The National Database and Registration Authority (National Identity Card) Rules, 2002

S.R.O. 199(l)/2002.- In exercise of the powers conferred by section 44 of the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000), read with clause (b) of sub-section (4) and sub-section (5) of section 5, section 8, 9 and 10, sub-section (3) of section 17 and sub-section (3) of section 19 thereof, the Federal Government is pleased to make the following rules, namely:-

1. Short title and commencement. - (1) These rules may be called the National Database and Registration Authority (National Identity Card) Rules, 2002. (2) They shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions. - (1) In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,

a) ["Alpha family" includes the registered person's father, mother, sisters and brothers;] aa) ["authorized officer" means an officer authorized under section 18 of the Ordinance;] ab) ["Beta family" includes the registered person's spouse (s) and children;] ac) ["biometrics" means personal data resulting from specific technical processing relating to the physical, physiological or behavioral characteristics of a person which allow or confirm the unique identification of that person, such as facial images “fingerprints, iris scan or dactyloscopy data;] b) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment; ba) ["cancellation" means the permanent invalidation of a card or its associated data, rendering it unusable for any purpose in accordance with the law;] c) "card" means, for the purposes of these rules, the National Identity Card as well as dematerialized form, as secure and verifiable proof of persons digital identity; ca) ["certificate" means any document in a physical or digital form issued by the authority under these rules;] d) "citizen" means, for the purposes of these rules, a citizen of Pakistan who has attained the age of eighteen years and includes both a resident and a non-resident citizen. (da) ["confiscation" means the act of seizing and invalidating an individual's card and restricting access to or use of his associated personal data within the national database;] e) “Corporation" means the Overseas Employment Corporation Limited; ea) [“Dematerialized” means a Legal, secure, non-physical and digital version of physical card or certificate issued to an eligible person by the Authority.] f) "dependent", in relation to an emigrant, means the spouse, sons not above the age of twenty- one years, and unmarried sisters and daughters of the emigrant, and includes, aged or incapacitated parents, incapacitated sons above the age of twenty-one years and widowed and divorced sisters and daughters of the emigrant wholly dependent upon and residing with the emigrant and the sons not above the age of twenty-one years, and dependent unmarried daughters, of such widowed or divorced sisters or daughters; fa) ["digitally marked" means the process of embedding identifiable and traceable metadata in the Citizen Database for further verification;] fb) [“Digital Identity” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in sub-section (i) of section-2 of the Digital Nation Pakistan Act-2025 (I of 2025)] g) "emigrant" means any person who emigrates or has emigrated or who has been registered as an emigrant under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979) and includes any dependent of an emigrant; ga) ["family" means an alpha, beta or gamma family of a registered person;] (gb) ["family composition data" means data in a database or otherwise relating to the family;] (gc) ["Family Registration Certificate" means a certificate issued by the Authority which reflects, verifies and provides a record of the family composition data of a registered person;] (gd) ["Gamma family" includes the guardian or ward of a registered, person.] (ge) ["impounding" means the temporary withholding or suspension of a card or its associated data pending verification, corrective action or other necessary procedures, including restricted digital access, temporarily seizing control of data within a database;] h) "Insurance Company" means the insurance company referred to in rule 22A of the Emigration Rules, 1979; i) "intending emigrant" means a person who is intending to proceed abroad as an emigrant pursuant to his selection for employment abroad; ia) ["intruder" means any person who was unlawfully or wrongly made part of a registered person's family composition data;] j) "non-resident citizen" means a non-resident citizen specified in rule 4; k) "Ordinance", means the National Database and Registration Authority Ordinance, 2000 (VIII of 2000); l) "Overseas Employment Promoter" means a person licensed as such under section 12 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979); m) "Overseas Pakistanis Foundation" means Overseas Pakistanis Foundation as defined in clause (gg) of rule 2 of the Emigration Rules, 1979; n) "Protector of Emigrants" means a Protector of Emigrants appointed under section 5 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979); na) ["registered person" means any person registered under any provisions of the Ordinance;] nb) ["QR code” means the Quick Response code which is a two-dimensional matrix bar code composed of a square grid of black and white modules with finder or fiducial patterns, which is machine-readable by imaging devices. It can store data in various encoding modes with error correction features, and when scanned coverts the encoded data into information for identity verification.] o) "registration" means registration of a citizen under section 9 of the Ordinance read with these rules; p) "regulations" mean the National Database and Registration Authority (Application for National Identity Card) Regulations, 2002; q) "resident citizen" means a resident citizen under rule 3; r) "Schedule" means Schedule to these rules; and s) ["Ward" have the same meaning as defined in the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 (VIII of 1890).] (2) The words and expressions used but not defined in these rules shall have the same meanings as are respectively assigned to them in the Ordinance.

3. Resident citizen. - A citizen shall be a resident citizen if he is not a non-resident citizen.

4. Non-resident citizen. - (1) A citizen shall be a nonresident citizen if he, — a) is an emigrant or intending emigrant; b) is, or is intending to be, resident abroad; c) holds nationality or citizenship of any other country or state pursuant to sub-section (3) of section 14 of the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (II of 1951); or d) holds an [immigrant] or resident visa, permanent or otherwise, or equivalent authorization, permit or status, as the case may be, of a foreign state or country. Explanation I.- An emigrant, or intending emigrant, for the purposes of this sub-rule, does not include dependents of such emigrant or intending emigrant. Explanation II- An emigrant, or intending emigrant, does not include a person whose foreign service agreement, contract or letter of appointment, as the case may be, is not required to be registered with the Protector of Emigrants pursuant to the Emigration Rules, 1979. Explanation III- Without prejudice to the generality of the class of non-resident citizens specified in clause (b), a non-resident citizen falling under this sub-rule includes a citizen resident, or intending to be, resident abroad, a) for the purpose of employment whose foreign service agreement, contract or letter of appointment, or undertaking, as the case may be, is not required to be registered with the Protector of Emigrants pursuant to the Emigration Rules, 1979 b) who is a dependent of an emigrant or intending emigrant specified in sub-rule (1); and c) who is a member of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation [even if] he is not an emigrant, or intending emigrant, as specified in sub-rule (1). (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), a citizen shall not be deemed to be a non-resident citizen under [clause (b)] of sub-rule(l) if— a. his stay abroad does not exceed, or he intends to stay abroad for not more than six consecutive months inclusive of the time spent on temporary visits, if any, to Pakistan; or b. he is proceeding under a foreign scholarship or training scheme approved by the Federal Government or the concerned Provincial Government; or c. he is proceeding on Haj or Ziarat and is certified by the Federal Government or an officer authorized by it in this behalf to be so proceeding; or d. he is proceeding on student visa or for medical treatment. e. he is a spouse, real child or any of the real parent or real brother or sister of the persons specified in sub-rule (2) provided that he is dependent upon the relevant person specified in sub-rule (2). [Provided that a citizen falling in clauses (a), (b), (d) or (e) may, if so considered appropriate by the Authority, be deemed a non-resident citizen if he, of his own volition, opts to apply for registration and issuance of card as a non-resident citizen.]

5. Registration. - All citizens shall get themselves registered with the Authority in accordance with section 9 of the Ordinance under these rule [and the regulations],

6. Terms and conditions. - (1) A resident citizen or a non-resident citizen, as the case may be, shall only hold or use a card issued to him under these rules in so far as he continues to fulfill the criteria of eligibility as laid down and applicable to him under these rules or till the expiry of the validity period of his card, whichever is earlier. (2) A card shall no more be valid and all verification, authentication and related services linked to such card shall stand suspended forthwith, when the holder thereof ceases to fulfill the criteria of eligibility applicable to him under these rules or upon the expiry of the validity period thereof: Provided that a citizen who applies within time on becoming a resident citizen after ceasing to be a non-resident citizen or vice versa, he may continue to validly hold the card issued to him till the time he is issued a fresh card and shall surrender the card upon being issued the fresh card.

7. Fee, form and manner of payment. – [(1) The Authority shall charge fee, as specified in Schedule I, for the issuance of a card to a citizen.] (2) Where a request is made by a citizen for out of turn or urgent issuance of a card, the Authority may in its discretion, on a case-to-case basis, decide such request on its merits. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, no fee shall be charged for issuance of card to, (b) a non-resident citizen who is in the service of Pakistan or in the service of a local authority or a corporation, owned or controlled by the Federal government or a Provincial Government and is proceeding on government duty or posting abroad or on duty or for employment with any international organization or for the purpose of training with the permission of the Federal Government; (c) a non-resident citizen who is a spouse, real child or any of the real parent or real brother or sister, as the case may be, of the persons specified in clause (b) provided that he is dependent upon the relevant person specified in clause (b); (d) a citizen who has applied for a duplicate card on account of loss or destruction of his original card before the delivery thereof to him provided such loss or destruction is not attributable to any act or omission of such citizen; and (e) a citizen who has applied for the incorporation of any change in [the particulars borne on his card necessitated because of a mistake by the Authority not attributable to such citizen]. (4) The Authority shall make necessary arrangements for the collection of fee and may collect, or cause to be collected, the fee for issuance of the card at any time prior to or alongwith the deposit of application or issuance of the card as it may deem fit: (5) The Authority may adopt any mode or manner for collection of the fee and other charges as it may deem fit for achieving efficiency and facilitating the deposit and collection of fee and other charges by and from the citizens. (6) If an applicant is refused registration or issuance of the card under these rules, all fees and other charges, if any, collected by the Authority, shall be refunded to the applicant after deducting the processing charges, if any, as determined by the Authority on case to case basis. Explanation. - Where an Overseas Employment Promoter or the Corporation is depositing a duly filled in application form under regulation 5 on behalf of a non-resident citizen specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4, the fee shall be paid in advance by the applicant to the said Overseas Employment Promoter or the Corporation, as the case may be, for onward deposit with the Authority as per regulation 5 of the regulations.

8. Manner of registration, inquiry and evidence. - (1) The Authority shall establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, a registration and database system for the purposes of these rules in a manner deemed fit by the authority owing regard to the nature of information being collected from the applicants and such other information which is relevant. The Authority shall also establish and maintain, or cause to be established and maintained, an automated computerized system, backed by such registration and database system, for recording and verification of exit and entry of non-resident citizens at such ports or places in Pakistan as it may deem necessary for the purpose. (3) Before registering an applicant, the Authority may make any inquiry or require any evidence, documentary or otherwise, from the applicant, as it may deem fit in respect of the eligibility and other matters pertaining to an applicant for the purposes of these rules. (4) Without prejudice to generality of the foregoing power of making inquiry or requiring evidence under sub-rule (3), the Authority may, wherever applicable and necessary, require any of the following evidence, namely: - (a) a card previously issued to the applicant; (b) proof of registration of foreign service agreement, contract or letter of appointment, or undertaking, as the case may be, of the applicant with the Protector of Emigrants or Pakistan Mission abroad in case the applicant is a non-resident citizen specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4, whose foreign service agreement, contract or letter of appointment, or undertaking, as the case may be, is already registered with the Protector of Emigrants or a Pakistan Mission; (c) proof of deposit of all fees, charges, sums, insurance premium etc., as the case may be, leviable or chargeable from non-resident citizens specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4-under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, the Emigration Rule, 1979, and the Group Insurance Scheme, or any other similar scheme devised by Insurance Company in association with the Bureau; (d) duration of stay abroad or a valid visa, permit, authorization or other evidence of status of legal stay or residence of the applicant abroad in accordance with the laws of the relevant country or jurisdiction; and (e) valid travel document of the applicant including passport issued by the Government of Pakistan. (5) The Authority shall, in so far as the same is practicable, specify, in the written instructions issued in pursuance of [sub- regulation] [(3)] of [regulation] [8] of the National Database and Registration Authority (Application for National Identity Card) Regulations, 2002, the documents and other evidence required from an applicant. (6) The Authority shall, upon being satisfied as to an applicant being eligible for registration, register the applicant under these rules.

9. Manner of issuance of card.- (1) Every citizen who is registered with the Authority under these rules and the regulations shall be issued a card by the Authority [in the appropriate form prescribed in rule 10]. (2) The citizen may receive or collect the card personally, or through his duly authorized nominee or representative, subject to written acknowledgement of receipt thereof by the recipient. (3) The Authority may, if deemed fit, deliver or cause to be delivered the card to the citizen by hand or through any other appropriate means of delivery at the address specified by him in his application.

10. Form of card. [(1) A card issued to a resident citizen shall be in the appropriate form set out in Schedule II and a card issued to a non-resident citizen shall be in the appropriate form set out in Schedule III: Provided that where a resident citizen has made an application for registration under the regulations in the Sindhi language, the Authority may issue the card to such resident citizen in the form set out in Schedule II with information contained therein in the Sindhi language: Provided further that a resident citizen holding a card issued to him in the appropriate form set out in Schedule II shall not be issued a card in any other form set out in Schedule II unless he surrenders the card earlier issued to him: Provided also that a non-resident citizen holding a card issued to him in the appropriate from set out in Schedule III shall not be issued a card in any other form set out in Schedule III unless he surrenders the card earlier issued to him.] (2) A card shall bear the title, data, information and other features [and elements] provided in the said Schedules including the date of issuance or expiry; Provided that where a card is issued to a married woman, she shall keep on the card the name of her father or her husband, as the case may be. [(2A)] Where a resident or non-resident adult citizen is declared disabled by respective Federal or Provincial entities, as the case may be, the Authority may issue the card to such resident or non-resident citizen in the form set out in Schedule VII with disability logo having lifetime validity.] [(2B)] Where a resident or non-resident minor citizen is declared disabled by respective Federal or Provincial department, Authority may issue the certificate or card to such resident or non-resident citizen in the forms set out in Schedule VIII having disability logo with validity period as prescribed under sub-rule (2) of Rule 18 and] [(2C)] Where a resident or non-resident citizen is registered as an organ donor by respective Donor Registration Authorities, Authority may issue a card to such resident or non-resident citizen in the form set out in Schedule IX, with donor logo having lifetime validity.] [(2CC)] Where a resident or non resident citizen has attained the age of sixty years, the Authority shall, on application, issue to such resident or non resident citizen a card in the form set out in Schedule XIII, bearing a distinct senior citizen logo, which shall carry life time validity. [(2D)] Where a resident or non-resident citizen is confirmed being disabled person, senior citizen and also registered as organ donor by respective Federal or Provincial entities, as the case may be, the Authority may issue a card to such resident or non-resident citizen in the form set out in Schedule X] [(2E)] Where a card is issued to a resident citizen belonging to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the card shall bear the inscription ‘Resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’ in such manner and forms as may be specified by the Authority. [(3)] Where in electronic microchip, QR code or any other technological features is embedded in a card or certificate issued under these rules, it may contain the data printed on the card excluding such data therefrom as deemed appropriate by the Authority. The microchip may also contain additional data like mother's name, card holder’s emergency information, bio metric data (fingerprints and photograph) and encrypted electronic certificates of authenticity and integrity regarding data borne on the microchip.] (4) Subject to the [proviso to sub-rule (2)] of rule 6, for the purposes of being issued a card, ----- (a) a resident citizen applying as such, after ceasing to be a nonresident citizen, shall surrender the card earlier issued to him as a nonresident citizen; and (b) a non-resident citizen applying as such, after ceasing to be a resident citizen, shall surrender the card earlier issued to him as a resident citizen Provided that the Authority may waive this requirement where validity of the previously issued card has expired or, if not expired, the surrender of card is not possible in the circumstances.

10A [Issuance of dematerialized Card or Certificate; (1) A dematerialized card or certificate may be issued to a person who possesses a valid card or a certificate that has already been issued under the Ordinance and the rules made thereunder. The Authority shall ensure that dematerialized card or certificate is embedded with cryptographic security features to ensure confidentiality and integrity. (2) The dematerialized card or certificate shall reflect the most recent and valid version of the corresponding physical document as recorded in the database. (3) The issuance of dematerialized card or certificate shall be subject to the completion of due verification and authentication by the Authority’s standards. A holder of dematerialized card or certificate may access his dematerialized card or certificate via the Authority's notified digital platforms. A dematerialized card or certificate issued under these rules shall have the same legal validity, evidentiary value, and enforceability as the physical card or certificate. All existing rules, regulations, and procedures shall apply mutatis mutandis to dematerialized card or certificate unless expressly excluded.

10B. [Issuance of Digital Identity. - (1) The Authority may issue a Digital Identity to any person holding a valid Card or Certificate. The format of the Digital Identity shall be notified by the Authority and may include mobile-based identity, QR code, encrypted biometric token, or any other secure digital form. The rules applicable to the issuance, verification, renewal, correction and cancellation of cards or certificates shall apply mutatis mutandis to Digital Identity, unless otherwise specified. The Authority shall maintain a database of digital identity for lifecycle management and interoperability with digital platforms, in such form and manner as may be notified by the Authority.

11. Period of validity. - A card or certificate issued under these rules shall be valid for the period out therefore in Schedule IV.]

12. Issuance of new card on expiry or termination of validity.- (1) A citizen shall, at any time but not later than one month after the date of expiry or early termination of validity period of his existing card, apply for registration afresh under the regulations and a new card may be issued by the Authority subject to fulfilment of applicable criteria and formalities and payment of the prescribed fee, if any, provided in pursuance of these rules and the regulations for registration and issuance of card. (2) The Authority may, in appropriate cases on a case-to- case basis, extend the time for applying afresh for registration and issuance of a new card beyond the thirty days, period provided in sub-rule (1).

13. Change and duplicate card. - (1) For the incorporation of a change in the card, the Authority may, on an application made in the appropriate form provided in the regulations and subject to surrender of the original card, issue a new revised card incorporating the change; Provided that, where applicable, the applicant may be required to satisfy the Authority as to fulfilment of necessary legal requirements before incorporating the change in the card: Provided further that the applicant deposits the prescribed fee and other sums for the issuance of the new card as notified under rule 7 and provisions of the said rule shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to the payment of fee and other charges under this sub-rule. (2) The Authority may, for any card lost, stolen, or otherwise rendered useless, as the case may be, on an application for issuance of duplicate card made in the appropriate form provided in the regulations and subject to surrender, if possible, of the original card, issue a duplicate card:

14. Purpose of card. - (1) A card validly issued to a non-resident citizen specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4 shall be the proof of his being an emigrant who has complied with all requirements of the Ordinance, the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979), and Emigration Rules, 1979. (2) A card issued under these rules shall be necessary for the purposes of establishing the identity of an emigrant as an emigrant and the assertion, availing or exercise by an emigrant of all benefits, rights, privileges and capacities available to, exercisable by or vested in an emigrant under Pakistan laws including the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979), and Emigration Rules, 1979. (3) A card issued under these rules shall be necessary for the purposes of establishing the identity of a non-resident citizen as a regular member of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation and the assertion, availing or exercise by a non-resident citizen of all benefits, rights, privileges and capacities available to, exercisable by or vested in a regular member of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. Explanation I - It shall be deemed in respect of a non-resident citizen specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4 who has been registered under these rules and issued a card that subject to the payment of the prescribed fee and charges as provided in these rules and the Emigration Rules, 1979, as applicable, --- (i) his foreign service agreement, contract or letter of appointment, as the case may be, has been registered under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979 (XVIII of 1979) and Emigration Rules, 1979; (ii) he has become a regular member of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation; and (iii) he has obtained group insurance from Insurance Company under the Overseas Emigrants Group Insurance Scheme or any other similar scheme devised in association with the Bureau pursuant to rule 22A of the Emigration Rules, 1979. Explanation II- It shall be deemed in respect of a non-resident citizen other than those specified in clause (a) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4 who has been registered under these rules and issued a card that, subject to the payment of the prescribed fee and charges, he is a regular member of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. (4) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, it shall be necessary for a non-resident citizen to produce a card issued to him in the form set out in Schedule II, as applicable, before, ---- (a) immigration or other lawful authorities, including a person authorized by the Authority, at any route, port oy place from where he is departing or emigrating, as the case may be, out of Pakistan or entering in Pakistan; and (b) any other person or authority competent to demand proof of his identity as a non-resident citizen of any category specified in rule 4.

15. Benefits.- (1) Without prejudice to any other rights, benefits, privileges or capacities enjoyed by or available to a non-resident citizen specified in clause (c) of sub-rule (1) of rule 4 who simultaneously holds the nationality or citizenship of any other country or state together with his Pakistani citizenship, such non-resident citizen shall, upon issuance of the card to him in the form set out in Schedule II and during the period of validity of his said card, have the right to enter into Pakistan without a visa from such port or place, by such rout and in accordance with such conditions, if any, as are prescribed pursuant to section 13 of the Passport Act, 1974 (XX of 1974). (2) A card validly issued to a non-resident citizen in the form given in Schedule II shall be the conclusive proof of his being a citizen of Pakistan for the purposes of availing protection of the Government of Pakistan in any foreign country or state as a Pakistani citizen. The Federal Government shall recognize, afford and ensure full protection as citizens of Pakistan available under the law to all card holders abroad. (3) The Authority may arrange for and make available other lawful benefits, rights and privileges for holders of the card, as it may deem fit, in association with governmental, private organizations or entities in order to incentivize registration of the citizens under these rules or for any other lawful purpose.

16. Officer or authority who shall report births and deaths. - The officer or authority to whom, or to where births and deaths are required to be reported under any law relating to registration of births and deaths, for the time being in force, shall report the birth of a newly born citizen, and the death of a citizen who has not attained the age of eighteen years to the District Registrar or any other authorized Registration Officer of the Authority.

17. [Receipt for surrendered cards. - (1) The Authority shall issue a receipt, in the appropriate form set out in Schedule V, in acknowledgement of surrender of a card or, as the case may be, a certificate pursuant to section 17 of the Ordinance (2) A person referred to in sub-section (2) of section 17 of the Ordinance shall surrender and give up his card to the Authority within thirty days of ceasing to be eligible to hold his card or of his card becoming invalid, as the case may be.]

18. [Certificate for registration of children. - (1) A resident citizen and a non-resident citizen registered with the Authority under sub-section (1) of section 9 of the Ordinance who has not attained the age of eighteen years shall be issued a certificate in the appropriate form set out in Schedule VI containing such information, particulars, specifications, features, elements and capacity for use as are provided therein. (2) Omitted [(3) The Authority shall issue a separate certificate for each child as specified in Schedule VII.] [(4) The certificate issued under sub-rule (3) for a child between the age of three to ten years, both inclusive, may include biometric information captured in the form of an IRIS and a photograph for the purpose of registration, which shall be valid till the age of ten years.] (5) The certificate issued under sub-rule (3) for the child between the age of ten to eighteen years, both inclusive, may include biometric information captured in the form of an IRIS, thumb impressions and a photograph for the purpose of registration, which shall be valid till the age of eighteen years.]

19. [Issuance of a family registration certificate. - (1) The Authority may issue a Family Registration Certificate to a registered person in the form set out in Schedule-XI (2) A Family Registration Certificate shall be- (a) issued based on data or information stored in a database; and (b) admissible in evidence for the purpose of providing the family composition data of a registered person and other information or particulars contained in such a certificate relating to the registered person. Provided that if there is any discrepancy in data or family composition, the applicant or a family member may rectify the same as per the procedure laid down by the Authority. (3) The Authority may share digitally or otherwise family composition data of registered person to any family member. (4) The Authority reserves the right to require the registered person to present any member of his or her family as defined under these rules for verification or other purposes as it may deem necessary. (5) The applicant shall apply for the Family Registration Certificate on a specified form to any of the authorities along with his biometrics as defined in regulation 4 of the National database and Registration Authority (Application for National Identity Cards) Regulations,2002. (6) The Authority may introduce, modify or change the mode of application process as it deems appropriate. (7) The Authority may verify the details of the applicant and family members against the data held by the Authority before issuing the Family Registration Certificate. Provided that if any omissions or errors are identified during the verification process, the applicant shall be notified and given the opportunity to correct these omissions or errors through standard procedures before the Family Registered Certificate is issued. (8) Provided that if any omissions or errors are identified during the verification process, the applicant shall be notified and given the opportunity to correct these omissions or errors through standard procedures before the Family Registered Certificate is issued. (9) The Authority may adopt any mode or manner for the collection of the fee and other charges as it may deem fit for achieving efficiency and facilitating the deposit and collection of the fee and other charges by and from the registered person. (10) The Family Registration Certificate shall be valid as proof of the family composition data held by the Authority on the date of issuance of the Family Registration Certificate: Provided that the Family Registration Certificate does not have an expiration date, but is considered valid only if the family composition data remains unchanged since issuance: Provided further that the Authority may reissue an updated Family Registration Certificate upon request if there are changes in family composition data.]

20. [Establishment of verification boards and their powers. - (1) The Authority shall establish verification boards at zonal, regional and headquarters level comprising such officers as are authorized with powers under section 18 of the Ordinance for the purpose of verification, clearance, cancellation, impounding and confiscation of cards. (2) The verification boards shall have full powers to make inquiry to verify the particulars of a card and other relevant information calling for proof of information under section 23 of the Ordinance and to seek advice and assistance from any governmental or private body, person or entity under clause (j) of sub-section (4) of section 5 of the Ordinance. (3) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers of the verification boards specified in sub-rules (1) and (2), the verification boards may, where the eligibility of any person is in question, require amongst others the following evidence, namely: - (a) a card previously issued to a person; (b) land revenue record dating prior to the year 1979, duly certified or verified by the concerned revenue authorities; (c) Local Certificate or Certificate of Domicile issued prior to the year 1979, duly verified by the concerned authority; (d) Pedigree (shajra-e-nasab) issued and verified by the concerned revenue authorities; (e) Government employment certificate of an individual or blood relative employed prior to the year 1990; (f) verified educational testimonials dating prior to the year 1979 issued by concerned authorities; (g) passport issued prior to the year 1979; (h) any other document issued by the Federal Government, a Provincial Government or a local authority prior to the year 1979 and verified by the concerned issuing authority including arms license, driving license or manual National Identity Card issued prior to the year 1979; and (i) Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Registration issued under the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 (I of 1951) or rules made thereunder.]

21. [Digitally marked and impounded data.- (1) The data of a person may be digitally marked by the Authority or by an authorized officer where it deems necessary. (2) The data may be digitally marked by the Authority under sub-rule (1) after recording reasons in writing and providing such opportunity to the concerned person as is deemed appropriate and practicable in the circumstances to explain his position regarding the said reasons. (3) If the concerned person is able to satisfy the Authority by his explanation under sub-rule (2), his data shall not be digitally marked. (4) In case the Authority is not satisfied by the explanation given under sub-rule (2), the data of the concerned person shall be digitally marked and shall be so kept digitally marked unless- a) corrective action, if any required by the Authority, is taken by the concerned person; or b) a decision is reached under rule 22 read with section 18 of the Ordinance upon the matter being referred to the concerned verification board under sub-rule (5). (5) A reference to the concerned verification board shall be made by the Authority in all appropriate cases. (6) The data of a person may be impounded as provided in rule 22.]

22. [Proceedings under section 18 of the Ordinance. - (1) The concerned verification board may, upon reference being made to it under sub-rule (5) of rule 21 or on being approached by the person concerned whose data is digitally marked under sub-rule (4) of rule 21 or on information received from any source or of its motion, initiate proceedings under section 18 of the Ordinance in respect of any person, whether or not his data has been digitally marked. (2) The Authority shall duly authorize officers comprising the verification boards as envisaged by sub-section (1) of section 18 of the Ordinance. (3) The person concerned shall be given a notice in writing to show cause within fifteen days as to why an order for return, cancellation, impounding or confiscation of the card or his data impounded should not be made. (4) The notice shall bear necessary information based on which the proceedings have been initiated so that the person concerned has a fair chance to explain his position in response thereto. (5) Notice shall be sent at both the last known present and permanent addresses available in the Authority's database and may be delivered through any appropriate mode, including registered post or courier service. If a valid email address, mobile phone number, facsimile number or any other digital mode of contact of the person is known, then the Authority may also send the notice by email, short message service (SMS), facsimile or such other digital mode. Provided that where the concerned person has himself approached the verification board or is otherwise present before it, notice may be served on him by hand. (6) In appropriate cases where service of notice is not possible by the means specified in sub-rule (5) for any reason and if otherwise deemed fit and being reasonably practicable, the Authority may publish the notice in a newspaper of wide circulation in the area concerned. In all cases, the Authority shall also publish the show cause notice issued to a person on its website for ease of access and information. (7) In the show cause notice, the person concerned shall be called for hearing providing him to explain his position before taking any decision. The hearing may be held by appropriate digital means if deemed necessary by the Authority. (8) Decision shall be made within thirty days of the conclusion of the hearing and, subject to satisfaction of the verification board based on its findings in the inquiry, it may decide to- a) clear the card and resultantly the data of the concerned person shall not be kept digitally marked any further; or b) impound, cancel or confiscate the card by a reasoned speaking order, and resultantly, the data of the concerned person shall be impounded: Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in clause (b), where a card is impounded, cancelled or confiscated but the concerned person is otherwise eligible, he may be advised to apply afresh for a card on the basis of correct particulars and till such time as he so applies, his data shall be kept digitally marked and, if he does apply afresh on correct particulars, the data shall be corrected and the card shall be issued on correct particulars with the same unique identification number as before for the purpose of data keeping. (9) Where an order is passed under clause (b) of sub-rule (8), the person concerned shall be required to return the card unless lost or already in the Authority's custody and shall be informed that he may appeal to the Federal Government through the Secretary of the Division to which business of these rules stands allocated, under sub-section (3) of section 18 of the Ordinance within thirty days of receipt of the order. (10) Without prejudice to the generality of powers under rule 20, where no response is received from a person to whom a show cause notice is issued under this rule within fifteen days of issuance of the notice or he fails to appear for personal hearing on the appointed day, the Authority may keep the data of concerned person digitally marked till such time as he approaches the Authority and proceedings under section 18 of the Ordinance are completed or till the said proceedings are decided on the basis of available record. Explanation. - The purpose of keeping a card digitally marked shall be to make the concerned person aware of the proceedings pending under section 18 of the Ordinance in order to enable him to join the same for an early decision. (11) For the avoidance of doubt, the same procedure as prescribed in these rules for proceedings under section 18 of the Ordinance shall be followed in cases where the validity of a card may have expired or a card is under process to be issued for the first time.].

23. [Proceedings in respect of certificates. - The provisions of rules 20, 21 and 22 shall mutatis mutandis apply to verification, clearance, cancellation, impounding, confiscation and return of certificates issued by the Authority and marking or keeping that digitally marked or impounded.]

24. [Segregation and removal of intruders in a family. - (1) For the removal of an intruder from a family, the head of the family shall submit an affidavit to the correctness of his declaration or statement regarding composition of his family. (2) After initial scrutiny, the Authority shall segregate the intruder from the family composition data on the basis of a sworn affidavit provided by the head of the family and the data of the intruder shall be digitally marked along with initiation of proceedings under rule 22. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rules (1) and (2),- where one of the blood relatives in the family has verified a person to be part of his family through biometric verification, then case of such person shall not be entertained for segregation as an intruder under this rule; and disputed or sub-judice matters shall not be entertained and dealt with only in accordance with the orders of the Court of competent jurisdiction.]

25. [Declaration of ineligibility. - (1) If a person voluntarily declares that he obtained a card or certificate without being eligible, then the concerned verification board may require an affidavit to that effect. (2) The card or, as the case may be, certificate shall be confiscated and cancelled with immediate effect and the data of the person shall be impounded. (3) A receipt for a surrendered card may also be issued by the Authority if so requested by the person concerned.]