ISLAMABAD: Two weeks after Federal Cabinet approval, government on Monday notified Muhammad Tariq Malik as the chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). He has been appointed the NADRA chairman for a period of three years.
“In exercise of powers conferred under section 3 (3) of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Ordinance 2000, the Competent Authority has been pleased to appoint Muhammad Tariq Malik as Chairman, NADRA for a term of three years in terms of Section 3 (5) of NADRA Ordinance, 2000, with immediate effect and until further orders,” reads the notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.
On June 8, the federal cabinet gave a go-ahead to the appointment of Tariq Malik as the NADRA chairman.
Briefing the media on decisions taken by the federal cabinet, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said the cabinet approved the Ministry of Interior’s summary regarding the appointment.
In his Twitter message following the cabinet’s approval for his appointment as the NADRA chief, Tariq Malik said: “I am grateful to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for reposing his trust in me, and arranging a transparent and highly competitive selection process.”
This would be second term for Tariq Malik as NADRA chief. He has earlier served as head of the organization from 2012 before he was unceremoniously removed by the last PML-N government levelling flimsy charges against him. There had been reports of extreme pressure and threats of to his family.
Before the new assignment in Pakistan, Malik was working with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at a prestigious post as Chief Technical Advisor
Prior to joining UNDP, he also held the position of Senior Technical Consultant at World Bank. He was a member of the core team who helped to initiate the worldwide ‘ID for Development’ Program as well as authored the framework of international standards for digital identity.
Tariq is among the ten core members of technical experts’ group (TEG) of World Bank supporting client countries with ID planning and implementation.
His name was included in the World’s 100 Most Influential People in ‘Digital Government’ by a European think tank known as Apolitical.
He was also named among Top 100 Digital Influencers in the ‘Digital Community’ by One World Identity (OWI)- a New York based independent identity research and strategy think tank focused on cyber security, digital commerce and risk management. Before joining World Bank Malik helped governments to optimize use of Big Data and advanced data analytics from the platform of Teradata Inc. USA.
As then chairman NADRA, he confirmed that the oppositions demand to verify that the 2013 elections were free and fair, is possible through thumb impression verification using the Biometric System. He was later terminated from his position without any reason by Nawaz Sharif government.
However, he was immediately restored as NADRA chairman by the Islamabad High Court. In its judgement, the Court instead issued a charge sheet against the government for intimidating, harassing and frightening him and exonerated Malik from all the charges levelled against him by the then government.
During his last term as chairman NADRA, he introduced Smart Identity Card in Pakistan. He had plans to include multiple features in that card. In 2013 was also awarded Sitra e Imtaz one of the highest civil awards in Pakistan for his services in field of technology.
CNN called him ‘Man on mission’ when he identified 3.5 million tax evaders in Pakistan using ‘Data Analytics’ coupled with biometrics.
Tariq led similar projects and development-based interventions in USA, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Russia, Malawi and Tanzania.
Malik holds master’s degrees in both International Management (Heidelberg, Germany) and Computer Science (QAU Islamabad). His bachelor’s degree is in Mathematics and statistics. He was trained at the JFK School of Government, Harvard University and Stanford University. Malik’s articles are published in publications like Forbes.
A spokesman for NADRA reacting to some media reports said, that there was no truth behind speculations that Tariq Mailk has been appointed on very high salary package of US $ 20,000.
Also Read: Can PSL6 End an Era of Trials and Experiences in Pakistan…
