NADRA App Sparks Confusion with Feature Allowing ‘Dead Users’ to Cancel Their Own CNIC
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is once again in the spotlight after a puzzling feature in its official mobile application left many Pakistanis scratching their heads.
The app includes a service called “Cancel Identity Due to Death”, which is designed for deactivating the CNIC of a deceased individual. However, alongside the option for relatives of the deceased, the app strangely displays another button titled “Myself.”
Selecting the “Myself” option unexpectedly directs users to a facial recognition liveness check, a tool normally used to confirm that a person is alive and matches NADRA’s official records. This creates an odd contradiction: the deceased person, whose CNIC is to be canceled, would somehow need to log in, apply under the “myself” option, and then pass a liveness test — despite no longer being alive.
When asked for clarification, a NADRA spokesperson explained that the service is strictly meant for relatives of the deceased. However, no clear explanation was given as to why the “Myself” option exists in the first place or why the process includes a liveness check for someone presumed dead.
This peculiar situation highlights ongoing issues in the design and functionality of government mobile apps in Pakistan, many of which have faced criticism over poor user experience, glitches, and lack of proper oversight.
As of now, NADRA has not issued a detailed clarification, leaving citizens questioning whether this is a technical bug, a labeling error, or a major oversight in the system’s design.
