The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has officially terminated all Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)-related services offered at General Post Offices (GPOs) across Pakistan, citing poor public response and limited awareness.
Initially launched three years ago as part of a government-backed initiative to make CNIC services more accessible, NADRA had set up dedicated counters within post offices to handle tasks such as CNIC renewals, address changes, and marital status updates. The programme was introduced in collaboration with Pakistan Post under a 10-year agreement.
However, NADRA has now ordered the complete closure of all these counters nationwide. Staff have been instructed to return all equipment and deposit the collected fees, while ready CNICs are to be handed over to applicants immediately before dismantling operations begin.
A NADRA spokesperson confirmed the development, stating:
"Due to the extremely low number of applicants at post office counters, the facilities have been shut down. The equipment will be transferred to union councils in the upcoming fiscal year to decentralise service delivery."
Despite offering critical services, the initiative failed to gain traction. Officials attribute the failure to poor public outreach and awareness, noting that many citizens were unaware such facilities existed at their local post offices.
In Karachi alone, counters at 10 major post offices — including II Chundrigar Road and Saddar GPO — have already ceased operations. These outlets had helped alleviate pressure on NADRA centres by reducing queues and service backlogs.
In total, the closure affects approximately 83 counters operating across the country, including those in all four provinces and Azad Kashmir.
Sources revealed that while NADRA and Pakistan Post had initially planned awareness campaigns through social media and other platforms, those efforts were never fully executed.
NADRA now plans to redeploy the retrieved equipment to union councils, where authorities aim to provide decentralised, more accessible CNIC services going forward.