Personal data of 2 million Pakistanis at risk after leak from national database

Personal data of over 2 million Pakistanis were compromised after they were leaked from the National Database and Registration Authority database, the country’s Federal Investigation Agency has confirmed.

A probe into the data breach, conducted jointly by the Interior Ministry, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Military Intelligence, found that the crime took place between 2019 and 2023.

According to a report submitted by the investigative agencies, data of 2.7 million Pakistanis was stolen allegedly with the help of Nadra offices of Multan, Peshawar and Karachi.

The stolen data of Pakistani nationals was reportedly moved from Multan to Peshawar before it finally reached Dubai, sources told Geo News.

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report also says that the personal information was sold to Argentina and Romania.

It has also recommended authorities take strict action against relevant officials whose negligence led to the breach.

The joint investigation team, headed by FIA Director Cybercrime, was created to investigate the March 2023 cyberattack, in which the personal information of citizens, including military officials, was accessed and stolen.

Later, the JIT submitted its report to then-caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar after the inquiry was completed, reported The News International.

With inputs from agencies