Central database of public information demanded

LAHORE: Although buying of property and vehicles are linked to national computerised national identity cards (CNIC), corruption is mostly prevalent because of loopholes in registration of both and data are not passed to the central database managed by the National Data Registration Authority (Nadra).

A source at the authority said that Nadra could be a catalyst in transforming the e-government’s agenda in Pakistan. It houses the world’s largest multi-biometric citizens’ database and has very effectively used it to bring transparency in the government’s citizen-centric initiatives whenever given chance.

Economic experts have pointed out that identification of majority of Pakistanis through bios technology has provided the country with an opportunity to document all economic transactions through the bios data incorporated in CNIC.

“Citizens depend on government for services and protection from risk,” said Yunus Kamran FCA. He said safeguarding citizens from risk and providing critical services transparently is the stated top priority of government of Pakistan. Still, he regretted Pakistan ranks so poor in governance indicators.

Social worker Naseer Ahmad said CNICs contain some data about the health, education, disability and income status of the cardholder. The information, however, pertains to the time when an individual applied for CNIC, he added. He said it is not possible for the authority to upgrade the information periodically. However, upgradation of this record and many other statistical data is possible if it is made mandatory to transfer all the data passed through public institutions to Nadra.

He said in fact some functions like collection of yearly road tax on vehicles, registration of vehicles and issuance of licenses could be transferred to Nadra that has the capacity and capability to perform these functions more effectively due to its presence in every corner of the country. He said the authority has the technology to eliminate effectively bogus registrations, ensure full compliance of road tax, and issue licenses to individuals after police approval that could be easily traded right now.

Ahmad said this capability was demonstrated on numerous occasions to the past government, but could not be implemented due to the hurdles created by vested interests.

Economist Faisal Qamar said the modern technology could easily resolve the issue of immediate transfer of many taxes collected by provinces to their accounts.

He said the system could be designed that would ensure transfer of amount under each head to the required province. He asserted that the taxes of all provinces would multiply under this head and they would benefit, adding but those minting illegal money would suffer.

Qamar said the same record of payment made could also be transferred to the central data base and could be used during assessment of the final tax liabilities of each individual.

He said property purchase and transfer is mandatory through CNIC, but the data collected are not automatically passed to a central data base, which should be done now.

He said hundreds of billions are parked under benami properties at the moment that would be documented once the CNICs are made compulsory for identification of owners.

Educationist Fakra Yusuf said another aspect that could help the planners is to ensure that the data of the all degree holders and recognised certificates should be transferred to the central data base.

This would enable Nadra to update its record of these CNIC holders. In the same way, she added, the blood group information collected at public institutions, major operations or diseases contracted by any CNIC holder should also be transferred to the central data base for consolidation of the data of an individual. This could facilitate health planners in fixing their priorities in health sector.

Information technology expert Saad Bin Tahir said this process will not require any additional expenditure and only the commitment of the government to ensure a reliable database from technology that is available in Pakistan and could be implemented with ease, is required, he emphasised.

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