Skip to main content

2.7m citizens’ data compromised over five years, probe finds

ISLAMABAD: A Joint Investiga­tion Team (JIT), which was formed to probe a data leak from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), has told the Interior Ministry that the particulars of as many as 2.7 million citizens had been compromised between 2019 and 2023.


Sources told Dawn the JIT, headed by a senior officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and comprising representatives from various intelligence agencies, had completed its probe and subsequently submitted a report to the ministry.


The JIT found that Nadra offices in Karachi, Multan and Peshawar were allegedly involved in the data leak and recommended action against various officials.


Sources said that, according to the report, there was evidence of Nadra data surfacing in Argentina and Romania.



JIT submits report on Nadra data leak to interior ministry



A source said Nadra has already taken numerous steps to deliver its services in an improved manner, ensuring the optimal security of its database.


Action has been initiated following a probe into the cyber security incident that took place in March 2023.


The JIT has also recommended an upgrade of technology, as well as departmental and criminal proceedings against those found responsible for the lapse.


The issue of the vulnerability of Nadra’s data had been raised in the past, but gained prominence only after the disclosure of an information leak about certain senior military officials.


In November 2021, a National Assembly panel had been told that the personal data of millions of Pakistanis might have been compromised, allegedly due to weaknesses in Nadra’s security framework.


During an earlier meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, a senior FIA official had revealed that certain biometric records had been hacked.


It was later clarified that only the biometric system used for SIM verification, among other things had been “compromised”, and not the entire data record.


Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2024


http://dlvr.it/T4gLtF

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Student council oath-taking ceremony

Islamabad:The Millennium College hosted a Student Council Investiture Ceremony 2019 at its Flagship Campus, I-9/3, says a press release.The student council comprising of AS & A Level, IBDP program and IGCSE’s vowed under oath that they will be active and responsible members of the student executive council and will abide by the laws made by the college and the managing body to guarantee themselves and the student body a better campus life.Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi graced the occasion and inducted the School’s Head Boy Sarosh Atif and Head Girl Qirrat Ali as well as the Executive Council Members of all clubs and societies established within the school system. After administering the oath, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi along with the Founder & Chairman The Millennium Education Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq, Director International Qualifications Azra Tahir and Principal of Millennium College, Campus I-9/3, Muneeze Muzzafar awarded sashes, badges and certificates to the members of the co...
Post a Comment
Read more

3 drug pushers, bootlegger held

Islamabad :Islamabad Industrial Area Police have arrested three drug pushers and a bootlegger besides recovery of narcotics and 120 liter liquor from them, a police spokesman said.According to details, a police team of Industrial Area police station arrested three drug pushers namely Kamran, Irfan and Shamoon Masih and recovered 320 gram heroin and 210 gram hashish from them,.Another police team arrested a bootlegger namely Ansar Javed and recovered 120 liter wine, bottles, stickers and brewing equipment from him. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them.SP (Industrial Area) Zubair Ahmad Shaikh has said that Industrial Area zone police is doing its job efficiently and crackdown against criminals would be continued.Despite the sit in, he said Islamabad Police has been performing its duty quite efficiently and has successfully managed to maintain the daily life in the Capital.In this regard, Senior Police officers including S...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pragmatic steps taken to implement Axle Load Control regime on NH&MP

Islamabad: Ministry of Communications has taken pragmatic steps to implement the Axle Load Control regime on Motorways & National Highways in the country. Sole objective of this move is to control travelling of overloaded vehicles which lead to fatal accidents besides damaging the national asset of road network of billions of rupees.Prior to implementation of axle load control regime, a technical committee was formed, consisting of officers from Ministry of Communications and National Highway Authority which remained in constant contacts with transport community, Members of the Chambers of Commerce and stakeholders hailing from all the provinces. This technical committee visited their offices and held detailed discussions in series of meetings and took them into confidence to facilitate implementation of Axle Load Control regime. The stakeholders assured of their full cooperation and subsequently, implementation of Axle Load Control was realized which is in progress.It is worth to ...
Post a Comment
Read more