LCCI,  NADRA collaborate for facilitation, tax compliance

Lahore: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Kashif Anwar welcomed NADRA Director General Abrar Ahmad Khan, and announced the designation of this year as a "Facilitation Year."

During their meeting, Kashif Anwar stressed the importance of documentation and increasing the tax base, emphasizing that LCCI members must fulfill two essential obligations: being taxpayers and filing tax returns for the past two years.

He highlighted the need to educate people about the benefits of becoming taxpayers and complying with tax regulations.

The event was attended by LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Ch and other Executive Committee members. President LCCI acknowledged the excellent cooperation from all government departments, expressing gratitude for their swift and positive responses to the chamber's initiatives.

Director General NADRA, Abrar Ahmad Khan, delivered a comprehensive presentation on NADRA's services, underscoring its significance as an autonomous body with involvement from various stakeholders, including international entities. While NADRA is renowned for issuing ID cards, the agency offers a diverse range of services. Its subsidiary, NADRA Technologies Limited, handles services like e-Sahulat and branchless banking, managing deposits and systems amounting to approximately 66.87 billion.

NADRA plays a vital role in vehicle transfer services through its extensive database, operating in 8 regions, 36 divisions, 151 districts, and 501 Tehsils. With a workforce of 21,109 employees, NADRA serves the public through 779 registration centers, 10 overseas centers, and 12 mega centers.

The DG revealed impressive statistics, including the issuance of 138 million cards, with 55.90 percent going to males and 40.80 percent to females. Additionally, NADRA issued 8.5 million cards to overseas Pakistanis, 525,367 to individuals with special needs, and 191,644 Pakistan origin cards. The agency also provided 4.6 million family registration certificates, 909,873 death certificates, and facilitated around 53 million child registrations.

NADRA issues two types of cards: normal cards and cards with chips, and it holds the potential to integrate various services into a single card, including passports, banking services, and other essential functions, pending government approval.

Under the Civil Registration Management System (CRMS), NADRA operates 4657 sites, 4639 Union Councils (UCs), and 18 cantonment boards.

DG NADRA also highlighted NADRA's remarkable facial image database, comprising 130 million facial images and capable of processing 40 million images per second. The agency offers a wide array of services, including Watan Card, Kissan Card, Ahsas Program, BISP, Biometric Verification System, online visa system, Sehat Sahuulat, and more. NADRA now issues succession certificates, streamlining a previously cumbersome process.

In response to President LCCI's request, the DG increased the number of booths at the NADRA counter in LCCI, enhancing accessibility to services for the public. LCCI Senior Vice President, Zafar Mahmood Ch, emphasized the shared commitment of LCCI and NADRA to promote facilitation, tax compliance, and efficient public services, contributing to the economic growth and development of the region.