an intranet-like environment, to be   
called National Information Infrastructure, for the purpose of providing online 
access into the National Data Warehouse; 
 
(i)  provision of requisite access, whether online or offline, into National Data 
Warehouse to all government, semi-government and private institutions in such 
manner and for such fee as may be prescribed by regulations; and 
 
(j)  ensuring of due security, secrecy and necessary safeguards for protection and 
confidentiality of data and information contained in or dealt with by the National 
Data Warehouse at individual as well as collective level. 
 
(2) The Authority shall take such measures, exercise such powers and perform such functions 
as it considers necessary, expedient, incidental or consequential for or to the performance of its 
aforesaid functions and responsibilities. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the 
foregoing powers and functions, the Authority shall have all enabling powers in this behalf as laid 
down in section 5 and sub-section (3) of section 6. 
 
(3) All user or feeder agencies shall be responsible for the continuous, timely and effective 
updation of their respective databases for the purposes of National Data warehouse and shall further 
be responsible for maintenance of their respective link with the National Data Warehouse strictly in 
accordance with as per the standards and other details as the Authority may, by regulations, prescribe. 
 
  _________ 
 
CHAPTER V 
REGISTRATION 
 
8. Registration of persons, etc.—(1) The Federal Government may by rules provide for the 
registration of different persons or classes thereof wherever they may be including citizens, foreigners 
and emigrants, and for different things or classes thereof whatever they may be and along therewith 
provide for the method of such registration, manner and form of applications to be made therefore, fee 
or other sum to be charged therefor. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force the Federal 
Government may, by rules, for the purpose of incentivizing registration of a particular class of persons 
under this Ordinance, provide for any right, interest, privilege, benefit, reward or other advantage, 
tangible or intangible, available under Pakistan Law, to be extended to, or made available to or 
withdrawn from such class of persons required to be registered under this Ordinance and such right, 
interest, privilege, benefit, reward or other advantage shall accordingly become extended, or available 
to or withdrawn from, as the case may be, to such class of persons. 
 
9. Registration of citizens.—(1) Every citizen in or out of Pakistan who has attained the age 
of eighteen years shall get himself and a parent or guardian of every citizen who has not attained that 
age shall, not later than one month after the birth of such citizen, get such citizen registered in 
accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance: 
 
 
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Provided that the Authority may, on case-to-case basis, extend the period for registration of a 
citizen who has not attained the age of eighteen years: 
 
Provided further that all such citizens who stand validly registered under any law immediately 
before the commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been registered under this 
Ordinance and their registration shall, subject to sections 17, 18 and 30 remain valid till the expiry of 
two years from the commencement of this Ordinance, or such time as may be notified by the Federal 
Government, or till such time as such citizen is registered afresh as hereinafter provided, whichever is 
earlier. 
 
(2) At any time before the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this 
Ordinance or such period as may be notified under the second proviso to sub-section (1), all citizens 
registered under the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), the parents or guardians of such 
citizens, in case of those who have not attained the age of eighteen years, shall get themselves or them, 
as applicable, registered afresh under sub-section (1): 
 
Provided that any such citizen as aforesaid who is registered on the basis of his having applied 
or opted as provided in the second proviso to sub-section (3) shall be deemed to have been registered. 
 
(3) An application for registration shall be made in such form and to such person or forum as 
the Authority may, by regulations prescribe: 
 
Provided that any application competently and validly made pursuant to sub-section (2) of 
section 4 of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), and pending immediately before the 
commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been made under this Ordinance. 
 
(4) Any person having competently and validly applied or opted for obtaining a computerized 
identity card by means of a National Data Form shall be deemed to have applied under this. 
 
(5) The Authority may issue to a citizen who has not attained the age of eighteen years but is 
registered under subsection (1), such certificate of registration in such form and manner and containing 
such information relating to such registered citizen as may be prescribed. 
 
(6) A certificate issued under sub-section (5) shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of 
proving the identity of, and other information or particulars contained in such certificate relating to, a 
citizen to whom such certificate relates. 
___________ 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
CARDS 
 
10. National Identity Cards. —(1) The Authority shall issue or renew, or cause to be issued 
or renewed, in such manner and on terms and conditions, subject to every citizen who has attained the 
age of eighteen years and got himself registered under section 9, a card to be called National Identity 
Card in such form, with such period of validity upon payment of such fee in such form and manner as 
may be prescribed: 
 
Provided that all cards issued under section 5 of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 
1973), to such citizens as stood registered under section 4 of the said Act immediately before the 
commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been issued under this Ordinance and shall, 
 
 
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subject to sections 17, 18 and 30 remain valid till such period as the underlying registration of the 
citizens to whom such cards are issued remains valid in terms of the first proviso to sub-section (1) of 
section 9: 
 
Provided further that before issuing or renewing a card under this section, the Authority may 
require a person to surrender a National Identity Card earlier issued to him under this Ordinance or the 
National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), or otherwise satisfy the Authority as to the factum of 
his having totally abandon the use of any such earlier card and, till such time as he surrenders such 
earlier card or otherwise satisfies the Authority as aforesaid, the Authority may not issue or renew a 
card. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance, all such National Identity Cards as 
are to be issued to a citizen under this Ordinance by means of a manual or computerized laser printing 
process (as applicable in the Districts of Islamabad and Rawalpindi) shall not be issued for a period of 
validity beyond two years after the commencement of this Ordinance, or such longer or shorter period 
as may be notified by the Federal Government with a view to promoting uniformity, authenticity and 
technological advancement in the registration for and issuance of National Identity Cards. 
 
11. Pakistan Origin Cards. The Authority shall issue or renew, or cause to be issued or 
renewed, in the prescribed manner and on prescribed criteria, terms and conditions, cards to such 
prescribed class of foreigners and such prescribed class of citizens with dual nationality who have got 
themselves registered in the prescribed manner, in such form and with such periods of validity thereof 
upon payment of such fee in such form and manner as may be prescribed, to be called Pakistan Origin 
Cards and receive applications for registration therefor in the prescribed form. 
 
12. Overseas Identity Cards. The Authority shall issue or renew, or cause to be issued or 
renewed, in the prescribed manner and on prescribed criteria, terms and conditions, cards to such 
prescribed class of citizens resident abroad or such prescribed class of emigrants who have got 
themselves registered in the prescribed manner, in such form and with such periods of validity thereof 
and upon payment of such fee in such form and manner as may be prescribed, to be called Overseas 
Identity Cards and receive applications for registration therefor in the prescribed form. 
 
13. Alien Registration Cards. The Authority shall issue or renew, or cause to be issued or 
renewed, in the prescribed manner and on prescribed criteria, terms and conditions, cards to such 
prescribed class of foreigners resident in Pakistan, whether legally or otherwise, who have got 
themselves registered in the prescribed manner, in such form with such periods of validity thereof and 
upon payment of such fee in such form and manner as may be prescribed, to be known as Alien 
Registration Cards and receive applications for registration therefor in the prescribed form 1[:] 
 
1[Provided that the cards issued and registered under the Foreigners Act, 1946 (XXXI of 1946) 
shall be deemed to have been issued under this Ordinance and shall remain valid till such period as the 
Federal Government may notify in the official Gazette.] 
 
14. Powers and functions regarding issuance of cards, etc. The Authority shall take such 
measures, exercise such powers and perform such functions as it considers necessary, expedient, 
incidental or consequential for or to the issuance and renewal of the cards provided for in sections 10, 
11, 12 and 13. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers and 
functions, the Authority shall have all enabling powers in this behalf as laid down in section 5 and sub-
section (3) of section 6. 
 
_________________________________________________________________________________ 
   1Subs. and added by Act No. XXVII of 2016, s. 2 
 
 
 
Page 16 of 27 
 
15. Safe and proper custody of cards.— (1) Every person to whom a card is issued by the 
Authority shall be responsible for its safe custody and for maintaining it in proper shape. 
 
(2) The Authority may by regulations prescribe standards for custody and maintenance of 
various cards issued by it. 
 
16. Inspection of cards. A Registration Officer or any officer under the control of and 
authorized by the Authority in this behalf may require a person to whom any card has been issued to 
produce the card for inspection before him or, if it is not in his possession when so required to produce 
it within such time, before such officer and at such place as the Registration Officer or the officer so 
authorized may direct. 
 
17. Surrender of cards.—(1) In case of the death of any holder of a card or certificate issued 
under this Ordinance, his card or certificate shall be surrendered or given up to the District Registrar, 
or any other person or authority prescribed by regulations, by the spouse, heir, next of kin, parent or 
guardian, as the case may be, of such holder within sixty days of such death. 
 
(2) The holder of a card who ceases to be eligible to hold such card or whose card becomes 
invalid in accordance with the terms and conditions of his card or under the provisions of this 
Ordinance or any rules or regulations made thereunder, shall surrender or give up his card to the District 
Registrar or any other person or authority prescribed by regulations within such period of his so ceasing 
to be eligible or his card becoming invalid, as may be prescribed. 
 
(3) The Authority shall issue such receipt in relation to the card or certificate surrendered under 
this section in such form and manner and containing such information relating to the person whose 
card or certificate has been surrendered as may be prescribed. 
 
(4) A receipt issued under sub-section (3) shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of 
proving the information or particulars contained in such receipt relating to the person to whom such 
receipt relates. 
 
18. Power to cancel, impound or confiscate cards. —(1) A card issued under this Ordinance 
shall be the property of the Federal Government and may, by an order in writing under the seal of the 
Authority or an officer authorised by it in this behalf, be required to be returned and shall also be liable 
to be cancelled, impounded or confiscated by a like order: 
 
Provided that no order shall be made unless such person has been given notice in writing calling 
upon him to show cause why the order should not be made. 
 
(2) An order under sub-section (1) cancelling, impounding or confiscating a card may be made 
only if there is reason to believe that- 
 
(a)  the card has been obtained by a person who is not eligible to hold such card, by 
posing himself as eligible; 
 
(b)  more than one cards have been obtained by the same person on the same 
eligibility criteria; 
 
(c)  the particulars shown on the card have been obliterated or tampered with; or 
 
(d)  the card is forged. 
 
 
 
Page 17 of 27 
 
 (3) Any person in respect of whose card an order under sub-section (1) has been made may, 
within thirty days of the order, appeal to the Federal Government against the order and the decision of 
the Federal Government in appeal shall be final: 
 
Provided that no order on such appeal shall be passed unless the appellant has been given an 
opportunity of being heard. 
 
19. Cards necessary for certain purposes. —(1) No citizen who has attained the age of 
eighteen years but does not possess or produce a National Identity Card shall be granted a passport, 
permit or other travel document for going out of Pakistan. 
 
(2) Any officer charged with the duty of conducting the poll at an election to the National 
Assembly or a Provincial Assembly or to a municipal committee, cantonment board or other local 
authority or body may, for the purpose of satisfying himself as to the identity of any person, require 
such person to produce his National Identity Card. 
 
(3) The Federal Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify any other 
purpose for which the production of any card or certificate or receipt issued under this Ordinance shall 
be necessary. 
 
(4) A card including a National Identity Card, issued to a person under this Ordinance shall be 
proof of his identity as could be established from the contents of such card for any purpose for which 
his identity is required to be established. 
 
20. Power to exempt. The Federal Government, or with the approval of Federal Government, 
the Authority or any officer authorised by the Authority in this behalf may, by order, in special 
circumstances to be recorded in writing exempt any person or class of persons from the requirement of 
possessing or producing any card for any purpose for which it is required by or under this Ordinance, or 
any rules or regulations made thereunder, to be possessed or produced. 
   
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
INFORMATION TO THE AUTHORITY 
 
 
21. Information relating to births, deaths, marriages, divorces, etc. —(1) The birth of a 
newly born citizen and the death of a citizen or any other prescribed persons or class thereof, shall be 
reported to the District Registrar by such authority or officer in such manner as the Authority may, by 
regulations, prescribe. 
 
(2) The marriage or divorce of a citizen or any other prescribed persons or class thereof, shall 
be reported to the District Registrar by such authority or officer as may be prescribed by regulations. 
 
22. Information and assistance by user or feeder agencies. —(1) The Authority may request 
a user or feeder agency for information or other necessary assistance and co•operation. 
 
(2) All user or feeder agencies shall comply with all such reasonable requests of the Authority 
as are made in order to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
 (3) Any such compliance shall be made in a timely, complete and effective manner and the 
Authority may, if deemed fit in a particular case, fix such reasonable period of time for compliance 
with its request by a user or feeder agency as may be necessary in the circumstances and the concerned 
user or feeder agency shall be bound by such dead•line. 
 
 
Page 18 of 27 
 
(4) It shall be the duty of the head of a user or feeder agency to whom a request is made by the 
Authority to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section and sub-section (3) of section 7 on 
part of his user or feeder agency. 
 
23. Power to call for proof of information. The Authority or any person authorized by it in 
this behalf may require a person who has given any information to furnish such documentary or other 
evidence of the truth of that information as it is within the power of that person to furnish. 
 
__________ 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
FUND, ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 
 
24. NADRA Fund.—(1) There shall be formed a non-lapsable fund vesting in the Authority 
to be known as the “NADRA Fund” for the purpose of meeting charges in connection with the 
functions and operations of the Authority under this Ordinance, including payment of salaries and other 
remuneration payable to the Chairman, members, Registration Officers, members of its staff, experts, 
consultants, advisers and other officers and employees of the Authority. 
 
(2) There shall be placed to the credit of NADRA Fund, all funds received by the Authority 
from which the Authority can incur expenditure related to its functions and operations, including— 
 
(a)  grants made by the Federal Government or any Provincial Government or local 
authority; 
 
(b)  funds provided by the Federal Government or any Provincial Government or 
local authority; 
 
(c)    loans obtained from the Federal Government or any Provincial Government or 
local authority; 
 
(d)  other loans obtained by the Authority; 
 
(e)  foreign aid, grants and loans negotiated and raised, or otherwise obtained, by 
the Authority; 
 
(f)  fees and other sums charged for the provision of services and other transactions, 
operations and matters, etc. including fees or other sums charged for 
registration, or received for or in relation to the issuance or renewal of cards, or 
for the provision of any information or report, automated or otherwise, to any 
governmental, private or any other person or entity, etc; 
 
(g)  income from the sale of movable or immovable property; 
 
(h)  funds from floating bonds, shares, debentures, commercial papers, modarbas or 
other securities issued by the Authority or through any other means; and 
 
(i)        all other sums received by the Authority. 
 
 (3) The NADRA Fund shall be kept in one or more accounts maintained by the Authority in 
local or foreign currency in any scheduled bank in Pakistan and shall be operated in accordance with 
regulations of the Authority. 
 
 
 
Page 19 of 27 
 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance or any rules or regulations made 
thereunder, all charges in connection with the functions and operations of the Authority under this 
Ordinance, except such functions and operations as are envisaged to be funded by any Provincial 
Government or local authority or as may be notified by the Authority to the Federal Government from 
time to time, shall be exclusively funded by the Federal Government including all administrative, 
operating and any other expenses like payment of salaries and other remuneration to the Chairman, the 
members, the Registration Officers, its staff, experts, consultants, advisers and other officers and  
employees appointed or employed or deemed to have been appointed or employed under section 35 of 
this Ordinance and any such funding or budgetary allocation furnished or made by the Federal 
Government for the establishment charges of the Authority shall be placed to the credit of NADRA 
Fund but shall be lapseable unlike the rest of NADRA Fund and the concerned account shall be 
operated as a Personal Ledger Account to the extent of such funding or budgetary allocation furnished 
or made as aforesaid: 
 
Provided that responsibility of the Federal Government to exclusively fund the operations and 
functions of the Authority shall cease at such appropriate time, but not in any case earlier than the 
expiry of three calendar years from the date of establishment of the Authority, when in the opinion of 
the Federal Government, the Authority shall have become capable of funding its functions and 
operations envisaged under this Ordinance to be funded by the Authority: 
 
Provided further that the Federal Government shall notify such time as aforesaid to the 
Authority with precision at least three months prior to such precise time being so notified. 
 
25. Authority to be deemed to be a local authority. The Authority shall be deemed to be a 
local authority under the Local Authorities Loans Act, 1914 (IX of 1914), for the purpose of borrowing 
money under the said Act, and the making and execution of any scheme, proposal or plan or the 
performance of any of its functions laid down in this Ordinance shall be deemed to be a work which 
such authority is legally authorised to carry out. 
 
26. Budget. The Authority shall, in respect of each financial year submit for the approval of 
Federal Government by such date and in such form as may be specified by the Federal Government a 
statement showing the estimated receipts and current and development expenditure and the sums which 
are likely to be required from the Federal Government during the next financial year. 
 
1[26A. Surplus to be remitted to Federal Consolidated Fund.— Any surplus of receipts over 
the actual expenditure in a year, after payment of tax, shall be remitted to the Federal Consolidated Fund 
(FCF) and any deficit from the actual expenditure shall be made up by the Federal Government to the 
extent of funds deposited in FCF] 
 
27. Accounts and Audit. —(1) The Authority shall maintain complete and accurate books of 
accounts of its actual expenses and receipts. 
 
(2) The Authority shall cause to be carried out audit of its accounts by one or more auditors who 
are chartered accountants within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of 1961) 
appointed by the Federal Government in consultation with the Auditor General of Pakistan from a panel 
of Chartered accountants proposed by the Authority on such remuneration as the Federal Government 
may determine. 
 
 
 
 
 
1Ins. by financial act No V of 2019 s.10. 
 
 
 
Page 20 of 27 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 
 
28. Information not to be divulged. Any person who— 
 
(a)  being a person employed for the purposes of this Ordinance, publishes or 
communicates to any person, otherwise than in the ordinary course of such 
employment, any information acquired by him in the course of the employment; 
or 
 
(b)  having possession of any information which to his knowledge has been 
disclosed in contravention of this Ordinance, publishes or communicates that 
information to any other person, 
 
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine which 
may extend to one million rupees, or with both: 
 
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any publication or communication of 
information made— 
 
(a ) for the purpose of any criminal proceedings; or 
 
(b)  to any gazetted officer authorised by the Authority. 
 
29. Security, secrecy, etc. of data not to be breached. —(1) No person shall use, or deal with, 
or do any other thing or act of omission or commission in relation to— 
 
(a)  the registration or database systems developed, established or maintained, or so 
caused to be developed, established or maintained, under this Ordinance 
including any database, data warehouse or networking infrastructure; or 
 
(b)  the data or information contained, or housed, or transmitted therein, 
in contravention of the regulations made under clause (d) of sub-section (4) of section (5). 
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punished with rigorous 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, or with fine commensurate with the 
nature of offence and harm, if any, caused to a particular registration or database system as aforesaid 
by such contravention, but in any case not less than one million rupees, or with both. 
 
30. Other offences and penalties.—(1) Any person who— 
 
(a)    does not, without reasonable cause, apply for registration required under this 
Ordinance; 
 
(b)    conceals, or refuses to furnish, any information he ought to disclose or furnish; 
 
 (c)    fails, without reasonable cause, to report to any Registration Officer any loss of 
a card within thirty days of such loss; 
 
 
 
Page 21 of 27 
 
(d)  refuses or fails to produce or surrender a card as required respectively under 
section 17 or section 18 of this Ordinance or the rules and regulations made 
thereunder; 
 
(e)   does not, without reasonable cause, apply for a National Identity Card within 
ninety days of his attaining the age of eighteen years; or 
 
(f)  knowingly contravenes any other provision of this Ordinance or the rules or 
regulations except regulations made under clause (d) of sub-section (4) of 
section 5, 
 
shall, in addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable under any other law, be punishable 
with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine not exceeding 
fifty thousand rupees, or with both. 
 
(2) Any person who— 
 
(a)  makes any statement or furnishes any information which he knows or has reason 
to believe to be false in any material particular or which he does not believe to 
be true; 
 
(b)  obliterates or changes any particulars written or printed on any card; 
 
(c)  forges any card or makes or has in his possession any document so closely 
resembling a card as to be calculated to deceive; 
 
(d)  allows any other person to have possession of a card for the custody of which 
he is responsible; 
 
(e)  holds more than one card on the same eligibility criteria; or 
 
(f)  who attests or verifies any statement or information made or furnished for the 
purpose of this Ordinance which he knows or has reason to believe to be false 
in any material particular or which he does not believe to be true, 
 
1[(g)  is an employee of Authority, and is involved in the issuance of a fake National 
Identity Card, or the officer•in•charge of that Branch] and 
 
shall, in addition to any other penalty to which he may be liable under any other law, be punishable 
with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1[five years] or with fine not exceeding 
one hundred thousand rupees, or with both: 
 
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person acting pursuant to a request made 
by the Authority under section 22. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Added and Subs. by Act XIX of 2011, s. 2 
 
 
Page 22 of 27 
 
1[30A. Fines and penalties to be credited to the Federal Consolidated Fund. All fines and 
penalties recovered by the Authority shall be credited to the Federal Consolidated Fund.] 
 
31. Cognizance of offences. No court shall take cognizance of any offence under this 
Ordinance except upon complaint in writing made by the Authority or any gazetted officer authorised 
by it in this behalf. 
 
32. Trial of offences. —(1) No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the first class shall try 
an offence punishable under this Ordinance. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section 32 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, 
(Act V of 1898) it shall be lawful for any Magistrate of the first class to pass any sentence authorised 
by this Ordinance even if such sentence exceeds his powers under the said section 32. 
 
(3) Any Magistrate of the first class empowered, for the time being, to try in a summary way 
the offences specified in sub-section (1) of section 260 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act 
V of 1898), may try in accordance with the provisions contained in sections 262 to 265 of the Code 
any offences punishable under this Ordinance. 
_________ 
 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
33. Remuneration. The Chairman and members shall be paid such emoluments as may be 
determined by the Federal Government and shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their term 
of office. 
 
34. Chairman and members not to engage in certain business, etc. —(1) The Chairman and 
members shall not, during their term of office, engage themselves in any other service, business, 
vocation or employment, or enter into the employment of, or accept any advisory or consultancy 
relationship with any person or entity engaged in providing services or products whatsoever to the 
Authority on, any of the projects, schemes, proposals or plans undertaken, executed or supervised by 
the Authority or any related undertaking of such aforesaid person or entity. 
 
(2) The Chairman and members shall not have any direct or indirect financial interest, or have 
any connection with any such person, entity or related undertaking as mentioned in sub-section (1) for 
so long as he holds office. 
 
35. Registration Officers, officers, employees, etc. To carry out the purposes of this 
Ordinance, the Authority may, from time to time, appoint Registration Officers, members of its staff, 
experts, consultants, advisers and other officers and employees on such terms and conditions as it may 
deem fit. 
 
36. Registration Officers, etc. deemed to be public servants. The Chairman, members, 
Registration Officers, members of its staff, experts, consultants, advisors, other officers and employees 
of the Authority shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan 
Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
1Ins. by financial act No V of 2019 s.10. 
 
 
Page 23 of 27 
 
 
37. Delegation. The Authority may by general or special order delegate to the Chairman or a 
member or a Registration Officer, or any member of its staff, or an expert, consultant, adviser, or other 
officer or employee of the Authority, any of its powers or functions under this Ordinance subject to 
such conditions as it may think fit: 
 
Provided that any person to whom the powers of a Registration Officer, not including the 
Director General, stood delegated under the provisions of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 
1973), immediately before the commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been 
delegated under this section unless revoked by the Authority by a general or special order. 
 
38. Reports to the Governments. —(1) The Authority shall submit at the end of every calendar 
year, but not later than 31st of January of the following year— 
 
(a)  a report to the Federal Government on the performance of its functions and 
exercise of its powers and the carrying out of its purpose and objects during the 
year so ending and the anticipated developments for the following year; and 
 
(b)  a report on the state of development, establishment and maintenance of 
registration and database systems in the country and all related matters 
identifying the problems, prospects and other necessary areas and matters for 
the Federal Government, or concerned Provincial Government or local 
authority's consideration and action, if any suggested in the report. 
 
(2) Copies of the report, or relevant portions thereof, mentioned in clause (b) of sub-section (1) 
identifying problems, prospects and other necessary areas and matters for a particular Provincial 
Government's or local authority's consideration or action shall also be furnished simultaneously to the 
concerned Provincial Government or local authority. 
 
39. Certain arrangements to continue. All contracts, agreements, promises, negotiations and 
working arrangements made and understandings reached including any bidding process initiated as a 
result of any requests for proposals sought from prospective contractors, and all liabilities incurred 
including any contingent or future liability on account of availing any services, etc., by the National 
Database Organization and the Registration Organization on behalf of the Federal Government in 
connection with, or for the purpose of, or in relation to the same objects, purposes, functions and powers 
as those of the Authority, before the establishment of the Authority, shall be deemed to have been 
made, reached or incurred, as applicable, by the Authority under this Ordinance and shall have effect 
accordingly. 
 
40. Indemnity. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Federal 
Government or any Provincial Government or Local Authority, any Registration Officer or any other 
person exercising any power or performing any function under this Ordinance, for anything which is 
in good faith done or purporting or intended to be done under this Ordinance or any rule. 
 
41. Transfer of employees and assets etc.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any 
law, rules regulations, contract, agreement, or in the terms and conditions of their service or in the 
provisions of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), the Civil Servants Act, 1973 (LXXI 
of 1973), on the establishment of the Authority, all persons appointed or employed in the National 
Database Organization and the Registration Organization, immediately before the establishment of the 
Authority, in particular, all Registration Officers appointed pursuant to section 3 of the National 
Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), and other officers and employees, whether recruited initially or  
 
 
Page 24 of 27 
 
absorbed or inducted subsequently, including a person on deputation to any other organization, 
department, agency or formation in Pakistan or abroad but not being person on deputation or 
secondment to the Registration Organization or the National Database Organization from any other 
organization, department, agency or formation, shall stand transferred to and become Registration 
Officers and other officers and employees, as applicable, of the Authority on the same terms and 
conditions including remuneration, tenure of service, rights and privileges as to pension and gratuity 
and other matters which were applicable to them immediately prior to the establishment of the 
Authority. 
 
(2) The Federal Government shall pay to the Authority, pension charges and gratuity in respect 
of, and provident fund accumulations of, persons transferred to the Authority by virtue of sub-section 
(1) or sub-section (9), as they have become entitled to, or have been earned by them, or have 
accumulated till their transfer to the Authority as aforesaid. 
 
(3) On transfer to the Authority as provided in sub-section (1) or sub-section (9), all 
Registration Officers and other officers and employees shall, where applicable, cease to be civil 
servants and shall be deemed to have been appointed and have respectively become the Registration 
Officers and other officers and employees of the Authority as if originally appointed under this 
Ordinance as if they were always the Registration Officers, officers and employees of the Authority, 
as applicable, except for the purposes of financial benefits which they shall not claim from a date prior 
to the date of their transfer to the Authority as aforesaid. 
 
(4) On transfer as aforesaid, such a Registration Officer, other officer or employee, until his 
employment in the Authority is terminated in accordance with his terms and conditions of service or 
his terms and conditions as altered by regulations which shall not be less favourable than those by 
which he was governed immediately before his transfer to the Authority, shall continue to be so 
governed. 
 
(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section, any person referred to in sub-
section (1) may within three months from the date of establishment of the Authority opt not to be 
transferred to the service of the Authority and the option so exercised shall be final and those persons 
who do not exercise their right of option in writing within the aforesaid period shall be deemed to have 
opted to be transferred to the Authority. 
 
(6) All persons who opt under sub-section (5) not to be transferred to the service of the 
Authority shall be provided a suitable posting elsewhere within six months from the date of exercise 
of their option and till that time they shall remain on surplus pool of the Federal Government. 
 
(7) The service of a person who does not accept the alternative appointment or posting offered 
to him within the time allowed by sub-section (6) shall stand terminated on the date on which he 
declines the offer or the time allowed to accept the offer expires, whichever is earlier, and such persons 
shall be entitled to be paid for a maximum period of three months. 
 
(8) The termination of services of an employee under sub-section (7) shall be deemed to be 
discharge from service owing to abolition of a permanent post for the purposes of admissibility of 
compensation pension, etc. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 25 of 27 
 
 (9) Every person on deputation or secondment to the Registration Organization or the National 
Database Organization from any other organization, department, agency or formation immediately 
before the establishment of the Authority shall, on such establishment, have an option either— 
 
(a)  to remain employed in the Authority as a deputationist on the same terms and 
conditions of deputation as were applicable to him immediately before the 
establishment of the Authority; or 
 
(b)  to opt for being absorbed in the Authority whereupon, if his option is so 
accepted by the Authority, he shall stand and be deemed to have been transferred 
to the Authority from the date of establishment of the Authority on such terms 
and conditions of service as the Authority may deem fit, which shall however not 
be less favourable, than those applicable to him as per his terms and conditions 
of deputation immediately before the establishment of the Authority: 
 
Provided that the aforesaid option must be exercised within one month of the establishment of 
the Authority, where after a person not exercising either of the above options, or having opted under 
clause (b) but not accepted by the Authority, shall be deemed to have opted under clause (a) and all 
consequences shall thereafter accrue as if he had so opted under the said clause. 
 
(10) No person who stands transferred to the Authority by virtue of sub-section (1) or 
sub-section (9) shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, be 
entitled to any compensation because of such transfer. 
 
(11) Any assets or other property of the Federal Government assigned or allocated for their use 
or any other purpose to such offices including the District Registration Offices, other offices, counters 
and any other formation of the Registration Organization as well as that of the National Database 
Organization shall stand transferred to and vested in the Authority. 
 
(12) All suits and other legal proceedings instituted by or against the Federal Government, the 
Directorate of National Registration and the National Database Organization immediately before the 
commencement of this ordinance shall be deemed to be suits and proceedings by or against the 
Authority, as the case may be, and may proceed and be dealt with accordingly. 
 
(13) All debts and liabilities incurred, contracts entered into or rights acquired and all matters 
and things, engaged to be done, by with and for the Directorate of National Registration and the 
National Database Organization before the commencement of this ordinance shall be deemed to have 
been incurred, entered into, acquired or engaged to be done by, with or for the Authority as the case 
may be. 
 
 
1[41-A. Transfer of assets and liabilities of Alien Registration Authority.— (1) On transfer 
of the Alien Registration Authority (NARA) under Section 17 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 (XXXI of 
1946), all employees of the NARA shall, subject to the following provisions, cease to be civil servants 
within the meaning of the Civil Servants Act, 1973 (LXXI of 1973) and shall be deemed to have always 
been appointed on comparable posts of the Authority, except for the purposes of financial benefits 
which shall not be admissible to them prior to the date of their transfer to the Authority. 
 
 
 
 
 
1Ins. by Act, No. XXVII of 2016, s. 3 
 
 
Page 26 of 27 
 
 (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this section, any person referred to 
in sub-section (1) may, within three months of the transfer, exercise an irrevocable option either to 
remain civil servant or, as the case may be, become employee of the Authority: 
 
Provided that where any person does not exercise the option within the said period he shall be 
deemed to have opted to become employee of the Authority. 
 
(3) Any person who opts under sub-section (2) to remain civil servant shall be provided with a 
comparable posting elsewhere within three months of the exercise of option and till such posting 
remain on surplus pool of the Federal Government. 
 
(4) On transfer as aforesaid, a person, until his employment in the Authority is terminated in 
accordance with his terms and conditions of service or his terms and conditions as altered by 
regulations which shall not be less favourable than those by which he was governed immediately before 
his transfer, shall continue to be governed accordingly. 
 
(5) No person who stands transferred to the Authority by virtue of sub-section (2) shall, 
notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, not entitled to any 
compensation because of such transfer. 
 
(6) All assets and liabilities of the NARA including its counters and other formations shall, on 
commencement of the Foreigners (Amendment) Act, 2016 (XX of 2016), stand transferred to and 
vested in the Authority. 
 
(7) The Federal Government shall pay to the Authority capitalized value of pension and gratuity 
in respect of employees, transferred to the Authority under sub•-section (1) to which they have become 
entitled to or have been earned by them or have accumulated till their transfer to the Authority. 
 
(8) All suits and other legal proceedings instituted by or against the Federal Government and 
NARA in respect of the matters of the foreigners registration immediately before commencement of 
the Foreigners (Amendment) Act, 2016 (XX of 2016) shall be deemed to be suits and legal proceedings 
of the Authority on and from such commencement and shall be dealt with by the Authority accordingly. 
 
(9) All debts and liabilities incurred, contracts entered into or rights acquired and all matters 
and things done, engaged or to be done by or for the NARA immediately before commencement of 
the Foreigners (Amendment) Act, 2016 (XX of 2016) shall be deemed on such commencement to have 
been incurred, entered into, acquired, done. engaged or, as the case may be, to be done by or for the 
Authority.] 
 
42. Exemption from taxes. Notwithstanding anything contained in the 1[Income Tax 
Ordinance, 2001 (XLIX of 2001)] or any other law for the time being in force relating to income-tax, 
super tax and wealth• tax, the Authority shall not be liable to pay and be exempted from paying any 
such taxes as aforesaid on its incomes, profits or gains for a period of five years beginning from the 
date of its establishment. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by Act No. V of 2007, s. 3 
 
 
 
Page 27 of 27 
 
43. Ordinance 1[XCI of 2002] not to apply to Authority. The Industrial Relations Ordinance, 
1[2002 (XCI of 2002)] shall not apply to or in relation to the Authority or any person in the service of 
the Authority. 
 
44. Power to make rules. The Federal Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance: 
 
Provided that till the time any amendments are made or any fresh rules are made in this behalf, 
the rules made under section 15 of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973) and in force at 
the time of the establishment of the Authority shall be applied as nearly as practicable in the same 
manner as before to the extent the same are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance with 
any references to the Registrar General, Director General Registration Organization, or any competent 
authority by whatever nomenclature therein to be deemed to be a reference to the Authority. 
 
45. Regulations.—(1) The Authority may, by notification in the official Gazette, make 
regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance or the rules, for the carrying out of 
its functions under this Ordinance and any other matter for which, under this Ordinance, provision may 
be made by regulations. 
 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such regulations may provide 
for appointment of Registration Officers, members of its staff, experts, consultants, advisers and other 
officers and employees and the terms and conditions of their service: 
 
Provided that, subject to the provisions of section 40 till the time any amendments are; made 
or any fresh regulations are made in this behalf, any rules or regulations governing the terms and 
conditions of their service and in force at the time of the establishment of the Authority shall be applied 
as nearly as practicable in the same manner as before to the extent the same are not inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Ordinance, with any references to the Directorate General of Registration, or any 
competent authority by whatever nomenclature therein to be deemed to be a reference to the Authority. 
 
46. Ordinance to override other laws. The provisions of this Ordinance shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
 
47. Removal of difficulties. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of this 
Ordinance, the Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Ordinance, as may appear to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty. 
 
48. Repeal.—(1) The National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), is hereby repealed. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the National Registration Act, 1973 (LVI of 1973), any 
notification issued, powers delegated, contracts entered into, proceedings commenced, rights and 
liabilities incurred, fee or charges levied, things done or actions taken under any provision of the said 
Act shall, so far as they are not inconsistent with the provision of this Ordinance, be deemed to have 
been made, passed, issued, delegated, entered into, commenced, acquired, incured, levied, done or 
taken under this Ordinance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Subs by Act V of  2007, s. 4