Notification of the appointment of Tariq Malik as National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman for a period of three years was issued on Monday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a statement, NADRA spokesman said the news doing rounds that interior ministry had moved a summary on the subject of Malik drawing $20,000 salary was baseless, and it had nothing to do with reality.

Prior to the new assignment, Malik had served as a chief technical adviser to the United Nations where he would advise governments of 130 countries to improve their performances. He had also served as NADRA chairman in 2012 when the system of smart identity cards was introduced in the country.

The government of Pakistan had, in 2013, conferred upon him Sitarae Imtiaz in recognition of his ‘outstanding services’ in the field of technology.

In 2016, the US and European Union think tanks had ranked Tariq Malik among 100 most influential IT experts in the world.

He had been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award at IT International Conference held in Italy in 2009.

Malik had done masters in International Management from Hydel Berg Germany and in Computer Sciences from Quaid-e-Azam University.

Apart from that, he has studied at American John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA and Stanford University, USA.

Reporter: Sagheer Chaudhry