The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has introduced a new facility to counter the collection of personal data from abroad under the pretext of Pakistani visas.
According to details surfaced on Tuesday, officials said that fake websites operating in the name of Nadra had been gathering information from individuals seeking Pakistani visas in various countries. In response, Nadra has added new features to its visa issuance system for 193 countries.
Under the revised system, only a foreign applicant’s passport will be required to submit an online application. The applicant will upload the passport, after which all relevant data will be entered automatically.
The application will also extract the passport number and expiry details without manual input. A modern biometric verification system has been introduced for all visa categories.
Verification of applicants will now take place through facial recognition technology. Authorities added that several fraudulent websites across the world had been misusing Nadra’s name to collect private information and carry out online fraud.
