Can overseas Pakistanis use their foreign mobile numbers when creating a Pak ID account? The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has clarified the matter.
According to a private TV channel, a Canadian citizen asked during a NADRA podcast how Pakistanis living abroad could apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) using their foreign mobile numbers.
Responding to the question, NADRA spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali said that overseas Pakistanis can easily create their Pak ID accounts using foreign mobile numbers.
Explaining the procedure for creating an account on the Pak ID mobile app, he said that having a Pakistani mobile number is not mandatory to obtain NICOP and other documents. Applicants can instead select their country of residence and enter their mobile number from that country.
According to the NADRA spokesperson, a large number of overseas Pakistanis use the Pak ID mobile app to apply for NICOP and other documents. However, some users face difficulties during account registration because they see only the option to enter a Pakistani mobile number.
NADRA officials explained that this problem occurs when users select Pakistan under the “Country of Stay” field while creating an account. In such cases, the system requests a Pakistani mobile number because the one-time password (OTP) for account verification is sent to that number.
NADRA clarified that overseas Pakistanis should select their actual country of residence or stay when creating an account. For example, a Pakistani living in Canada can select Canada under “Country of Stay” and enter their Canadian mobile number.
This allows users to activate their Pak ID accounts using foreign mobile numbers and access relevant services, including NICOP applications.
NADRA further clarified that a mobile number is required to activate the digital identity associated with Pak ID, but it does not necessarily have to be a Pakistani number.
What is NICOP?
NICOP stands for National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis. It serves as a national identity document for Pakistanis living abroad.
NICOP is a legal identity document issued by NADRA to Pakistani citizens residing outside the country for employment, education or permanent settlement, as well as those who hold citizenship of another country.
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