Nisar suspends accord between Nadra and Mastercard

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday ordered to suspend an accord between National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and financial services corporation Mastercard with immediate effect.

The accord aimed to optimise national identity cards with electronic payments functionality. The ‘strategic collaboration’ would allow Pakistani citizens to carry out financial transactions and sent and receive remittances by utilising the unique identification number of their identity card.

However, Nisar took exception and said that the accord was made without written approval of the government. He directed Nadra authorities to submit an explanation how the agreement was made without the consent of the relevant authorities.

The interior minister also said that the accord was made without consultations with stakeholders and sensitive security matters was also neglected. He questioned the extent to which a foreign organisation was given access to the national database.

He said that the usage of technology in financial matters is welcomed but security of national database cannot be compromised and an institution cannot be allowed to go beyond its mandate.

Under the agreement, Mastercard will use its payment processing technologies to process all online payments made by Pakistani citizens for the issuance of identity cards, passports or any other document by Nadra.