SHANGLA: The residents of Belkanai, Olandar, Ajmer, Pir Khana have demanded of the government and elected representatives to reopen the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) centre of the area as it suspended its services in the area.
The residents of the upper parts of Kana tehsil on Friday expressed their voices against the closure of the only Nadra centre which was established in 2023 during the Pakistan Democratic Movement government.
They explained that the center was shut down due to the failure to pay the outstanding rent for the building to the local owner. This closure was carried out without any public announcement.
Local activist Irfanullah said that the NADRA center was a crucial resource for the impoverished community, who previously had to travel long distances, such as to Alpuri or Bisham, to obtain national identity cards and B-forms for their children.
He noted that the authorities not only closed the center but also shifted furniture to the district headquarters, thereby depriving the local community of essential services.
Ubaidullah Khan Gujjar, a local resident said that while the world was advancing by embracing digital tools to simplify lives, Pakistan appears to be moving in the opposite direction, making life more challenging for its citizens. He highlighted that the community had supported the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidates in the last general elections for the uplift of their area.
He added that over the passage of a year, instead of initiating new projects, the authorities had been closing essential facilities.
Mian Inamullah another local emphasised that the NADRA facility had alleviated various challenges, particularly by reducing the need for women to travel to other areas for their national identity cards and related matters. He urged the government to reverse its decision and restore NADRA services in their area, which has a population of over 50,000 relying on this sole center.
The residents also warned that if the NADRA center was not reopened, they would stage a protest demonstration against the authorities and elected representatives.
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