Islamabad- The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has warned that millions of citizens may face disruptions in essential services due to failure to renew expired identity documents.

Under Pakistani law, adult citizens are required to keep their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) valid. Expired cards can lead to suspension of key services, including banking, mobile SIM connectivity, and access to welfare programmes such as the Benazir Income Support Programme, as well as government subsidy schemes.

Official data reveals that over 27.47 million CNICs, 2.3 million Overseas Cards, 11.65 million Child Registration Certificates, and around 229,000 Juvenile Cards have expired without renewal. NADRA has issued SMS alerts to affected citizens, including parents of individuals who have turned 18 but have yet to obtain their first CNIC.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in an advisory issued on April 8, 2026, also emphasized that valid identity documents are mandatory for uninterrupted mobile services. SIMs registered against expired or deceased individuals’ CNICs may be blocked. Currently, over 8.1 million SIMs are active against approximately 4.5 million CNICs requiring renewal, with more than 223,000 CNICs expired for over a decade.

Authorities have urged citizens to immediately renew their identity documents through NADRA registration centres, the Pak-ID mobile application, or e-Sahulat franchises. They also advised users to transfer SIMs registered under deceased relatives to their own names.

While NADRA has so far refrained from imposing late renewal penalties for public convenience, officials warn that additional fees may be introduced in the next fiscal year if compliance does not improve.