Married women can retain their father’s name on IDs

‘STEPS TAKEN TO EMPOWER, PROTECT WOMEN’S RIGHTS’

The National Database And Registration Authority (Nadra) has done away with its policy that earlier bound a woman to mention her husband’s name on the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), which is also their citizenship card.

Now they are free to retain their family name even after marriage as well as mention their father’s name instead of their husband on the citizenship card. Although it was not the official policy, yet the Nadra staff registering a married woman asked her to mention her husband’s name on the form required for issuance of the citizenship card.

Applicant’s discretion

Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik announced at a rural women’s conference that the policy no longer existed and the authority had decided to leave to the applicant’s discretion whether she wanted to mention her father’s name or her husband’s on the CNIC.

Malik said steps were taken to increase women’s registration to empower and protect their rights. He added the authority had reduced the existing registration gap between women and men from 14 per cent to 10 per cent in 100 days.

“We have also established an inclusive registration unit to increase women registration. We are reviewing all policies to enhance women registration, whether it is linked with awareness or outreach,” Malik said.

“Within a few months, approximately 40 million households have validated their family members through dedicated service 8009,” he said.