Scannable IDs: Understanding Modern Digital Identification
Scannable IDs are identification cards or credentials that contain machine-readable technology such as QR codes, barcodes, RFID chips, or other digital features. These technologies allow authorized systems to capture information quickly and reduce the need for manual data entry. Scannable credentials are increasingly used for access control, memberships, employee identification, events, and official identity verification. QR technology has become particularly important in modern identification systems. In Pakistan, the government formally introduced QR-based verification into the national identity framework in 2026. The rules define QR codes as secure, machine-readable two-dimensional codes that can store encoded information and support identity verification. NADRA has also introduced a new chipless National Identity Card based around a secure QR code. According to NADRA, the QR code can be verified through a smartphone using the PakID application, while authorized institution...