tl;dr
Pakistan has launched dematerialized digital identity cards, integrated into the Pak ID mobile app, with use cases for e-passports, banking verification, and driver licenses. The digital verification system will provide automatic verification for Pakistanis under the World Bank’s Digital Economy Pro...
Pakistan has launched dematerialized digital identity cards, integrated into the Pak ID mobile app, with use cases for e-passports, banking verification, and driver licenses. The digital verification system will provide automatic verification for Pakistanis under the World Bank’s Digital Economy Project. Brunei is also introducing the Brunei Digital Identity (BruneiID) to streamline national identification solutions, with plans for a six-month pilot project. Both countries are embracing blockchain for digital transformation. Other nations are also experimenting with digital ID initiatives.
In line with the push to embrace emerging technologies for digitalization, Pakistan has launched a “dematerialized” digital identity card for residents. The digital IDs are the brainchild of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on the occasion of its silver jubilee. The IDs exist only in digital formats and do not have a physical replica. Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi described the digital IDs as a significant leap in Pakistan’s push toward transformation with emerging technologies.
Naqvi disclosed that the dematerialized digital IDs will be integrated into the Pak ID mobile app, NADRA’s offering for remotely managing national ID documentation. The integration will allow holders to store and use their new digital IDs from their smartphones. Use cases for the digital ID will extend to e-passports, banking verification, and driver licenses while supporting interoperability with existing national ID systems. Furthermore, Naqvi disclosed that a digital verification system is in the works, with a pilot set to roll out in mid-August. The system will provide automatic verification for Pakistanis under the World Bank’s Digital Economy Project.
A similar development was reported in Brunei, which is rapidly advancing toward the complete digitalization of its economy with the introduction of the Brunei Digital Identity (BruneiID). The Southeast Asian country is set to launch the new offering for citizens to streamline national identification solutions. Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Mustapha disclosed the plans for the digital ID during a Legislative Council meeting. The BruneiID proposal adopts a cautious strategy, highlighted by a six-month pilot project. This pilot will evaluate potential use cases and privacy protection rights before a commercial rollout later in the year.
The government will test the waters with a decentralized identity management system during the pilot while allowing greater control over their data. According to Mustapha, the six-month pilot will integrate with Brunei’s existing systems to push the frontiers for potential use cases. Early users will be able to access financial services with their test digital IDs for payments right away. The IDs will also provide access to a range of e-government services, including healthcare and subsidies.