GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Food Department, in collaboration with National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), has started verification of subsidised wheat beneficiaries` CNICs to ensure transparency in distribution of subsidised wheat.

Recently, the food department, in collaboration with Nadra, found 310,405 fake CNICs which were submitted for subsidised wheat. The data verification exercise is aimed at ensuring transparency in subsidised wheat distribution.

According to officials of the GB food department, the verification process examined data from 1,773,893 individuals belonging to 270,794 households in the region.

Among the fake entries, 27,058 CNICs were found belonging to non-GB residents, 41,917 were expired, 1,531 remained unverified, and 3,612 belonged to people who have already died. Ultimately, only 1,381,525 CNICs were successfully verified as eligible for subsidised wheat.