KABUL (Pajhwok): The process if issuance of computerised national identity cards (CNICs) has been halted due to technical issues, sources said on Sunday.
An official at a CNIC distribution centre in Kabul told Pajhwok Afghan News, due to technical problems, the issuance of the cards had been suspended since Wednesday, December 28, 2022.
Meanwhile, the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) asked distribution centres to halt the issuance of CNICs until further orders.
“We don’t know what this technical issue is. After a similar order in the past, the issuance of CNICs had been halted due to the lack of blank cards. At that time, however, we could provide other services like the registration of applicants and documentation.
“But this time around, all sections of CNIC centres have been asked to stop their work. The only service we can offer is to distribute printed ID cards to applicants”, he commented.
They had not been directed what the technical problem was, the source said, questioning the decision.
Pajhwok also talked to officials of other CNIC distribution centres as well. They confirmed the halt to the issuance of CNICs.
An NSIA source, speaking on condition of anonymity, the distribution of CNICs had been halted due to technical problems all over the country.
Some problems occurred in CNIC printing machines and attempts were ongoing to resolve the issues, he said, adding he did not know when the faults would be fixed
NSIA asked all CNIC distribution centres across the country to stop their work until the technical issue was solved, he added.
The issuance of e-ID cards began on May 3, 2018 across the country.
NSIA said earlier a total of 8.2 million CNICs had been issued since the start of the process. As many as 2.1 million cards have been issued after the political change in the country in August last year.
aw/mud
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