ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsman has taken notice of complaints of Pakistanis living in the United Kingdom against National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Federal Ombudsman Pakistan Overseas Pakistanis Grievance Commissioner Hafiz Ahssan Ahmad Khokhar took cognisance of a complaint filed by Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Barrister Amjad Malik and issued notices to NADRA and Overseas Pakistanis Foundation.
The OPF’s chairman complained that NADRA has arbitrarily increased its charges for getting National Identification Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) for those living in UK from Aug 1, on the pretext of depreciation in pound, whereas there is no change in cost of visas and passport.
Amjad Malik further complained that NADRA has also decided to cut down out-of-office mobile registration teams on assumption that people will avail online services. He said that this act of NADRA will flourish private organisations where the expatriate Pakistanis would have to pay for services and there would be serious issues of identity theft and frauds also.
The chairman alleged that NADRA’s actions add hardship for the families, especially with children, particularly while traveling to Pakistan during summer holidays. He said expatriates were distressed that NADRA seems to consider its operations only to generate additional revenue.
He also asserted that from national perspective, NADRA’s focus should be on providing best services to overseas Pakistanis. Hafiz Ahssan has fixed the matter for hearing on August 12 at the Ombudsman’s Secretariat Islamabad.
