Users of the National Database and Registration Authority’s (NADRA) mobile app have noticed a seemingly unusual feature that allows deceased individuals to reportedly cancel their own identity cards.

 

As per the details, NADRA’s mobile app includes a feature labelled “Cancel Identity Due to Death,” which provides users with two options for cancelling the ID card of a deceased individual. The first option is labelled “Myself,” while the second is labelled “My blood relatives.”

 

While it is questionable how a deceased person could cancel their own identity card, the second option is worded as if from the deceased person’s perspective. The “My blood relatives” option allows immediate family members, such as parents, siblings, spouse, or children, to apply for cancellation of the deceased’s ID card.

 

To the bewilderment of app users, however, upon clicking on the “Myself” option, users are reportedly taken through a “liveness check” that utilises facial recognition software. According to reports, the process is designed to ensure that the person using the liveness check procedure is alive and matches with data in NADRA’s official record.

 

Users have questioned how a deceased individual is supposed to follow the procedure requiring them to log in to the NADRA app, starting a cancellation of ID card application under the “myself” option, and completing a liveness check via facial recognition.

 

A NADRA spokesperson reportedly commented on the matter, clarifying that the ID card cancellation service for deceased individuals is meant to be used only by their relatives. However, the spokesperson did not address concerns about the presence of the “myself” option under the “Cancel Identity Due to Death” feature.

 

Additionally, the spokesperson did not explain why the NADRA app requires a liveness check for deceased individuals or how such a feature could even be used by them. Reports suggest this feature is yet another example of poorly designed government mobile apps.

 

According to reports, authorities often fail to ensure proper oversight during app development, leading to multiple issues in government apps. So far, NADRA has not released a statement on the feature, sparking debate over the app’s design.