According to a Consular Officer of the High Commission of Pakistan, in Ottawa, all old identification cards will expire on 31 December 2003 (22 Dec. 2003). The new cards, which will resemble the province of Ontario driver's licence card, will be valid for a period of ten years (High Commission 22 Dec. 2003).

Persons applying for a Pakistan Origin Card (POC) through a Pakistan foreign mission are required to complete an Urdu-language application form (attached to this Response) (ibid.). The application requires an imprint of the applicant's thumb (ibid.). Pakistani citizens who work or reside abroad, have emigrated or hold dual nationality, who wish to apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) through a foreign mission, must also complete the aforementioned POC application form, in Urdu, along with the relevant form in English (attached to this Response) (ibid.). The English application form also requires an imprint of the applicant's thumb (ibid.). In addition to the completion of these forms, the individual wishing to acquire NICOP must also submit a bank draft payable to "NADRA Islamabad" in the sum of US $15, provide three colour photographs, a copy of the individual's "old, computerized" National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistani passport, a copy of the individual's legal status within the country in which he or she works, resides or has emigrated to, and a self-addressed postage-paid envelope (ibid.). Form-B (RG II) must be completed for children who are under 18 years of age, or copies of his or her parent's NIC must be provided (ibid.). These documents are then forwarded to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in Pakistan, which is responsible for the processing and issuance of the cards (ibid.).

According to the Consular Officer, the information contained on the POC is exactly the same as that which is contained on the NICOP, except that the information on the POC is in Urdu while the information on the NICOP is in English. As well, the NICOP indicates that the individual is a resident of the country in which he or she works, resides in or has emigrated to, while the POC indicates that the individual is a resident of Pakistan (ibid.). According to information posted on the NADRA Website,

The POC should have the same design and ... blue colour as the NIC in English, bear a barcode, which should be readable by a machine. It should be called the Pakistan Origin Card (POC) and carry a printed statement in English to the effect that [the] applicant is entitled Visa free entry in to Pakistan. ...

...

The NICOP should have the same design and colour as the NIC in English, bear a barcode, which should be readable by a machine. It should be called the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and carry a printed statement in English to the effect that [the] applicant is entitled Visa free entry in to Pakistan (2002).

Please see the attached copies of the old NIC and the new POC and NICOP, which were provided to the Research Directorate by the High Commission of Pakistan, in Ottawa.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. 22 December 2003. Interview with a Consular Officer.

Pakistan. 2002. National Database and Registration Authority. "National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis/Pakistan Origin Card." http://www.nadra.gov.pk/nicoppoc.html [Accessed 22 Dec. 2003]

High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. 22 December 2003. Photocopies of the old National Identity Card (NIC), new Pakistan Origin Card (POC) and new National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP).

Pakistan. n.d. "Pakistan Origin Card." (Application form in Urdu.)

_____. n.d. "National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis." (Application form in English.)