Rising Cybercrime Prompts NADRA to Battle Fake Websites

News Desk 

Islamabad: As cybercrime grows rapidly across the country, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has intensified its crackdown on fraudulent websites stealing citizens’ personal data — a threat that has quietly expanded in recent years alongside the surge in digital services.

In its latest action, NADRA’s cyber security team shut down a website operating under the name idtracking.online, which officials say was posing as an official service to deceive citizens into sharing confidential information.

According to NADRA sources, the platform was one among hundreds exploiting the authority’s name to mine citizens’ data under false pretences.

The shutdown marks another addition to NADRA’s expanding list of cyber enforcements. Officials revealed that over 100 fake websites have been blocked in the past year alone, part of a growing campaign to combat digital impersonation and protect citizens from identity fraud.

To counter misinformation and prevent further exploitation, NADRA regularly issues public alerts on its official social media platforms, reminding citizens that the authority has only one official website and a single verified mobile application.

The message remains pinned on NADRA’s official Twitter account: Citizens should never share personal information on any website other than NADRA’s official platforms.

PakID app emerges as a secure alternative

Amid the rising cyber threats, NADRA is encouraging citizens to shift towards its PakID mobile app, a secure portal designed to handle sensitive identity-related requests from home.

With over 12 million downloads, the app has become one of Pakistan’s most widely used government digital services. More than 10,000 citizens benefit from it daily — a trend that officials say reflects growing public trust in secure digital channels.

Recently, NADRA announced a major update through a video tutorial, simplifying the process for citizens seeking reprints of lost CNICs and NICOPs. The new feature allows Pakistanis at home and abroad to apply for replacement identity documents without visiting a service center.

How the reprint process works

Under the updated PakID system, citizens can request a CNIC or NICOP reprint by following a few simple steps:

Download and log in to the PakID mobile app.

Navigate to ID Documents → ID Card.

Select “Myself” or choose “My Blood Relatives” for close family applications.

Enter the CNIC number of the applicant.

Select the Reprint option and provide a delivery address — whether a NADRA center or any present/permanent address.

Choose a processing category:

Executive: 7 days

Urgent: 12 days

Normal: 30 days

Upload a passport if applying for NICOP (no documents needed for CNIC reprints).

Submit the application, wait for the “Pay Now” option, and complete the fee payment online.

Once processed, NADRA delivers the reprinted card directly to the chosen address, offering convenience that was once unthinkable in traditional bureaucratic settings.

Stronger regulations 

The crackdown on fraudulent websites comes as NADRA introduces sweeping regulatory reforms aimed at strengthening identity security nationwide. Recently approved by the NADRA Authority Board, the reforms include:

Updated verification and cancellation procedures

Amendments to the National Identity Card (NIC) system

A revised structure for Pakistan Origin Cards (POC)

A modernized procurement regime

New Verification Regulations for examining suspicious identity records

Officials say these measures are essential as the country’s digital ecosystem expands and as more citizens rely on online services for essential documentation.

A digital future built on trust

As Pakistan rapidly digitizes its public services, NADRA finds itself at the frontline of both innovation and security. While the PakID app represents progress toward a more accessible and citizen-friendly identity system, the increasing attempts to exploit this transition highlight the ongoing need for vigilance.

For now, NADRA’s message to the public remains clear: trust only the official website and PakID app — and stay alert in an age where data is the new currency. In put from local media.