ISLAMABAD: A public company owned by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bahraini technology firms to formally establish mutually beneficial relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, a statement issued by NADRA said.

Bahrain and Pakistan are members of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global multilateral body that aims to enable digital prosperity by accelerating the inclusive growth of the digital economy. Both countries have agreed to work together to roll out digital public goods for better service delivery. 

NADRA, an independent and autonomous agency under the control of Pakistan’s interior ministry, regulates government databases and statistically manages the sensitive registration database of all Pakistani citizens. In 2004, it established a public company called NADRA Technologies Limited to bid for contracts outside the country and earn revenues that could be plowed back to support the parent company’s operations.

“NADRA Technologies Limited, Etisalcom Bahrain, and Pentagram Tech signed a Memorandum of Understanding today at NADRA Headquarters Islamabad,” the statement said.

“[The move] will provide an opportunity to formally establish mutually beneficial relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.”

The GCC is a regional, intergovernmental, political, and economic union comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Prior to the signing of the MoU, a delegation of Etisalcom and Pentagram Tech Bahrain met the NADRA chairman at his office. 

“The delegation was led by the ambassador of Bahrain, Mohamed Ebrahim Mohamed Abdulqader, and included the CEO of Etisalcom Bahrain Rashed Al-Snan, and the CEO of Pentagram Tech Badar Shahzad. 

During the delegation’s week-long visit, NADRA will present Pakistan’s digital identity-based e-governance solution and showcase its infrastructure for service delivery so that GCC member countries could benefit from NADRA Technologies’ experience in identification systems.

Nadra Technologies Limited, in the spirit of South-South cooperation, is currently assisting countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Fiji, Somalia, and Sudan in their e-governance initiatives.