NADRA App Confuses Users with Odd Option for Deceased People

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has come under the spotlight once again after users noticed a strange and confusing feature in its official mobile app. The feature, which is supposed to help cancel the identity card of a deceased person, oddly gives an option that seems to allow the deceased themselves to cancel their own ID card.

Inside the app, the service is listed under the section “Cancel Identity Due to Death.” When someone opens this option, two choices appear. The first is straightforward and meant for the relatives of the deceased, allowing them to request cancellation of their loved one’s ID card. The second option, however, is labeled “Myself.” Strangely, when a user selects this, the app takes them through NADRA’s standard facial recognition liveness check — a process designed to ensure that the applicant is alive and matches their official record.

This creates a bizarre situation: according to the app, a deceased person would need to log in, select the “Myself” option, and then successfully pass a liveness check to confirm they are alive — just so they can proceed with canceling their ID card. The irony of this design has left many users scratching their heads.

When contacted by media for clarification, a NADRA spokesperson explained that the feature is intended only for relatives of deceased persons. However, the spokesperson did not provide a clear answer as to why the app explicitly offers a “Myself” option under a death-related service, nor why a liveness check is required in such a case.

This issue highlights a larger problem with many government-run mobile apps in Pakistan. Poor planning, lack of testing, and weak user experience design often lead to confusion and errors. Since these apps deal with sensitive information and critical services, even small mistakes can result in public frustration and embarrassment for the authorities.

For now, NADRA has not officially explained whether this unusual option is the result of a technical glitch, a mislabeling mistake, or simply a major oversight in the app’s design. Until then, the question remains unanswered: why would a deceased individual ever be expected to confirm their identity through facial recognition in order to cancel their own ID card?

READ MORE: Cloudburst Alert in Punjab: Authorities on High Alert for Floods and Landslides