Slow-paced CNIC issuance process irks Badghis residents

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Some residents of western Badghis province are complaining about the slow-paced Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) issuance process.

The residents say more CNIC distribution centers should be opened in the province as the only center cannot deal with the large number of applicants.

Akhund Zada, a resident of Ghormach district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he had been in the provincial capital, Qala-i-Naw, since one week waiting for his documents to be processed.

He said the only CNIC distribution centre could not respond to the needs of the residents and more distribution centers should be opened.

The applicants need to stay in hotels for many days in the provincial capital, which causes them expenses.

Abdul Rahman, a resident of Qadis district, said it was his 20th day in Qala-i-Naw to get his documents processed.

He said the number of applicants was high and the only centre was not capable to respond to them.

He hoped the government would seriously consider activation of more CNIC issuance centres in the province in order to resolve people’s problems.

Local officials of the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) admit the problems, but say Badghis is a densely populated province and there is a shortage of human resources to respond to the needs of the people.

Maulavi Ziauddin Bakhtiar, NSIA head for Badghis, said a large number people applying for CNIC visited the distribution center every day. He said the CNIC issuance center lacked enough staff and other facilities.

“We have already shared this issue with the authorities in Kabul and efforts are underway to open another CNIC issuance centre,” he said.

Staff for a second CNIC issuance center has been approved and it will be opened once the staff is hired, he added.

According to Bakhtiar, the second CNIC distribution centre will resolve all problems currently being faced by applicants.

aw/ma