JEDDAH: Pakistan has introduced a new online facility for issuing national identity cards.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) electronic service has been introduced for issuing new, modified or updated national identity cards for all Pakistanis, within and outside the country, said Pakistan Consul General Aftab Khokher.

“The NADRA initiative will help ease the crowding of its office in Jeddah, and will especially benefit the Pakistanis residing far-off cities,” he said.

The online application service has already started in Pakistan. It was made available from Monday to Pakistanis all over the world via the Internet.

Anyone from anywhere can visit the NADRA at its website https://www.nadra.gov.pk. The application form is available online.

“Fill the form, follow other instructions and upload. Ordering the national identity card is now hassle-free,” said Khokher.

“On receiving the completed application form, NADRA will deliver the new national identity card in 10 days at the given address. The fees can be paid by credit or debit card on the Internet,” he said, adding that it is a big achievement for the Nawaz Sharif government.

Khokher urged the applicants to make sure to accurate information is filed “because wrong data can delay the process of card issuance.”

For machine readable passport (MRP) service, he said the workload is huge as the holders of handwritten or manually issued passports are many.

“We have increased the manpower and expanded facilities for MRP at the consulate,” he added.