Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has introduced a new, domestically produced National Identity Card (NIC) featuring a secure QR code instead of the previously imported microchip. Approved by the government in February, the new card is manufactured by the National Security Printing Company in Karachi. The QR code, scannable via Nadra’s Pak Identity app, contains the cardholder's information and photo, streamlining data entry and reducing errors for institutions. The card will also display family numbers and denote special statuses such as disability or organ donor status. Names and addresses will appear in both Urdu and English, and security features have been updated for domestic manufacturing. Nadra cites limited infrastructure for chip readers as a reason for the shift, making the QR code accessible via smartphones and specialized software provided to authorized organizations like banks and hospitals. The phased rollout begins immediately, replacing the existing CNIC.