ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) said Saturday that it has deployed the Iris Recognition System (IRS) for identity verification and citizen deduplication, which is a key step towards strengthening the country’s biometric verification system.
The data regulation authority stated in a statement that after the introduction of fingerprint matching as the first biometric deduplication modality over a decade ago — which was later strengthened with facial-image matching capability — the newly-introduced Iris technology will now complement Nadra’s existing biometric verification system.
The Iris recognition system piloted at NADRA
The Iris recognition system, which was successfully piloted at NADRA Headquarters, has now been rolled out in NADRA Mega Centres at Blue Area Islamabad, PECO Road Lahore, and DHA Karachi, according to the release. The technology’s progressive deployment will continue throughout all 700 NRCs around the country.
According to Nadra, the automated biometric identification modality registers “distinctive patterns within a ring-shaped region surrounding the pupil of each eye for identification.” According to NADRA, it is a very reliable and accurate identification approach with minimal false match rates.
According to Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik, the database authority’s implementation of premium identity authentication represents a significant step forward in securing people’s identities, where the “window to their souls becomes the fortress of their digital existence.”
Malik continued on to say that because no two irises are identical, this method of identification is resistant to identity duplication and theft. He further said that whether it’s government services, financial institutions, or any other industry dealing with sensitive information, identity verification is a critical aspect of ensuring the integrity and security of their systems. He said that they are taking a significant step forward in streamlining and strengthening safe identification processes with the IRIS biometric technology.
Nadra believes that Iris will not only increase its unique identity issuance system but will also include child biometric identification. According to the statement, because iris scanning is performed using a specific infrared camera to read and digitize iris patterns, it is nearly impossible to fabricate or mimic iris identity.
It was concluded that a mathematical procedure is utilized to translate these complex patterns into matching templates. A combination of facial, iris, and fingerprint matching will complement each other for permanent identity provision and more reliable NADRA verification.
