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Thousands of Pak ID cards lying unclaimed

Despite intimation, however, 3,850 applicants are yet to collect their cards from the embassy, an official said.

Pakistanis in the UAE have been complaining since long of delay in getting their cards from Nadra, the authority responsible for issuing the cards. Nadra had been putting the blame on applicants who did not send the forms in complete shape, following which there were some technical and procedural problems.

The Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi has so far forwarded 14,300 application forms to Nadra in Islamabad for issuance of Nicop cards since November last year.

So far, Nadra has despatched 4,382 cards, out of which 532 cards have been collected by the applicants. However, the remaining 3,850 cards are still lying unclaimed despite reminders by the embassy. All such Pakistanis have been asked to collect their cards from the embassy.

The Pakistani Consulate in Dubai has so far despatched 10,000 application forms to Nadra for issuance of Nicop, out of which the consulate has received 3,000 cards for distribution among the respective applicants.

The Pakistani mission in the UAE had sent the largest number of application forms to Nadra for issuance of Nicop among all Pakistani missions.

It has also received the largest number of these cards from Nadra for distribution.

The Pakistani missions in the UAE started receiving application forms for issuance of Nicop from November 3 last year. The original fee for this document was $25 with validity of three year.

However, during his visit of UAE in January 203, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Prime Minister of Pakistan, while addressing a community meeting in Abu Dhabi, announced reduction in the Nicop fee to $15 and increase the validity period to 10 years.

This card is mandatory for all Pakistani citizens/residents abroad and Pakistanis holding dual nationality. It is also mandatory for all members of a family (including children under the age of 18).

Besides being an identy document, Nicop offers privileges and facilities to its holders. Thus, on return from abroad, the card holder will be entitled to free of cost computerised National Identity Card in Pakistan. He/she will also be eligible for membership of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, that takes care of the welfare aspect of its members.

Any non-resident Pakistani citizen will be eligible for Nicop, who is, or is intending to be, resident abroad for a period exceeding six months and holding an immigrant or resident visa of a foreign country. A dual nationality holder is also eligible for this card.

Pakistani residents in the UAE, who have so far not applied for Nicop, are advised to contact the Pakistan embassy in Abu Dhabi or its consulate general in Dubai to obtain application forms for acquiring the card. They are required to submit four photographs, deposited fee slip or bank draft in original, copy of NIC, copy of their passport, and marriage certificate/proof of relationship, in order to obtain their application forms.

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