Following the controversy over alleged irregularities in the evaluation of bidders for the eNIC project, The Island learns that Pakistan has offered a USD 10 million credit line to Sri Lanka to facilitate the proposed project if National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) secured the contract.

Sri Lanka’s decision to replace the existing NIC is part of its efforts to thwart National Identity Card forgery and threats on national security.

During a visit by a group of Sri Lankan journalists to NADRA headquarters in Islamabad last week, its Deputy Chairman Tariq Maliq said that they could comfortably meet Sri Lanka’s requirement. NADRA chairman Ali Arshad Hakeem and Maliq emphasised that they were the lowest bidder. Their offer of a USD 10 million credit line wouldn’t go unnoticed, they stressed.

Pakistan established NADRA in 2000 during Chief of Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf tenure as the Pakistani leader.

They expressed confidence that Sri Lanka would take into consideration their expertise as well as their offer of USD 10 million credit line and their being the lowest bidder. A Sri Lankan delegation had visited NADRA’s state-of-the-art facility to take a first hand look at the operations, Tariq said. NADRA had also sent a team to Colombo.

Maliq said that the issue of Computerised NICs to Pakistanis would help prevent a range of fraudulent activity. It would also facilitate Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism while enhancing the country’s law enforcement apparatus.

Among NADRA’s customers are UNHRC, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Kenya and Bangladesh. Tariq said that UNHRC had funded a project to register Afghans living in Pakistan.

Responding to The Island queries, Tariq emphasised that their data would be available to Pakistan or overseas government agencies on a case-by-case basis and that too on the strictly on the instructions of the government of Pakistan.