Under its new and dynamic chairman Imtiaz Tajwar, National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) is fast moving from the red to green zone, as a number of measures have been adopted for speedy streamlining of the organisation.
On January 13, 2014, the federal government appointed Tajwar as NADRA chairman.
Per official documents available with Pakistan Today, it has been revealed that the administration has achieved a number of milestones after appointment of the new chairman in the office, including winning Scanning and Digitisation of Sri Lankan Identity Card project worth US$5.8 million in an international bidding against India and other countries.
PROJECTS SIGNED UNDER NEW NADRA CHAIRMAN: Other than Scanning and Digitization of Sri Lankan ID Card project, NADRA has also won Punjab Bar Council Cards project worth Rs 46.2 million. The agreement was signed on February 15, 2014.
Moreover, an agreement of Proof of Residence (PoR) for Afghan Refugees amounting to Rs 342 million was signed on 26 February 2014 in collaboration with the UNHCR.
As per the agreement, NADRA is supposed to renew the cards for Afghans in Pakistan. Over 600,000 cards have already been delivered through 42 centres established for the program through existing manpower.
Meanwhile, Safe City Islamabad, a project of national importance aiming to safeguard the economy and social security of the country, which had earlier been shelved, has been re-launched to meet the demand of law enforcement agencies to effectively prevent and combat crime.
The Rs 21 billion project had hit the snag after a Supreme Court ruling terming it void on August 12, 2012. The actual project was meant for Islamabad and Peshawar. The court declared the project was executed in violation of the mandatory provisions of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) 2004.
FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE: Due to financial discipline measures imposed by the new chief, Rs 4,101 million was generated as revenue during the third quarter (January–March) of financial year 2013-14. Total operational expenses incurred during the period are Rs 2,760 million. An unprecedented net profit of Rs 1,341 million has been earned in these three months.
Under Tajwar’ chairmanship, NADRA has earned Rs 1 billion from operations (CNIC etc.) and received high profit returns from national and international projects.
Expenses have also been curtailed due to stoppage of honorariums, withholding of 15 percent salary increase that was earlier announced by the previous management and rationalisation of other monetary incentives.
Substantial savings have been made due to strict monitoring of movement of official vehicles and austerity measures introduced recently.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS: As many as 23 vehicles have been retrieved from various directorates/departments while a sum of Rs 2,025,501 has been saved on account of Monetization Allowance.
NADRA has saved Rs 1,500,970 by economising on fuel expenses.
HUMAN RESOURCE: The total number of DGs has been brought down to 24 from 36.
A biometric thumb impression verification was undertaken during which 16,557 employees out of total 17,103 employees have been verified.
109 employees are stated to be on long leave, while 361 employees have not been verified and are thus absent without leave. Their salaries have been stopped and a process has been initiated for their removal from service as per procedure. An enquiry has been initiated to find the reasons for absence and lack of monitoring.
Out of the 52 employees working outside NADRA, 25 have joined back, while the rest have been issued final notices to join back and their pay has been withheld.
Moreover, 15 employees deputed in NADRA have been reverted to the parent departments. Major penalty of dismissal from service has been imposed on 20 employees whose degrees were found fake.
Another 20 employees have been dismissed from service on account of illegal processing of CNICs.
An enquiry has been ordered against the officials who were responsible for appointing 321 employees after a ban in this regard by the federal government on June 20, 2013.
FOREIGN POSTINGS: Thirteen employees posted abroad without proper selection process have been repatriated. A new policy for foreign postings has been formulated and online tests are being conducted in this regard.
