Biometric Verification Now Mandatory for Zu Peshawar Card Holders

PESHAWAR: TransPeshawar has made NADRA biometric verification and registration mandatory for all Zu Cards, giving passengers until December 31, 2026, to complete the process.

Unregistered cards will be blocked from January 1, 2027, and will not work for travel on the Zu Peshawar bus rapid transit system.

Zu Peshawar biometric verification: how to register

Passengers can register at ticket counters at any BRT station during operating hours. They must bring their original CNIC and their Zu Card. Station staff will record their details, conduct the biometric verification and complete the registration for a fee of Rs10.

Passengers under 18 can register using their B Form or the CNIC of a parent or legal guardian. Registration through a B Form requires the child’s Zu Card, the B Form and biometric verification. For registration against a parent’s or guardian’s CNIC, passengers must provide the child’s Zu Card and the adult’s original CNIC, and the relevant parent or guardian must also attend for biometric verification.

Foreign travellers can use Single Journey Tickets or the Zu App to access the service.

Why TransPeshawar is doing this

TransPeshawar CEO Dr Syed Murtaza Asghar Bukhari said identity verification would strengthen security and help make travel safer and more organised. He urged passengers to register early to avoid travel disruptions and long queues at counters close to the deadline.

The move fits a wider pattern across Pakistan’s public services, where biometric checks linked to NADRA’s database are becoming the standard way to tie a service to a verified identity. For a transit system that moves large crowds daily, linking each card to a verified person makes fraud harder and gives the operator cleaner data on ridership.

For commuters, the practical message is simple: the process costs Rs10, takes a few minutes at any station counter, and the deadline is the end of 2026. Leaving it to the last week risks exactly the queues the CEO warned about. Anyone whose card stops working on January 1 will have only themselves to blame, since the notice period runs for more than two months.

Students and young commuters should note the under-18 rules carefully. A B Form alone is not enough without the biometric step, and a parent or guardian has to be physically present when the registration is done against their CNIC.

Related: NADRA Explains What First-Time CNIC Applicants Need

Related: Pirwadhai Bus Stand a Security Risk, Say Commuters

FAQs

Is biometric verification mandatory for Zu Cards?

Yes. TransPeshawar has made NADRA biometric verification and registration mandatory for all Zu Cards. The deadline to complete the process is December 31, 2026.

What happens if I do not register my Zu Card?

Unregistered cards will be blocked from January 1, 2027, and cannot be used for travel on the Zu Peshawar system.

Where can I register my Zu Card?

At ticket counters at any BRT station during operating hours. Bring your original CNIC and your Zu Card. The registration fee is Rs10.

How can under-18 passengers register?

Passengers under 18 can register using their B Form or a parent’s or guardian’s CNIC. The B Form route needs the child’s Zu Card, the B Form and biometric verification. The parent’s CNIC route needs the child’s Zu Card, the adult’s original CNIC, and the parent or guardian present for biometric verification.

Can foreign travellers use Zu Peshawar?

Yes. Foreign travellers can use Single Journey Tickets or the Zu App to access the service.