IT is not without a reason that a latest public opinion survey puts the approval rating of Pakistan Army at an enviable level of 88%, much ahead of other stakeholders in the system. The survey, conducted by Gallup, confirms the widely held perception that people of Pakistan look towards the Pakistan Army when it comes to transparency and delivery on the basis of meritorious services rendered by the institution throughout the checkered history of the country.
It is in this backdrop that criticism and apprehensions being expressed by some vested interests on social media notwithstanding, a majority of people of Pakistan have welcomed the proposition to appoint a serviceman as Chairman, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). With the passage of time, NADRA has become a national depository of sensitive and valuable information and database and, therefore, it is mandatory that its affairs should be run in a highly responsible and secure manner. Initially, the Authority was established with a vision to set up a technologically advanced national database of Pakistani citizens, which is transparent and easily available but the scope of its activities and responsibilities have increased tremendously and now it is not only issuing a host of identity and other documents but is also linked to a host of economic and financial activities carried out by Pakistani nationals at home and abroad. It is because of the delicate nature of the treasure of information held by the Authority that concerns are expressed, off and on, about the possibility of its leakage to local and foreign vested interests and the need to ensure the highest standard of security for the data. There have also been concerns about issuance of a large number of identity cards to foreign nationals, especially Afghans whose criminal activities both within the country and abroad are bringing bad name to Pakistan. Apart from the need to ensure security and transparency of the data and working of NADRA, it is also pertinent to mention that its role in ensuring free and fair elections has also become crucial. Therefore, it is important that the affairs of the Authority are run by a serviceman so that the forthcoming general election is held in a free and fair manner under the supervision of the Pakistan Army. As the Pakistan Army has the demonstrated capability of contributing a lot in improving working and performance of a number of institutions, there is every reason to believe that NADRA would scale new heights of quality output if its affairs are managed by a professional serviceman.
