The National Database and Registration Authority (NDRA) is the body responsible for the maintenance of the national database in Pakistan.rare) The head of National Assembly has told the Standing Committee on Interior that after identifying those who stole the information of 2.7 million Pakistanis from their organization, they have been punished.
However, committee member Agha Rafiullah claimed in a conversation with journalists after the committee meeting that no action has been taken against the data leakers.
After the meeting of the Standing Committee on Tuesday, Chairman Raja Khurram Nawaz told media representatives that ‘the cabinet had formed a JIT on the matter which has identified the involved persons and they have also been punished.’
He said that NADRA Chairman Lt. Gen. Muhammad Munir Afsar, while briefing the Standing Committee, said that ‘records of 27 lakh Pakistanis were stolen from NADRA.’
According to the chairman committee, action has been taken against those responsible.
However, committee member Agha Rafiullah revealed to journalists that no action has been taken against those responsible.
He said that ‘the problem of data theft of 27 lakh people was not, in fact some important people suffered because of data leakage. Data leakers are still an important part of NADRA today. No action was taken against the data leakers. Data leakers are posted in more good posts.’
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At the beginning of the meeting, Chairman NADRA briefed the committee on the issues of appointments and revenue in his institution.
He said that the offices of Nadra cannot be expanded. Doing so will increase the ID card fee. There are 61 districts where there are no NADRA offices. These are the constituencies where the government has announced but they have not been demarcated. NADRA has its own fund, we have not changed the fee. We did not renew the cards.’
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Chairman NADRA further said that ‘as long as the old card is valid, the person does not make a new card. If people do not generate ID card, our fund is not generated.
There are 27 districts where there are no NADRA offices. Most of the tehsils are in KPK and Balochistan, where we don’t have offices. Murree and Talagang districts were formed in Punjab but their constituencies have not reached us.’
Zartaj Gul Wazir asked questions that ‘How did the caretaker governments make the appointments in NADRA? There were security reasons for the removal of officers from NADRA? What degrees of officers were the issues? 53 billion rupees was your record revenue. Nadra vans should be sent to our areas. We should be told what the expenses are out of 53 billion revenue.
NADRA chairman replied that ‘Federal government has no intervention other than appointment of chairman and board. All NADRA appointments are made by NADRA officials. There were several appointments within NADRA which were not advertised. Many officers completed their degrees later.’
He further said that ‘our budget is 57 billion, of which 87 percent goes to salaries. Tadra has around 240 vans. Whenever you need Nadra vans you contact the headquarters.’
He said that Nadra is going to buy 90 more vans. There will be satellite connectivity facility on 75 vans. 35 vans have satellite connectivity in Quetta and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fake ID cards
The issue of fake identity cards of Afghans was also discussed in the committee, when PML-N Member of Parliament Tariq Fazal Chaudhry asked Chairman NADRA that ‘How did the cards of Afghans, whose number is so large, be made?’
Nadra chairman replied that the debate will be too long if the cards of Afghans are made, marking 40 people every day, who register wrongly.
Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir, while giving a briefing in the standing committee meeting, said that the name of the assembly members Nisar Ahmad Jat and Sahibzada Hamid Raza have been removed from the PINL.
Beggars in Saudi Arabia
On the issue of Pakistani beggars in Saudi Arabia, he said that ‘4000 beggars were deported from Saudi Arabia in the last three years. We offloaded 400 people from the airport. Organized gangs are involved in sending beggars abroad.’
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#stole #data #million #Pakistanis #punished #Chairman #NADRA
**Interview with Raja Khurram Nawaz, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Interior**
**Editor**: Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Nawaz. As the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Interior, you recently addressed the important issue of data theft involving NADRA, which affected 2.7 million Pakistanis. Can you clarify the current situation regarding the leaks and the actions taken?
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: Thank you for having me. Following our recent committee meeting, I want to assure the public that the cabinet has indeed formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to look into the data breach. The JIT has identified the individuals involved and punitive measures have been enforced against them. We take data security very seriously.
**Editor**: There are conflicting statements from committee member Agha Rafiullah, who claims that no concrete action has been taken against the responsible parties. How do you respond to those claims?
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: It’s important to acknowledge that not all information can be disclosed immediately due to the nature of ongoing investigations. However, I maintain that action has been taken. The integrity of NADRA’s operations is paramount, and we are committed to restoring public trust.
**Editor**: Agha Rafiullah also expressed concerns that some of those responsible for the data leakage are still serving in prominent positions within NADRA. Can you provide clarity on this issue?
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: I can understand the concern. While some personnel may have been penalized, as part of the broader institutional review, all aspects are being looked into, including positions of those involved. We are vigilant about ensuring that no one who compromised our data can continue to operate without oversight.
**Editor**: Shifting gears, you also mentioned issues surrounding NADRA’s capacity to serve the public, particularly in the 27 districts lacking offices. What steps are being taken to address this?
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: Indeed, expanding NADRA’s reach is a challenge, especially in remote areas like parts of KPK and Balochistan. We are exploring different strategies, including mobile NADRA vans, to better serve these regions. It’s essential that every Pakistani has access to our services without incurring prohibitive costs.
**Editor**: Lastly, there were discussions about employment and revenue allocation within NADRA. Can you summarize the key points raised by committee members regarding this?
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: Absolutely. Questions were raised about the appointment processes and the allocation of the revenue generated, particularly the 53 billion rupees NADRA reported. The chairman clarified that appointments are managed internally, and we must ensure that the majority of our revenue contributes effectively to operational costs. I’m committed to ensuring transparency in how operations are managed and funds allocated.
**Editor**: Thank you for your insights, Mr. Nawaz. It’s clear that both data security and accessibility to services are priorities for NADRA, and we appreciate your time today.
**Raja Khurram Nawaz**: Thank you for having me. We encourage ongoing dialogue to address these critical issues for the betterment of our citizens.
