NADRA clarifies policy on “residents of AJK state” imprint on CNICs

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has issued a clarification regarding the inclusion of the phrase “Resident of AJK State” on Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs), addressing recent rumours circulating on social media.

In an official statement, NADRA explained that the phrase “Resident of AJK State” is imprinted in black on Smart CNICs and in red on regular CNICs, under current regulations and policies. To have this designation added to their CNIC, applicants must submit a valid State Subject Certificate (Class 1, 2, or 3) issued by the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

NADRA emphasised that without this certificate, the residency status of “Resident of AJK State” cannot be imprinted on the CNIC. The authority also dismissed recent rumours circulating online suggesting changes to this policy, calling them baseless and misleading.

The statement further clarified that between December 2024 and January 2025 alone, over 50,000 CNICs with the “Resident of AJK State” imprint have been issued, underscoring that the current procedure is being strictly followed.