After its mobile application showed users a strangely worded function that seemed to let the deceased delete their own identity cards, Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) came under fire.
The “Cancel Identity Due to Death” feature of the program offers two choices: one for a deceased person’s family and another for “Myself.” The first choice makes sense, but many users are confused by the second. A facial recognition liveness check is initiated if the “Myself” option is selected, and the applicant must verify their existence and match NADRA’s biometric information.
Both widespread laughter and criticism have been generated by the discrepancy. Users asked how someone who had passed away could join in, start the process, and pass a live facial scan. “Why would someone who is supposedly dead have to prove they are alive in order to cancel their ID? It doesn’t make sense,” a social media user wrote.
When asked to clarify, a NADRA representative said that the cancellation service was just for the deceased’s family. The representative did not, however, go into detail about the app’s “Myself” option or the requirement for proof of life for a purportedly postmortem applicant.
The misunderstanding has rekindled discussion about oversights and design defects in official government mobile apps. Such oversights, according to critics, not only irritate users but also erode confidence in digital governance efforts. Although Pakistan’s government has made significant investments in digitalization initiatives, many apps and services still have problems with user experience.
Since NADRA has not yet offered a comprehensive explanation, the “Myself” choice remains mysterious. It’s unclear if the function is a result of poor labelling, a technological issue, or just another instance of shoddy software design.
