NADRA Takes Action: 8 Officials Suspended Amid Data Theft Probe

Eight officials from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have been suspended following recommendations from the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) regarding a data theft case. Disciplinary measures have been taken against more than a dozen NADRA officers. Eight of them were suspended and issued charge sheets. However, the identities of these individuals have not been disclosed due to ongoing court proceedings and considerations of data privacy.

Previously, the JIT forwarded a report to the interior ministry concerning the breach of citizens’ data by the NADRA. The report revealed that data belonging to 27 million Pakistanis was compromised between 2019 and 2023, allegedly involving NADRA offices located in Multan, Peshawar, and Karachi.

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As per the JIT report, data acquired from Multan to Peshawar was further transmitted to Dubai and even sold in countries like Argentina and Romania. The report suggested taking action against multiple senior officials of NADRA. This joint investigation team, led by the Director of Cybercrime at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), was formed to probe the cyberattack that occurred in March 2023, during which the personal data of citizens, including military personnel, was compromised and pilfered.

After completing the inquiry, the JIT presented its findings to the then-caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar. In response, the caretaker PM directed NADRA to take the necessary actions under the recommendations outlined in the report.

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The proposed measures, as detailed in the report, aim to enhance the protection of citizens’ data through regulatory actions and technological advancements. Concurrently, authorities have initiated compliance measures in alignment with the directives of the Prime Minister. These initiatives are expected to enhance the efficiency of emergency service delivery and reinforce database security standards, ensuring better safeguarding of citizens’ information.