Over 90pc people in GB get CNICs

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has issued computerised national identity cards (CNICs) to 93 per cent adults of Gilgit-Baltistan and has prepared a crash programme to register 

the remaining eligible population.

This was disclosed by Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik in his message which he sent to the chief election commissioner of G-B on the occasion of signing of a contract between the Election Commission of G-B and Nadra for preparation of computerised electoral rolls to be used in the upcoming local bodies elections and general elections for the legislative assembly, said an official handout here on Tuesday.

The signing ceremony was held at the Election Commission Secretariat in Gilgit in which the chief election commissioner of G-B and a senior Nadra official signed the contract. The ceremony was also attended by Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and his cabinet ministers.

It may be recalled that the present legislative assembly of the G-B had carried out amendment making the CNICs mandatory for casting of votes.

According to the Nadra chairman, the projected population of G-B is 656,545 whereas Nadra has already issued 609,261 CNICs in the region.

Mr Malik said they had registered 93 per cent of the adult population which would become eligible voters in G-B election and were rolling out a crash programme to register the rest of the population so that nobody was disenfranchised.

Nadra, he said, had so far registered 95 per cent males by issuing 323,036 CNICs and 91 per cent female population of G-B by issuing 286,225 CNICs.

Mr Malik, who could not attend the signing ceremony, in his message said that error-free computerised electoral rolls for G-B with a vision of 147one CNIC, one vote148 would strengthen democracy in the region.

The G-B chief minister, in his speech, said preparation of computerised electoral rolls would result in strengthening democratic process and ensure that right of franchise of each citizen remained protected.

The Election Commission of G-B is also planning to conduct consultative session to take all political parties on board and inform them about the recent developments and project details after the holy month of Ramazan.