ISLAMABAD – The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has quietly removed a controversial feature from its PakID mobile app after it drew sharp criticism and ridicule on social media.
Earlier this month, reports revealed that the app’s “Cancel Identity Due to Death” service bizarrely offered two choices: one for relatives of the deceased and another labeled “Myself.” The second option even required a liveness check through facial recognition, prompting widespread confusion over how a deceased individual could verify their own death.
The feature quickly went viral, sparking mockery online and raising questions about the app’s design and testing process.
Following media coverage and public backlash, NADRA has now removed the “myself” option and introduced a new process. Under the revised system, only relatives of the deceased can request cancellation, and they must confirm their relationship before submitting.
The updated app also includes a family tree feature to streamline verification and reduce errors. A NADRA spokesperson clarified that the self-report option had been added due to a “confusion” in the service design and stressed that the function was always meant for relatives, not for individuals themselves.
The correction comes as NADRA continues efforts to digitize citizen services, though this episode has highlighted the importance of clear design and testing in public-facing digital platforms.