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Nicop, machine-readable Pak passports in UAE

Speaking to Khaleej Times, the outgoing Consul-General Amanullah Larik said, “Within a month’s time, Nadra will be setting up machines at the consulate-general in Dubai which will facilitate the issuance of Nicop and machine-readable passports locally.”

“This will shorten the waiting period (for the applicants),” he added.

He also said that recently the chairman of Nadra had visited the UAE and discussed setting up of their office here. “A team of three people will be sent from Nadra to train the staff in Dubai for which preparation are being made,” he added.

Under the current procedure, all the application forms submitted at the Pakistani missions in the UAE are sent to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) in Pakistan where computerised identity cards are issued, replacing the old ones.

The Nicop cards are in English and are valid until the holder resides outside the home country (Pakistan). “Upon their return, the card will automatically become invalid,” said Larik.

Nicop is a machine-readable document that facilitates movement through the immigration controls. Its swiping feature makes it a safeguard against misuse. It also offers unique privileges and facilities to its holder including a free-of-cost Urdu language NIC upon return and a visa-free entry to Pakistan, protection by the Government of Pakistan in any foreign country and also an entitlement to membership of Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF).

The aim is to create a database of Non-Resident Pakistanis and check the infiltration of people with fake Pakistani ID cards and passports. The Nicop scheme was launched in the UAE by Lt-Gen. (retd) Moinuddin Haider, former Pakistan interior minister, but it got a poor response because of the high fees and a limited validity.

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