by In recent years, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has positioned itself at the center of the country’s push toward digital governance and identity management. From biometrics to smart cards, NADRA has long been praised for adopting new technologies at a pace unmatched by many other government institutions. But in a recent development, the authority has attracted headlines — and more than a few jokes — for rolling out a feature that has left many scratching their heads: a digital process that apparently lets the dead cancel their own ID cards, complete with a “liveness check.”
At first glance, the idea seems almost comical. How can someone who is deceased be expected to complete a liveness check — a verification tool specifically designed to ensure that a real, living human is interacting with the system? Yet, beneath the humor lies a story about bureaucratic overreach, digital missteps, and the challenges of implementing technology in a country where official systems often collide with ground realities.
What is the “Liveness Check”?
Before diving into the irony of NADRA’s move, it’s worth understanding what a “liveness check” actually is. In simple terms, it is a biometric verification mechanism used to ensure that a user is physically present and alive during the authentication process.
Unlike static biometric scans, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, liveness checks often require users to perform actions in real-time — blinking, turning their heads, or speaking certain phrases — to prevent fraudsters from using photos, masks, or deepfakes to trick the system.
For example, when you open a modern banking app in Pakistan and are asked to tilt your head or blink while holding the phone camera to your face, you are undergoing a liveness check. The feature is meant to secure processes like online banking, account opening, or SIM card verification.
So far, so good. But when applied to the dead, the very premise collapses into absurdity. After all, no corpse can blink, tilt its head, or perform a random gesture — unless, of course, one were to step into the world of horror movies.
NADRA’s Feature: A Bureaucratic Paradox
According to reports, NADRA recently updated its mobile application to allow the cancellation of CNICs (Computerized National Identity Cards) in case of a holder’s death. Previously, family members were required to visit NADRA centers in person, carrying the deceased’s death certificate and related documents to apply for cancellation.
Now, in an effort to digitize this service, the process has been shifted partially online. But here’s the catch: in order to complete the cancellation process, the system is still programmed to require a liveness check from the CNIC holder.
Yes, you read that right. A dead person would need to appear before their phone camera, blink on command, and perhaps nod their head to validate their own death — effectively making Pakistan the only country in the world where the deceased are expected to prove that they are indeed dead.
The paradox is clear: a technology designed to detect life is now being applied to certify death.
Why This is Problematic
The issue highlights a deeper problem within Pakistan’s digital transformation journey: the lack of user-centric design in public services. While the intention behind NADRA’s move is commendable — making processes easier and less time-consuming — the execution reflects a disconnect between policy and reality.
- Families Face an Impossible Task
Bereaved families seeking to cancel a loved one’s CNIC are now caught in a digital deadlock. They cannot possibly complete a liveness check on behalf of the deceased, and the app does not seem to provide an alternative pathway. - Risk of Fraud and Identity Theft
If death cancellations cannot be processed smoothly, there is a risk that the deceased’s CNICs remain active. This opens the door to identity theft, fraudulent property transfers, or even the misuse of IDs in crimes and scams. - Public Trust at Stake
NADRA has built a reputation as one of Pakistan’s more efficient government bodies. But missteps like this can erode public trust and make people more skeptical of future digital rollouts. - Digital Inclusion Overlooked
A significant portion of Pakistan’s population — particularly in rural areas — struggles with access to smartphones, reliable internet, or the digital literacy needed to navigate these apps. Adding illogical requirements like a “liveness check for the dead” only makes the system more inaccessible.
The Internet Reacts: Humor Meets Frustration
Unsurprisingly, the news has gone viral across Pakistani social media. Memes, jokes, and sarcastic commentary are flooding platforms like Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram.
- Some joked that Pakistan had “finally found a way to bring the dead back to life — through a NADRA app.”
- Others quipped that NADRA should now integrate with necromancers or horror movie directors to make the feature work.
- A popular meme even suggested that “zombies would have the easiest time completing the liveness check.”
Yet, behind the humor lies genuine frustration. Families of deceased individuals already face complex bureaucratic hurdles, and adding a nonsensical digital step only compounds their distress.
The Bigger Picture: Tech Missteps in Governance
This incident is not an isolated one. Governments across the world have occasionally stumbled in their digitalization efforts. From websites that crash during crucial deadlines to AI-driven systems that reinforce bias, the road to digital governance is littered with missteps.
In Pakistan, where bureaucracy is already a source of public frustration, poorly designed digital systems can feel even more exasperating. Instead of solving problems, they risk digitizing inefficiency.
This raises a key question: Are we focusing too much on adopting new technologies, and too little on ensuring that they actually serve the people they are meant to help?
What NADRA Needs to Do
To regain public confidence and make the process truly effective, NADRA must address the loopholes immediately. A few steps could include:
- Remove the Liveness Check for Deceased Cases
Instead of requiring a liveness check, the app should allow families to upload official documents such as a death certificate, hospital records, or a legal affidavit. - Introduce Family Member Verification
The app could allow close relatives (e.g., spouse, child, or sibling) to authenticate themselves via their own liveness check and biometrics, confirming their relationship to the deceased. - Integrate with Death Registries
NADRA can coordinate with hospitals, municipal authorities, and union councils to create an automated death registry. Once a death is registered at the local level, CNIC cancellation should happen automatically. - Offer Hybrid Channels
Not every process should be fully digital. Families should retain the option to process cancellations through NADRA service centers, especially in rural or digitally disconnected areas.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Human-Centered Design
The idea of letting the dead cancel their own IDs may have made for a bizarre headline, but it also offers a valuable lesson. Technology in governance is not just about adopting the latest tools; it’s about designing systems that align with human realities.
NADRA’s misstep with the liveness check underscores the importance of involving end-users — ordinary citizens — in the design and testing of digital services. Had this process been tested with real families, the flaw would have been caught instantly.
