Somalian Ministerial Delegation visits NADRA Headquarters
Tariq Malik, Chairman NADRA briefed the delegation headed by the Interior Minister of Somalia of Ahmed Moallim Fiqi on over ID as an enabler for inclusion & empowerment, e-government initiatives, its success in achieving universal ID Registration coverage across Pakistan and utilization of National ID data to reform governance of state institutions.
The delegation, spearheaded by Federal Interior Minister, Comprised of Ahmed Abdirahman Hassan, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Abdiwali Mire Hirsi, Deputy Minister of Interior-Puntland State, Ahmed Osman Adan, Deputy Minister of Interior-Galmudug State, Abdulahi Hassan, Minister of Interior of Southwest State, Ms. Hoden Aden Osman, Advisor to Office of President, Mr Abduallahi Bihi Hussen Director General NIRA and Mr. Shirwa Abdullahi Ibrahim Ambassador Somalia.
The Somalia Ministerial delegation has set out a study tour on Federalism, Devolution, and State-Building During the briefing, Tariq Malik, Chairman NADRA emphasized that following Government of Pakistan’s “Look Africa Policy”, NADRA is poised to work closely with the government of Somalia. Mr. Malik assured the high-powered delegation that NADRA will surely extend all possible G2G support in ID related projects. Mr. Malik also urged on the delegation to develop an ID ecosystem that would bring about “Single Version of Truth”.
The potential is endless for the digital public goods to be rolled out on the basis of a good ID system, he added. Mr. Malik said, “A good ID system helps build a strong democratic system, especially in developing countries. The ethos of democracy in “One Person, One Vote” is better delivered through a National ID system that facilitates in development of Computerized Electoral rolls with negligible margins of voter fraud and other fraudulent practices.” It is pertinent to mention that under South-South cooperation, NADRA is assisting the governments of Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya and Somalia with regard to the development of identity management and civil registration system.
Interior Minister lauded the efforts of the incumbent Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik and NADRA team. He showed his desire to get NADRA’s assistance for Government of Somalia to develop a robust identity management system and its linkage with other disparate systems operating in Somalia and its states. Meanwhile, Chairman NADRA also held reception in honor of Ministerial Delegation of Somalia in Islamabad. Minister for Planning, Development & Reforms, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Advisor to Prime Minister on Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki and Federal Secretary Interior Yousuf Naseem Khokhar attended the reception.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Prof. Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the importance of mutual relations between Pakistan and Somalia. He said during his last stint as Interior Minister in 2018, both countries agreed to enhance mutual cooperation and boost bilateral relations. Mr. Iqbal appreciated the efforts of the Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik and Interior Minister of Somalia of Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in materializing the initiative that he took while signing an MoU on the development of identity management and civil registration system in March 2018 with the then ambassador of Somalia to Pakistan, Miss Khadija Muhammad Al-Makhdoomi.
Mr. Iqbal said Somalia is a Country of great fortune and strategic importance and Pakistan is ready to assist Somalian Government in registering its citizens, immigration services, and other e-Government solutions. A week-long schedule of activities has been developed to engage the Somalian counterpart in showcasing e-government solution of Pakistan anchored in Digital ID.
