ICT, interior ministers check on smart IDs

AMMAN — Interior Minister Mazen Qadi and ICT Minister Majd Shweikeh on Thursday checked on the measures and preparations taken by the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD) to issue the smart civil identification cards. 

CSPD Director General Marwan Qteishat briefed the ministers on procedures to issue the cards, scheduled to begin before the end of May.

He stressed the interest of the government in completing the national project and achieving its desired goals.

Touring the CSPD, Shweikeh conducted an experimental issuance process for a smart card, showcasing all the phases citizens have to go through in order to obtain the cards. 

The smart IDs will be valid for 10 years, Petra reported, adding that they will be made out of polycarbonate polymers with printing in laser. 

During a meeting held Wednesday at Al Husseiniya Palace to discuss government measures taken to execute the smart ID project, His Majesty King Abdullah stressed the importance of adopting the best specifications for the IDs, highlighting the safety and multi-purpose use of the service as the main features to be ensured, while he underlined time effectiveness in service delivery.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour briefed His Majesty on the government’s approach to implement the smart IDs, which is part of the e-government project.

Through a steering committee handling the service, the government will make sure that the cards are issued in accordance with the highest technical standards that guarantee the safety of stored data, Ensour explained.

Also at the Wednesday meeting, Shweikeh briefed His Majesty and the attendees on the progress of the project, noting that smart cards would ease procedures related to an array of services, such as the issuance of civil IDs and passports and other documents, customs and exemptions, purchase and sale transactions, services related to the facilitation of investment and obtaining different types of licences.

They are also helpful when it comes to government transactions, such as health and social insurance, court records and other administrative measures.

Shweikeh said that 64 per cent of the project is complete, while the rest will be wrapped up in the coming three months.