Pakistan cancelled more than 255,000 Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) in 2026 after authorities identified cases involving allegedly fraudulent identity documents, according to figures presented by the Ministry of Interior in the National Assembly.
The ministry reported that 255,139 CNICs were cancelled during 2026, significantly exceeding the numbers recorded in the preceding years. The figures highlight the scale of identity verification and document fraud cases handled by the authorities.
According to the data, 8,500 identity cards were cancelled in 2024, while 624 were cancelled in 2025. The ministry reported 117 cancellations in 2023 and 62 in 2022.
The figures were shared in response to a question in the National Assembly, Pakistan’s lower house of Parliament.
Why Were Pakistani CNICs Cancelled?
The Ministry of Interior said some Afghan nationals had obtained Pakistani CNICs through fraud and forgery. Authorities cancelled the documents after identifying irregularities in how the identity cards had been acquired.
Pakistan’s national identity system is administered by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which is responsible for registering citizens and issuing identity documents.
CNIC verification plays an important role in establishing legal identity and accessing services that require official identification. Identity documents may also be used for banking, property transactions and other administrative processes.
The ministry’s statement indicates that the cancellations were linked to cases in which identity cards had allegedly been obtained through fraudulent means. However, the figures provided do not specify how many cancellations involved each category of fraud or the individual circumstances of the cases.
CNIC Cancellation Figures From 2022 to 2026
The figures presented by the Ministry of Interior show the following annual totals:
- 2026: 255,139 CNICs cancelled
- 2025: 624 CNICs cancelled
- 2024: 8,500 CNICs cancelled
- 2023: 117 CNICs cancelled
- 2022: 62 CNICs cancelled
The sharp increase reported for 2026 stands out against the figures for previous years. The information available, however, does not explain whether the increase resulted from expanded verification operations, the identification of previously undetected cases or changes in administrative reporting.
What CNIC Holders Should Know
Pakistanis who need to verify their identity records or correct discrepancies can contact NADRA through its official website or authorised registration centres.
People should rely on official NADRA guidance for information about identity verification, record corrections, appeals and the status of their documents.
The Ministry of Interior’s figures concern identity cards cancelled following the identification of alleged fraud. They do not establish that all affected individuals were involved in criminal activity, and further details would be needed to determine the circumstances of individual cases.
The latest figures underline the role of identity verification in Pakistan’s registration system, while raising questions about the reasons behind the substantial increase in cancellations reported for 2026.
