Long CNIC issuance process pesters Badghis residents

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Some residents of western Badghis province complain of what they call an inordinately lengthy process for the distribution of computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

Many of them claim having met the registration and biometrics formalities a year ago. But they are still waiting for their CNICs.

The residents want the relevant institutions to speed up the process but officials say the CNIC distribution drive had been halted due to technical hitches, which have been removed.

Mohammad Yar Nazim, hailing from Qala-i-Naw, said he applied for CNIC and completed all formalities a year ago. But he is still waiting for his ID to be printed.

He said it was important for everyone to have his/her CNIC and asled the officials concerned to speed up the process.

Ahmad Rahimi is another resident of the provincial capital, who is faced with a similar problem. He is tired of long wait.

Rahimi, who has been waiting for six months, urged the authorities to address the issue. “The government must pay due attention to addressing the issue, because some people urgently need their ID cards.”

But Asmat Sohail, head of the provincial CNIC office, acknowledged there had been some technical issues, which had been addressed. He said of the 20,000 applicants, having completed registration formalities, over 10,000 had had their CNICs printed. The documents would be distributed soon.

Sohail recalled: “The printing of CNICs has come to a halt due to technical issues which have now been resolved. We have received more than half of the CNICs printed and they will be distributed to applicants soon.”

Meantime, residents of other provinces also grumble about the lengthy and cumbersome process for issuance of CNICs.

aw/mud