ENIC process at a snail’s pace: Balkh residents

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Balkh province complain about a slow-paced process of obtaining electronic National Identity Card (ENIC).

Relevant authorities in the province acknowledge problems and challenges that have slowed down the process and said over 150,000 people in the province have registered for ENICs and awaiting the biometric process.

Earlier, government made it compulsory for applicants of passport, retired officers and martyrs pensions to hold ENIC otherwise their applications would be rejected.

The government announcement forced more people to refer to ENIC centres.

Syed Abbas, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, said he registered for ENIC in April but after three months he still awaited his turn.

“I have to get passport, my goodness I have no emergency work, but before applying for passport I need to have ENIC. What would some people having an emergency situation do?”

He said the government should open more offices of ENIC to facilitate people and ensure smooth processing.

Rahmatullah, another resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, said that he has to take his ailing mother outside the country for treatment but he should first get her ENIC.

Bashir Mahmoodi, head of the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) for Balkh, confirmed complaints by applicants and added over 150,000 people awaited their turn for the ENIC.

Mahmoodi said one shift processed common applicants and in the second shift applicants with emergency situation or government employees are facilitated.

He said over 100,000 people have received their ENIC since the opening of the process in Balkh province.

Mahmoodi added they had demanded opening of two more ENIC distribution centres in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Nh/ma