Zong and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s digital transformation efforts under the government’s ‘Digital Pakistan’ agenda. The collaboration aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision for citizen-centric technological advancement and focuses on delivering secure and inclusive digital services nationwide.
Under the partnership, Zong will introduce NADRA’s Multi-Biometric Verification solution, including facial recognition as an alternative to fingerprint-based verification. This approach is designed to support dignified and accessible SIM issuance for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and individuals facing biometric limitations such as age-related fingerprint fading or skin conditions.
To enhance customer facilitation, Zong has already deployed its first dedicated SIM kiosk at NADRA’s Rawalpindi Mega Center. The pilot is intended as a scalable model for nationwide rollout, enabling a fraud-resistant, citizen-centric verification process while remaining compliant with national security requirements and international best practices.
The initiative aligns Pakistan with global digital leaders such as China, Malaysia, and the UAE, where facial verification is widely used to combat identity fraud. The collaboration also includes the implementation of enhanced APIs for real-time subscriber verification, timely updates to citizen records, and improved registry accuracy to support law enforcement and security agencies.
Additionally, the integration of the Family Registration Certificate (FRC) verification API will streamline SIM ownership transfer processes in the event of a subscriber’s death, improving administrative efficiency and data accuracy.
Commenting on the collaboration, Tauseef ur Rahman Khan, Director Sales & Distribution at Zong, said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing Pakistan’s digital transformation through secure, citizen-centric technologies. He noted that the initiatives aim to improve service accessibility, strengthen data integrity, and support national security and socio-economic development.
Looking ahead, Zong and NADRA will explore cooperation on Single Sign-On (SSO) and the National Data Exchange Layer (NDEL) to develop an interoperable and trusted verification framework supporting a secure, inclusive, and resilient digital ecosystem for Pakistan.
