Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has launched its first-ever Bug Bounty Challenge 2026, a national initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s digital identity systems against emerging cyber threats.
Developed in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and the National Cyber Emergency Response Team, the programme is designed to reinforce the cybersecurity foundations of Pakistan’s digital ID ecosystem while building trust in national identity services.
NADRA is inviting ethical hackers, university students, and cybersecurity professionals to responsibly identify vulnerabilities across its platforms. The initiative combines national capacity building with real-world security testing, positioning young technologists at the centre of Pakistan’s digital resilience strategy.
The Bug Bounty Challenge is structured as a team-based competition focused on advanced security assessment and ethical practices. Regional rounds will begin on January 27, 2026, at leading universities including GIKI Swabi, NUST Islamabad, UET Lahore, NED University Karachi, and BUITEMS Quetta. Finalists will advance to a national round hosted at NADRA Headquarters in Islamabad.
Through the programme, Pakistan is embedding “security-by-design” principles into its national identity infrastructure. NADRA has confirmed that attractive prizes will be awarded to top performers, with the Pakistan Digital Authority listed among the initiative’s supporters.
The challenge comes as NADRA undertakes a broader modernisation of the national identity system, including reforms to verification procedures and the National Identity Card framework. Recent upgrades have introduced contactless fingerprints, iris scanning, and facial biometrics, strengthening both security and user experience.
By opening its systems to structured, ethical testing, NADRA is signalling a shift toward proactive cyber defence—aligning national digital infrastructure with global best practices in resilience, transparency, and trust.
