The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in Pakistan has clarified that filing a First Information Report (FIR) with the police is not mandatory for citizens seeking a replacement for a lost Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).
The clarification came in response to a question raised by a citizen on social media, amid what NADRA described as a common misunderstanding about the requirements for replacing a lost identity card.
According to NADRA, it had no policy requiring applicants to submit a copy of an FIR before their application for a replacement CNIC could be accepted or processed.
The authority explained that reporting the loss to the police could be a precautionary measure to help protect citizens against the potential misuse of a lost identity card.
However, it said this was not a compulsory requirement for obtaining a replacement.
Citizens who have lost their CNIC can visit a NADRA registration centre to apply for a replacement or submit their applications through the Pak ID online service, the authority said.
NADRA added that applicants would not be required to provide an FIR copy simply to explain why they were applying for another identity card.