Latest news with #NADRA
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Chinese woman's khula takes legal twist
A case filed by a Chinese woman seeking divorce (khula) from her Pakistani husband has taken a new twist after conflicting decisions from the high court and a lower court, raising questions over whether she can legally obtain khula in Pakistan, who will get custody of their 12-year-old daughter, and whether the woman will be granted a visa to stay in the country until the matter is resolved. According to court documents, Chinese national Mir Guli married Shah Zeb, a trader from Charsadda, in China in 2011. A year later, she gave birth to a daughter, Sofia. Mir Guli claims that her husband, without informing her, registered Sofia's record with NADRA in Pakistan, effectively revoking her Chinese nationality, but did not register Mir Guli as his wife. Distressed by her husband's behaviour, she filed for khula in a Pakistani family court. Her counsel, Supreme Court Advocate Saeed Yousaf Khan, said the case took a major turn when Shah Zeb's legal team argued before the family court that since the marriage took place in China and was registered there, Pakistani courts lacked jurisdiction to decide on the matter. However, Justice Sajid Mehmood Sethi of the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court ruled that the case could indeed be heard and decided in Pakistan where the wife is residing. The judge directed the lower court to hear the matter on a daily basis, keeping in view the woman's visa status, and instructed the Ministry of Interior's visa section to review her case. Despite this, Family Court Judge Taimoor Afzal dismissed Mir Guli's khula plea on jurisdictional grounds on the same day the high court declared the case admissible. An appeal has now been filed before the Sessions Judge, along with a separate petition for custody of 12-year-old Sofia, who is currently living with her father.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Without papers: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis
KARACHI, July 23 — Ahmed Raza is invisible in the eyes of his government, unable to study or work because, like millions of other Pakistanis, he lacks identification papers. In the South Asian nation of more than 240 million people, parents generally wait until a child begins school at the age of five to obtain a birth certificate, which is required for enrolment in most parts of Pakistan. Raza slipped through the cracks until the end of elementary school, but when his middle school requested documentation, his mother had no choice but to withdraw him. 'If I go looking for work, they ask for my ID card. Without it, they refuse to hire me,' said the 19-year-old in the megacity of Karachi, the southern economic capital. He has already been arrested twice for failing to present identification cards when stopped by police at checkpoints. Raza's mother Maryam Suleman, who is also unregistered, said she 'didn't understand the importance of having identity documents'. 'I had no idea I would face such difficulties later in life for not being registered,' the 55-year-old widow told AFP from the single room she and Raza share. Pakistan launched biometric identification cards in 2000 and registration is increasingly required in all aspects of formal life, especially in cities. In 2021, the National Database and Registration Authority estimated that around 45 million people were not registered. They have declined to release updated figures or reply to AFP despites repeated requests. To register, Raza needs his mother's or uncle's documents—an expensive and complex process at their age, often requiring a doctor, lawyer or a newspaper notice. The paperwork, he says, costs up to US$165 (RM698.40) —a month and a half's income for the two of them, who earn a living doing housework and odd jobs in a grocery shop. Locals whisper that registration often requires bribes, and some suggest the black market offers a last resort. 'Our lives could have been different if we had our identity cards,' Raza said. 'No time or money' In remote Punjab villages like Rajanpur, Unicef is trying to prevent people from falling into the same fate as Raza. They conduct door-to-door registration campaigns, warning parents that undocumented children face higher risks of child labour and forced marriage. Currently, 58 percent of children under five have no birth certificate, according to government figures. Registration fees depend on the province, ranging from free, $0.70 to $7 -- still a burden for many Pakistanis, about 45 percent of whom live in poverty. 'Our men have no time or money to go to the council and miss a day's work,' said Nazia Hussain, mother of two unregistered children. The 'slow process' often requires multiple trips and there is 'no means of transport for a single woman,' she said. Saba, from the same village, is determined to register her three children, starting with convincing her in-laws of its value. 'We don't want our children's future to be like our past. If children go to school, the future will be brighter,' said Saba, who goes by just one name. Campaigns in the village have resulted in an increase of birth registration rates from 6.1 per cent in 2018 to 17.7 per cent in 2024, according to Unicef. This will improve the futures of an entire generation, believes Zahida Manzoor, child protection officer at Unicef, dispatched to the village. 'If the state doesn't know that a child exists, it can't provide basic services,' she said. 'If a child does not have an identity, it means the state has not recognised their existence. The state is not planning for the services that the child will need after birth.' Muhammad Haris and his brothers, who have few interactions with the formal state in their border village in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have not registered any of their eight children. 'The government asks for documents for the pilgrimage visa to Mecca,' a journey typically made after saving for a lifetime, he told AFP. For him, this is the only reason worthy of registration. — AFP
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Without paper: Ghost lives of millions of Pakistanis
KARACHI: Ahmed Raza is invisible in the eyes of his government, unable to study or work because, like millions of other Pakistanis, he lacks identification papers. In the South Asian nation of more than 240 million people, parents generally wait until a child begins school at the age of five to obtain a birth certificate, which is required for enrolment in most parts of Pakistan. Raza slipped through the cracks until the end of elementary school, but when his middle school requested documentation, his mother had no choice but to withdraw him. 'If I go looking for work, they ask for my ID card. Without it, they refuse to hire me,' said the 19-year-old in the megacity of Karachi, the southern economic capital. He has already been arrested twice for failing to present identification cards when stopped by police at checkpoints. Raza's mother Maryam Suleman, who is also unregistered, said she 'didn't understand the importance of having identity documents.' 'I had no idea I would face such difficulties later in life for not being registered,' the 55-year-old widow told AFP from the single room she and Raza share. Pakistan launched biometric identification cards in 2000 and registration is increasingly required in all aspects of formal life, especially in cities. In 2021, the National Database and Registration Authority estimated that around 45 million people were not registered. They have declined to release updated figures or reply to AFP despites repeated requests. To register, Raza needs his mother's or uncle's documents — an expensive and complex process at their age, often requiring a doctor, lawyer or a newspaper notice. The paperwork, he says, costs up to $165 — a month and a half's income for the two of them, who earn a living doing housework and odd jobs in a grocery shop. Locals whisper that registration often requires bribes, and some suggest the black market offers a last resort. 'Our lives could have been different if we had our identity cards,' Raza said. In remote Punjab villages like Rajanpur, UNICEF is trying to prevent people from falling into the same fate as Raza. They conduct door-to-door registration campaigns, warning parents that undocumented children face higher risks of child labor and forced marriage. Currently, 58 percent of children under five have no birth certificate, according to government figures. Registration fees depend on the province, ranging from free, $0.70 to $7 — still a burden for many Pakistanis, about 45 percent of whom live in poverty. 'Our men have no time or money to go to the council and miss a day's work,' said Nazia Hussain, mother of two unregistered children. The 'slow process' often requires multiple trips and there is 'no means of transport for a single woman,' she said. Saba, from the same village, is determined to register her three children, starting with convincing her in-laws of its value. 'We don't want our children's future to be like our past. If children go to school, the future will be brighter,' said Saba, who goes by just one name. Campaigns in the village have resulted in an increase of birth registration rates from 6.1 percent in 2018 to 17.7 percent in 2024, according to UNICEF. This will improve the futures of an entire generation, believes Zahida Manzoor, child protection officer at UNICEF, dispatched to the village. 'If the state doesn't know that a child exists, it can't provide basic services,' she said. 'If a child does not have an identity, it means the state has not recognized their existence. The state is not planning for the services that the child will need after birth.' Muhammad Haris and his brothers, who have few interactions with the formal state in their border village in the mountainous province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have not registered any of their eight children. 'The government asks for documents for the pilgrimage visa to Makkah,' a journey typically made after saving for a lifetime, he told AFP. For him, this is the only reason worthy of registration.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
NADRA launches 24/7 registration centres in the city
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has announced the establishment of three new 24/7 National Registration Centres (Big NRCs) in Karachi, aimed at streamlining identity-related services and enhancing public access. The new centres will be located in Malir Cantt, Malir, and Surjani Town, offering citizens round-the-clock assistance with CNICs and family registration issues. Speaking at a press briefing at NADRA's Karachi headquarters, Director and Spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali detailed a series of policy reforms - the most significant overhaul of Pakistan's identity registration system since 2002. The changes are focused on preventing fraudulent entries in official family records and addressing widespread citizen concerns about the system's reliability and accessibility. Under the revised regulations, child registration certificates (B-Forms) will now require photographs and biometrics for children above three years, while simplified registration remains in place for those under three. Each child will receive a separate B-Form, and these updated forms will be mandatory for passport applications, as older versions will no longer be accepted. The Family Registration Certificate (FRC) has also been upgraded and will now be recognised as a legally valid document for inheritance claims and other legal matters. Citizens can make corrections or adjustments to their family records using NADRA's mobile application. In a move to encourage accountability, individuals found in possession of fraudulent identity cards are being urged to voluntarily surrender them without the threat of immediate legal consequences. NADRA also announced a relocation of services previously offered at post offices - which saw poor public response - to 1,200 union councils nationwide. This includes 100 union councils in Sindh and 20 in Karachi, where services such as CNIC renewals, marital status changes, and lost card replacements will now be available. Director Shabahat Ali emphasised that the Pak-ID mobile application will continue to charge standard fees equal to those at NADRA offices and remains especially popular among overseas Pakistanis for its convenience.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Time Business News
List of Documents That Can Be Verified by the Pakistani Foreign Office
Getting your documents verified from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), commonly referred to as the Apostille in Pakistan, is an essential step if you plan to use Pakistani documents abroad. Whether you're applying for a visa, seeking employment in another country, or planning for higher education, most international authorities require that your documents be attested by the Pakistani Foreign Office to ensure authenticity. This detailed guide will walk you through the complete process, including what types of documents can be attested, how to prepare your documents, and the online appointment system. The attestation by the Foreign Office confirms that your documents are genuine and have been issued by a recognized authority in Pakistan. Once MOFA verifies your documents, they are accepted for further attestation by embassies of other countries, universities abroad, or foreign employers. Without this verification, your documents may be considered invalid or untrustworthy internationally. Before visiting the Foreign Office, ensure your documents have been pre-attested by the relevant issuing authority: Educational documents should be verified by IBCC (for Matric/Inter) or HEC (for degrees) (for Matric/Inter) or (for degrees) Marriage or divorce certificates must be issued and attested by Union Council or NADRA or Birth certificates should be issued and attested by NADRA Affidavits or notarized documents must be stamped by a Notary Public and District Court MOFA no longer allows walk-in document verification. You must book an appointment online: Visit the official portal: Register and create a profile Fill out the document details and choose the nearest Foreign Office camp (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, etc.) (Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, etc.) Select a date and time slot for your visit Print the confirmation slip On the day of your appointment: Bring original documents and photocopies Bring your original CNIC or passport Carry the appointment slip printed from the website Submit your documents to the MOFA official at the assigned counter Pay the nominal fee (usually around Rs. 100 per document, subject to change) Once submitted, most documents are verified on the same day. In some cases, especially if manual verification is needed, you may be asked to return the next day. You will receive your documents stamped with the MOFA seal and signature, confirming official verification. You can verify a wide range of personal, educational, and legal documents. These include: Matric, Intermediate, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees Birth certificate Marriage certificate Divorce or Khula decree decree Unmarried certificate in Pakistan CNIC or Form-B copies Police clearance certificate Experience or employment certificates Affidavits and legal declarations Power of attorney Medical certificates for travel or immigration Translation documents (if certified by a notary public or relevant authority) Note: All documents must first be attested by the issuing authority (such as a board, university, or local government) before MOFA will verify them. MOFA has regional camp offices in major cities to facilitate attestation: Islamabad (Main Office) Lahore Karachi Peshawar Quetta Multan Gilgit Muzaffarabad (AJK) Always choose the one closest to your location when booking your appointment. Double-check your documents for any errors in names, dates, or spellings for any errors in names, dates, or spellings Do not laminate your documents before attestation your documents before attestation If someone else is submitting documents on your behalf, they must carry a power of attorney Reach the Foreign Office on time to avoid missing your appointment slot Keep extra photocopies of all documents with you Q: Can I send my documents by courier for MOFA attestation? A: No. Physical presence or an authorized representative is required at the Foreign Office. Q: Is MOFA attestation needed for all types of documents? A: It depends on the purpose. Most countries require MOFA attestation for legal, educational, or marital documents. Q: How long is the attestation valid? A: MOFA attestation does not expire but may need re-verification if the document is altered. Q: Can I verify documents in urgent cases? A: The system works on appointments, but in some cities, same-day urgent service may be available. Check the local Foreign Office for this option. Verifying your documents from the Foreign Office in Pakistan and khula in Pakistan is a necessary process when dealing with international legal, educational, or immigration matters. While the process may seem detailed, it is quite straightforward if you prepare in advance, get pre-attestations, and use the MOFA online system to schedule your appointment. Always ensure the authenticity of your documents and avoid third-party agents who may charge high fees unnecessarily. Following the correct steps will save you time, money, and legal issues abroad. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
