National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched a new platform called “Nishan Pakistan”. The platform is designed to provide startups and entrepreneurs with access to NADRA’s digital identity stack, which can be used to create new services that will enable businesses to grow.
The Chairman of NADRA, Tariq Malik, introduced the “Nishan Pakistan” platform and highlighted its key features, which signify a shift from organization-centered verification services to user-centered verification services. Malik stated that the platform has been designed as an application programming interface (API) stack, which enables private entities to conduct online biometric verification through secure data sharing with NADRA.
Malik added that the use of this platform would unlock a plethora of use cases for businesses, including customer identification through contactless biometric verification. By testing the platform with specific businesses using an open API mechanism, NADRA will explore new ways to create a strong digital ID ecosystem.
Malik also stated that the “Nishan Pakistan” initiative would create new markets within the country and ignite the economic engine of Pakistan, creating jobs and augmenting profits that fund public services and promote change culture in society. The success of any digital transformation journey hinges on the ability to see the state’s services from the citizen’s perspective, and NADRA’s people-centric development approach places citizens in the perfect position to drive Pakistan towards becoming a digital nation.
An application for using Nishan services can be submitted online following a swift registration process on the Nishan portal. The required documents would include a startup profile, a business case for using digital identity stack usage, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registration, an undertaking, and a scanned copy of the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). Payments can be made online through credit/debit card while the approval process will be completed in 10-15 days.
The “Nishan Pakistan” platform offers pricing, FAQs, and access to the sandbox, and interested parties can find more details on the platform on its website.