KARACHI: Zong has signed an agreement with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to support Pakistan’s digital transformation efforts, including the rollout of multi-biometric verification for mobile subscribers, the companies said on Monday.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Zong will integrate Nadra’s multi-biometric verification system, including facial recognition technology, as an alternative to fingerprint-based checks. The move aims to improve access to SIM registration for senior citizens, people with disabilities and individuals whose fingerprints are difficult to verify due to age or medical conditions.
The partnership supports the government’s Digital Pakistan initiative and seeks to strengthen secure, citizen-focused digital services while addressing identity fraud risks. Pakistan has struggled with SIM misuse in the past, prompting tighter verification requirements across the telecom sector.
Zong has already installed a dedicated SIM registration kiosk at Nadra’s Rawalpindi Mega Centre as a pilot project. The model is expected to be expanded nationwide, subject to regulatory approvals, and is designed to improve verification accuracy while meeting national security standards.
The collaboration also includes the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) for real-time subscriber verification, updates to citizen records and improved data accuracy to support law enforcement and security agencies. An additional API linked to NADRA’s Family Registration Certificate will allow SIM ownership transfers following the death of a subscriber.
“By working closely with national institutions, we aim to enable more inclusive access to digital services while strengthening data integrity and security,” said Tauseef ur Rahman Khan, director of sales and distribution at Zong.
The two organisations said they would also explore future cooperation on single sign-on services and the National Data Exchange Layer, a government-led platform aimed at improving interoperability between public-sector databases.
