Entertainment
Govt introduces QR-powered national ID system
- Govt upgrades NIC, POC frameworks under ‘One Nation – One Identity’ vision.
- QR code formally introduced as legal security, authentication feature.
- Fingerprints, iris scans recognised as biometric authentication methods.
ISLAMABAD: In a major step toward a unified and digitally secure identity ecosystem, the Federal Government has formally upgraded the National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) frameworks under its vision of “One Nation – One Identity.”
The amendments—issued through S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 and published in the Gazette on February 24, 2026 —modernise Pakistan’s identity system with QR-based verification, enhanced biometric features, stronger fraud controls, and improved citizen facilitation.
A key highlight is the legal introduction of the Quick Response (QR) code as a security and authentication feature across identity documents. The Rules now define the QR code as a secure, machine-readable, two-dimensional barcode that stores encoded identity information and enables instant verification when scanned. Importantly, the amendments also authorise NADRA to use “QR code or any other technological feature,” ensuring that Pakistan’s ID infrastructure can evolve with emerging innovations without requiring recurring legal changes.
With this reform, citizens will carry a uniform ID card, replacing the previously parallel formats of chip-enabled and non-chip cards. The QR-coded architecture strengthens Pakistan’s Digital ID ecosystem and aligns with the National Data Exchange Layer, allowing rapid offline and online verification, faster service delivery, reduced manual checks, and significantly lower risk of fraud or impersonation.
The government has also tightened fraud prevention mechanisms. Under the revised rules, once an identity card is suspended, all related verification and authentication services are automatically halted, blocking any attempt to use the suspended credential across digital or institutional channels.
Biometric security has been upgraded as well, with the Rules now explicitly recognising fingerprints and iris scans as formal modalities of authentication, reinforcing the shift toward multi-modal biometric identification.
In a major facilitation step, citizens aged 60 and above—whether resident or overseas—will be issued a lifetime-validity ID card carrying a distinct senior-citizen logo. This removes the need for repeated renewals and reflects a more service-oriented approach for elderly Pakistanis.
The amendments also introduce standardised identification for individuals belonging to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, requiring their cards to include a specific inscription defining their residency status.
To complete the modernisation drive, the government has comprehensively updated the specimen formats for all major ID categories, including resident citizens, overseas Pakistanis, persons with disabilities, child certificates, organ donors, combined categories, and AJK residents. These new formats unify the design language and embed QR-based security as a core feature.
Overall, the 2026 amendments strengthen the backbone of Pakistan’s national identity system—enhancing digital trust, protecting against fraud, enabling real-time verification, and delivering meaningful facilitation measures for citizens. The reforms also advance Pakistan’s readiness for future digital governance through an interoperable, secure, and modern identity architecture.
Jennifer Lopez and Will Smith are once again being linked together online, with many people wondering if something is going on between them.
The rumours have picked up quickly but there is no real proof that the two are dating.
The viral buzz started after old videos and past gossip started circulating again on social media.
As these clips made their way back into the spotlight, some fans started connecting dots and assuming that there might be a hidden story behind it.
But so far, nothing new has actually come out to support those claims.
A lot of this opinion seems to be coming from older speculations that have been around for years, which often involving Jada Pinkett Smith and Sean Combs.
These stories, however, were never confirmed yet they keep returning every now and then.
Right now, Lopez is said to be focusing on her life and work after her high-profile split from Ben Affleck.
At the same time, Smith still shares a public bond with Jada, even though they have spoken about living separately. Moreover, they do have a past connection, as they once talked about working together on a film that never happened.
For now, it looks like this is more about old rumours coming back again rather than anything new actually happening.
Gout Gout has broken the Jamaican icon Usain Bolt’s world record, but the legend has a warning for the teen phenom.
Sprint icon Usain Bolt has advised the buzzing teen phenom from Australia Gout Gout, not to forget track and field and to find a good support network in order to remain focused on his career goals.
Gout, 18, kept the 200m title at the Australian Athletics Championship on April 12 in a time stamp of 19.67 seconds, crushing U.S. sprinter Erriyon Knighton’s world under-20 record (19.69) and edging past Bolt’s time of 19.93 seconds from 2004—the Jamaican’s fastest time as a teenager.
Gout, who also clinched the under-20 100m national title, went under the 20-second mark at last season’s championships with a wind-assisted 19.84 and once held the fastest time by a 16-year-old over 200m when he posted that time, 20.04, in 2024.
The Jamaican eight-time Olympic GOAT has some piece of advice for the teen and spoke in an interview with CNN.
Bolt expresses hope for young Gout Gout, “Hopefully he has the right set of people to guide him and keep him focused on track and field because the rest of the stuff will always be there.”
While warning the teen sprint sensation, Bolt said, “But if you mess up on track and field, then it all goes away.”
The 18-year-old Australian sprinter Gout is all geared up to make his debut in the Diamond League in the 200m in Oslo on June 10, 2026.
But with a focus on the upcoming World Under-20 Championships in Oregon in August, he has indicated that he will not be part of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, due in July this year.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been working behind the scenes for royal redemption despite the latest shock from the UK.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been dominating the headlines since their four-day visit to Australia.
The Montecito couple seemingly sent a message to the declining in strength royal family that they are “useful” after conducting meaningful engagements.
According to Heat World, “Harry and Meghan are very pleased with how this trip has gone. It’s given them a lot of confidence and reinforced their belief that the tide is finally turning in their favour.”
The Sussexes were ready for the critics, but their overall experience with the general public was pretty good.
An insider claimed, “It’s confirmed Harry’s belief they’re creating a groundbreaking new blueprint that will stand them in good stead moving forward – and he’s hoping it will impress the royals.”
Harry, who is expected to visit the UK for the one-year countdown event for the 2027 Birmingham Invictus Games, is reportedly aiming to sit down with his father, King Charles, for a “new chapter” after years of royal feud.
However, the monarch and royal family have been dropping clear hints about their true feelings for the Sussexes.
From not making them part of Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday events to Sandringham snub, the King may resolve issues inside Palace walls, but giving Harry and Meghan the same public spotlight is not on the cards, seemingly.
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