A new agreement between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) will enable telecom service providers in Pakistan to verify identity through biometrics.
As the government agency that manages the data of Pakistani citizens, NADRA enables telecommunication service providers to verify the identity of officers and other entities for NADRA’s e-Sahulat franchise. During the verification process, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority ensures that the applicant holds a PTA license.
The agreement was signed on Thursday, with PTA Chairman Major General Hafeez-ur-Rehman noting that the agreement will improve efficiency and transparency in the licensing process for telecommunication service license applicants. Pakistan currently has four major mobile phone operators with a customer base of over 195 million. The country has seen an expansion of mobile and broadband networks over the past few years.
In March 2023, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and NADRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration in digital identity and biometric authentication.
NADRA has been working to improve the country’s digital identity ecosystem by making ID cards more accessible to citizens through the adoption of biometric technology. At the ID4Africa conference in Cape Town, South Africa this year, NADRA unveiled its unique solution: the All-in-One Digital ID Kit.
The agency is also working on several e-government initiatives and exporting its solutions to countries such as Kenya and Somalia.
Article Topics
Biometrics | Digital ID | Identity Verification | NADRA | Pakistan | Telecommunications
