Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD2219
2008-06-25 13:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
how-toVZCZCXRO2851 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2219 1771348 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 251348Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7508 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 8775 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 3436 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 9928 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 5672 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 4448 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002219
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: FREE NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002219
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: FREE NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS
1. (U) On June 23, the National Database and Registration
Authority (NADRA) announced that it would begin to issue free
Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to Pakistani
citizens. Currently, only approximately 60% of citizens have
received CNICs. Because the CNICs had to be purchased, the
poor and women in rural tribal areas are most likely not to
have the cards. NADRA has promised to increase use of its
mobile registration service to reach these under-represented
communities. NADRA, a for-profit entity, plans to recoup
costs by raising fees for issuing second cards or replacement
cards for those lost.
2. (U) The CINC is required to obtain a driver's license or
passport and to vote. The decision to issue free cards,
therefore, is a welcome step. Post lobbied the GOP
extensively last year to convince NADRA to take this step,
and virtually all of the domestic and international
organizations that monitored the Februry 2007 elections
recommended the issuance of free CNICs to expand the voter
franchise. Expanding the number of CNIC holders will also
allow the Election Commission (with USAID-funded help from
IFES) to clean up the voter list.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: FREE NATIONAL IDENTITY CARDS
1. (U) On June 23, the National Database and Registration
Authority (NADRA) announced that it would begin to issue free
Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to Pakistani
citizens. Currently, only approximately 60% of citizens have
received CNICs. Because the CNICs had to be purchased, the
poor and women in rural tribal areas are most likely not to
have the cards. NADRA has promised to increase use of its
mobile registration service to reach these under-represented
communities. NADRA, a for-profit entity, plans to recoup
costs by raising fees for issuing second cards or replacement
cards for those lost.
2. (U) The CINC is required to obtain a driver's license or
passport and to vote. The decision to issue free cards,
therefore, is a welcome step. Post lobbied the GOP
extensively last year to convince NADRA to take this step,
and virtually all of the domestic and international
organizations that monitored the Februry 2007 elections
recommended the issuance of free CNICs to expand the voter
franchise. Expanding the number of CNIC holders will also
allow the Election Commission (with USAID-funded help from
IFES) to clean up the voter list.
PATTERSON