Digital Power of Attorney: NADRA solves major issue of Overseas Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD – The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) introduced digital Power of Attorney (PoA) to help overseas Pakistanis avoid any physical visits to government offices.

This user-friendly service aims to make things easier for Pakistanis living abroad. NADRA’s idea is to make the process of giving power of attorney in Pakistan simple and efficient, ensuring a smooth experience for everyone and those living offshore can simply use the internet to give Power of Attorney to those living in Pakistan.

Those who are foreign nationals with a valid Pakistan Origin Card (POC), Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) can give legal authority to someone in Pakistan. This is possible through a simple and easy six-step online process; Visit the online portal, Log in with Your Credentials, upload the biometrics, submit the free, give video interview to counsellor’s office, and confirm the details via e-mail.

NADRA has outlined the eligibility requirements for the service elaborated below:

• Executor (s) must be an Overseas Pakistani
• Valid Identity document of Executor (s), Witnesses and Attorney including CNIC / NICOP / POC (both front and sides)
• Valid e-mailaddress of the Executor (s)
• Contact Numberand Mailing Address in the country of application (outside of Pakistan)
• Biometrics of Executor (s)and 2 x witnesses (Best 4 fingers)
• Credit Card / Debit Cardto make online Fee Payment within the application
• Scanned Copy of Original Power of Attorney with signature and thumb impressions of executants(s) and witnesses, as well as photo of executant affixed on it
• Any other relevant documents(for example Affidavit, if applicable, to be uploaded in the PoA system by the Applicant)
• Details of Attorney and Witnesses
• For POA Attestation, Foreigners are required to physically visit the concerned Pakistan Mission Abroad after having their documents attested from their country’s respective State Department/Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Executor (s) are responsible for choosing their concerned Pakistan Foreign Mission (Embassy/High Commission/Consulate) when applying for the Digital Power of Attorney. Failure to do so might route the application to the wrong mission and could result in rejection.

In case of a Foreigner, the Applicant is required to physically visit the concerned Pakistan Mission Abroad after having their documents attested from their country’s State Department/Ministry of Foreign Affairs.