NADRA signs MoU with FAFEN

February 2, 2010
By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: In a bid to educate and motivate the citizens to get registered in national database, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has decided to get the help and support of the civil society.

In the first stage, NADRA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday with Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a civil society organization working in the rural areas. NADRA deputy chairman Tariq Malik, and FAFEN Chairperson Mossarat Qadeem signed the MoU.

According to MoU, NADRA would identify the areas to the FAFEN where the registration of the people is low and FAFEN would run the public mobilization campaign to bring folks in rural areas out to register.

The goal is to achieve the target of 100 percent registration through creating awareness and motivation among the people in the rural areas by using FAFEN help. The goal is to register every eligible voter before elections, said Malik.

He said NADRA has already registered 98 per cent of the male population and 71.2 per cent of the female population in the country. Overall percentage of the registered population in the country is 86 per cent. Now only 12.82 million citizens eligible for the registration are remaining un-registered, he added.

NADRA is seeking partnership with other NGOs as well to create awareness especially in the tribal and remote areas, he said.

Further, a joint committee would be formed to identify areas with low coverage of the Computerized National Identity Card especially among the women. Such areas will be chosen as the model areas for the aggressive campaign.

According to MOU, the role of FAFEN was restricted to create awareness and motivation among the people regarding the CNIC while it would not be allowed to collect any forms, application, materials, documentation, personal or private data or information or collection of any fee from any person on behalf of NADRA.