Pakistan is set to revamp its national identity verification framework as the government moves to gradually replace fingerprint-based biometric checks with a facial recognition system, officials said on Wednesday, citing growing concerns over financial fraud and identity misuse.
The decision was disclosed during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior, where lawmakers were briefed on vulnerabilities in the existing fingerprint system used by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) across banks, telecom operators and public institutions.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the committee that repeated cases of fraud linked to fake or cloned thumb impressions had made the transition unavoidable.
“Numerous incidents of financial fraud have surfaced through forged fingerprints, threatening citizens’ identity and financial security,” he said, adding that facial recognition offered a more secure and reliable alternative.
For more than a decade, fingerprint verification has been the backbone of Pakistan’s digital identity ecosystem, enabling SIM issuance, banking transactions and access to government services. Officials, however, acknowledged that organised criminal networks have increasingly exploited loopholes in the system, leading to impersonation and monetary losses.
Interior Ministry representatives said the new facial recognition system would be rolled out in phases and integrated across NADRA, the telecom sector and financial institutions. The technology is expected to deliver faster verification, greater accuracy and improved transparency, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorised access.
Members of the parliamentary committee welcomed the move but urged the government to ensure strong safeguards for citizens’ privacy and personal data. Officials responded that a comprehensive legal and technical framework governing the use of facial recognition was being finalised before nationwide implementation.
Digital security experts say the shift would bring Pakistan closer to international best practices, as several countries have adopted facial recognition in national identity systems to strengthen security while improving service delivery.
