NADRA, PTA Fight After U-Turn on PakID App Facial SIM Verification

National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) are now at odds over how facial recognition should be applied for SIM verification on the PakID app.

Key points

• Here is How Much Jazz, Zong, and Ufone Invested Into 5G So Far.
• Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
• The review is being conducted under NADRA's "Requisite Access to National Data Warehouse" regulations.
• Add as a preferredSource on Google Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp.
• Clarifying the situation to ProPakistani, NADRA has rejected PTA's claim that it has backed away from the technology.

Clarifying the situation to ProPakistani, NADRA has rejected PTA's claim that it has backed away from the technology. NADRA remarked it proposed using the PakID app for facial verification for SIM issuance in 2025. A proof of concept was additionally completed by cellular mobile operators (CMOs).

PTA afterwards stated NADRA had changed its position. Nevertheless, NADRA has disputed PTA. "There has been no withdrawal of facial verification and no reversal of NADRA's position. What has been clarified is the respective institutional responsibility, " NADRA informed ProPakistani. NADRA e-Sahulat Centers to Matter Land Ownership Records in KP. Everyone Wants to Control it.

NADRA remarked it never proposed PakID as the actual platform for SIM issuance or customer onboarding. PakID was introduced as one way for citizens to obtain a facial-verification result through NADRA's Multi-Biometric Verification System (MBVS). It could then be applied with a regulated organization.

NADRA remarked its earlier aims additionally allowed banks and telecom operators to conduct facial or iris verification directly at their outlets after installing suitable equipment.

Meanwhile, the authority remarked the disagreement is not concerning whether facial recognition works. Instead, it is regarding who should operate the equipment and who should be responsible for the SIM verification process.

NADRA informed ProPakistani, "The issue, therefore, is not whether facial recognition works, but where the capture takes place, who controls the edge environment, and who remains accountable for it."

While NADRA provides the identity-verification service and sets the technical and security requirements, under the new regulations, NADRA remarked PTA decides what verification requirements apply to SIM issuance.

NADRA remarked this means PakID does not need to become the platform through which telecom operators problem SIMs. On the proof of concept conducted by CMOs, NADRA remarked its position was not based on any technical failure.

It remarked demonstrations, consultations and technical discussions had taken place, but detailed results such as success rates and test results should be confirmed by PTA and the participating telecom operators.

According to NADRA additionally, facial recognition remains an approved biometric method under its regulations, particularly when fingerprint verification is not feasible.

Meanwhile, the authority additionally defended its proposal for telecom operators to apply their own hardware. NADRA remarked, "This is not a transfer of a cost or responsibility previously belonging to NADRA."

It remarked telecom operators control their SIM-sale outlets, employees, applications and customer interactions. Therefore, they should additionally control and secure the equipment employed to capture a customer's biometric data.

Under the proposed setup, the biometric would be captured at the operator's end, securely sent to the operator's data center and then transmitted to NADRA for verification.

It remarked operators would not be allowed to keep customers' biometric data or create their own biometric databases. "Operator-owned capture equipment does not entitle an operator to create or retain a biometric database, " it remarked.

Notably, the regulations require biometric data to be applied only for temporary capture and secure transmission. Facial-recognition devices additionally cannot store biometric data or related templates.

NADRA remarked the system must additionally have safeguards against deepfakes, biometric substitution, morphing and other attempts to bypass facial verification.

On reservations that requiring telecom operators to install their own infrastructure could delay nationwide rollout, NADRA stated the proposed model could actually create the system easier to expand.

It remarked operators could integrate facial verification into their own franchises, service centers and mobile applications instead of making every SIM transaction dependent on the PakID app.

"The architecture does not prevent rollout. It establishes clear ownership, accountability, security and scalability for that rollout, " it continued.

In practice, the regulations allow NADRA, in consultation with the relevant regulator, to set a compliance period of up to six months from their notification.

While PTA would decide the verification requirements for the telecom sector and CMOs would implement the required infrastructure, NADRA remarked it is ready to provide the backend verification system, secure APIs and technical standards. PTA's Side of the Story.

Meanwhile, PTA remarked it is reviewing the technical and regulatory implications of NADRA's proposal with the telecom industry.

For context, the review is being conducted under NADRA's "Requisite Access to National Data Warehouse" regulations. It were notified on July 28, 2026.

PTA additionally stated nationwide facial-recognition-based SIM verification is being explored through other options.

One cellular operator is already examining the possibility of using facial recognition through its own mobile application. After which a proof of concept could be conducted, PTA remarked the technical feasibility of the proposal is being evaluated.

Separately, PTA clarified that its role regarding mobile phone taxes is limited to the technical evaluation of devices. The imposition, assessment and collection of duties and taxes fall under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

PTA remarked it supports rationalizing taxes and duties on mobile phones to produce smartphones more affordable while maintaining a balance that supports local manufacturing, discourages illegal imports and helps curb practices such as IMEI tampering.

This entire dialogue demonstrates PTA and NADRA at present stand at polar opposites of the same story. Regulations should be clarified to move forward. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

Obtain the latest tech news, telecom insights, and product launches wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover.

For now, NADRA, PTA Fight After U-Turn on PakID App Facial SIM Verification remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.