Islamabad, March 27 (IANS) – A joint investigation team (JIT) has revealed that the personal information of 2.7 million Pakistanis was compromised in a data leak from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) between 2019 and 2023, as reported by local media.
The JIT’s report submitted to the Ministry of Interior highlighted that the data theft occurred in Nadra’s offices in Multan, Karachi, and Peshawar. The stolen data was reportedly transferred from Multan to Peshawar before being sent to Dubai, where it was later sold in Argentina and Romania.
In response to the cyber security incident in March 2023, the government established the JIT to investigate the breach. The officials at the Ministry of Interior are currently reviewing the contents of the report to take appropriate action against those responsible for the breach.
The JIT’s findings have raised concerns about the security and confidentiality of personal information in Nadra’s database. The breach has not only affected millions of Pakistanis but also highlighted the need for stricter measures to safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access and exploitation.
The revelation of this massive data breach underscores the importance of stringent cybersecurity protocols and oversight to prevent such incidents in the future. The government must prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect citizens’ personal information and maintain the integrity of sensitive data stored in public databases like Nadra.
