King visits civil status agency as smart ID project ready

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday visited the Civil Status and Passports Department (CSPD) and checked on work, services provided to the public and progress in issuing the civil identification smart cards.

During the visit, which coincided with launching the smart ID project, His Majesty obtained his own smart ID card.

His Majesty had a first hand look at the stages that citizens pass through to issue or renew their cards. He stressed the importance of cutting red tape when it comes to government services offered to people.

The smart card comes as part of the e-government project, which aims at facilitating procedures in addition to security features.

The King was accompanied by Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Interior Minister Salameh Hammad and ICT Minister Majd Shweikeh.

He was briefed by the department’s officials on the obstacles that face the CSPD and issued directives to take all measures that would facilitate the mission of the agency. 

The smart ID is a plastic card that contains an electronic chip, in which numeric and alphabetic data can be saved and it is compatible to computers where data can be deciphered, in addition to the feature of electronic signature.

The smart card will include 18 fields of data, such as the name in Arabic and English, gender, place of birth, area of residence, and blood type.

The electronic chip will contain other data, such as health insurance type, driving licence, religion, social security number, fingerprint, the citizen’s electronic signature and other information, ICT Ministry officials have previously stated.

ICT Minister Majd Shweikeh told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the first smart card was issued today for His Majesty the King “to encourage people to obtain their own smart IDs”, adding that the new card “will make people’s lives easier with no complications”.

CSPD Director General Marwan Qteishat voiced appreciation for the King’s support and his gesture to be the first to obtain the new ID.

Qteishat added that the old cards will remain valid, but the CSPD will encourage people to apply for the smart cards.