Thursday, March 28, 2013
Kabul (BNA) The ministry of internal affair began the issuance of computerized passport and visa. The authorities of this ministry say new passport is in accord with world standard. Afghanistan is one limited countries that so far, benefits from computerized passport, but the new one is in accord with the standards of world organization of civil aviation. This project funded by Australia and over $5.5 million has been spent for its preparation. The head of passport department of interior ministry Sayed Ahmad Nasser Hashemi told media that passport is not only a permit for a tour but is a credit, prestige and dignity of a nation. This authority of interior ministry adds that previously, during their tour to overseas, the Afghans were awaiting in every locality for 20 to 35 minutes till their documents be checked and controlled. But hereafter, like citizens of other countries, they are benefiting from standardized passport. Distribution of computerized passport begins from Kabul and two years is needed so the project is implements county-wide. Head of passport department stated that in this process, daily. 500 passports are distributed in Kabul. After completion of the program in Kabul, the project would follow in provinces and administrative units. The necessary specification to be received to passport department electronically and after completion of procedure process, this department prints it and dispatch to the provinces through rapid post. The ministry of interior affairs of the county says that lack of computerized passport caused that every passenger to earn five passports. Hashemi said that the foreign nationals also did sans proving of their ID to earn passport illegally and use it. He added that based on the same reasons, the former passports were void of any credit in most of the countries and no country accepted the passport of Afghans. The authorities at the ministry of interior affairs have said that the hand-written passports have validity till completion of computerized ones. The head of passport department told that those employees work in passport organs in capital and provinces are trained and know the methods of issuance and distribution of computerized passports and can promote its process well. The citizens of Afghanistan raised their complains forever in connection with official corruption, slowness and sabotage and non-standardized methods of activities of related organs of passport departments and now they are hoping so this process be promoted well, because, previously the passports were processed through letters from one administration to other. This caused the people to be waiting for weeks and months. But now, the authorities concerned promised that hereafter, these problems to be solved.
