Tariq Malik

Tariq Malik, former Chairman of the National Database & Registration Authority NADRA Pakistan. He confirmed that the oppositions' demand to verify that the 2013 elections were free and fair, is possible through thumb impression verification using the Biometric System. He was then terminated from his position without any reason by PM Nawaz Sharif Government. However, he was immediately restored as Chairman NADRA by the Islamabad High Court.^[1] In its judgement, the Superior court of Pakistan instead issued a charge sheet against the government for intimidating, harassing and frighting him.^[2] Some writers and analysts called this blatant act of government as e-bulling.^[3]

He then resigned afterwards, alleging extreme pressure from the government and unknown party workers who threatened to kidnap him and his family.^[4]

Before joining Teradata, Malik spearheaded one of the world’s largest multi-biometric system roll outs resulting in registration of more than 121 million citizens along their associated biometric attributes. He is a visionary IT leader who used Identity Database coupled with data analytics for increasing tax net, combating crime and corruption, social development, empowering women, strengthening democracy, reforming governance, and reducing poverty in Pakistan. CNN^[5] called him ‘Man on mission’ when he identified 3.5 million tax evaders in Pakistan using ‘Data Analytics’ coupled with biometrics. Tariq lead similar projects in USA, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Bahrain and Bangladesh. He helped various institutions of UN (UNHCR, ICAO, UNDP) and World Bank (Poverty Score Card, BISP, Disaster Management) to accomplish goals with transparency. Prior to that he served as Deputy CIO in Wayne County, State of Michigan, where he led design, development and implementation of an online Property Tax System. Throughout his career, Tariq has helped governments to improve service delivery using innovative technologies. Result-based achievements earned him various national and international awards. State of Pakistan conferred highest award in Technology – the ‘Star of Excellence’ – to Tariq in 2013 for using technology to improve governance. Tariq won Teradata’s 2012 national ‘CIO of the Year’ award^[6] and prior to that he was recognized at the 2009 ID World International Congress in Italy as the recipient of the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ for his work as an international biometrics leader. Tariq holds Master’s Degrees in both International Management (Heidelberg, Germany) and Computer Science (Islamabad, Pakistan). His Bachelor’s Degree is in Mathematics & Statistics. He had been trained in JFK School of Government, Harvard University^[7] and Stanford University, USA as well where he received executive education. Due to his expertise in the fields of ‘Big Data’, data analytics, biometrics, smart cards and innovative technologies, he is sought after by various think tanks and conference organizers for writing and speaking engagements. Tariq Malik’s articles are published in international publications like FORBES^[8][9][10] magazine.

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