By SOMAN BABY

MANAMA

A CAMPAIGN to reduce the waiting time to issue identification (ID) cards for Bahrainis and CPR cards for expatriates has paid off, it has been revealed. The cards are now being issued five times faster, said Central Informatics Organisation (CIO) president Mohammed Al Amer.

“An average 1,000 ID cards are being issued daily to Bahrainis now, from the CIO headquarters in Isa Town, against last year’s average of 400,” he told the GDN.

“Bahrainis, who had to wait for almost two weeks to get an appointment, now get the appointment in one or two days.

“Once they reach the CIO counter, the enrollment and printing process is completed within minutes.”

More than 50 per cent of the visitors come to replace their old CPR cards with new smart cards, though their old cards are still valid, said Mr Al Amer.

“To help such people, we have opened a centre in Muharraq, and another one will be opened in Sitra Mall shortly,” he revealed.

“Chip-updating centres are also being opened at the Central, Southern and Northern governorates.”

An average 1,800 to 2,000 cards are being issued daily to expatriates, said Mr Al Amer. “This is against an average of 800 cards issued daily last year. Because of the use of online services, we are now equipped to issue a greater number of cards,” he added.

“About 1,000 clearing agents have already been trained in filing applications online.

“They have been given a password to apply, along with the candidate’s photograph and signature. The temporary card is issued for 500 fils each.”

CIO Information Technology director-general Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa said the cards are now being produced using in-house technology.

“This helps us to serve customers faster,” he said.

“We have been working on the new technology for the past six months.

“We shall further streamline the system with the help of our technology partners.”

Expatriates can now collect the cards through their clearing agents from the CPR office in Hoora and Bahrainis from the CIO premises in Isa Town.

The plan to issue smart cards to all newly arriving expatriates from last Tuesday, in co-ordination with the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), is now being delayed until early next year, said Mr Al Amer.

“This is because of the heavy demand for smart cards from Bahrainis,” he said.

“Instead of smart cards, newly arriving expatriates will be issued a receipt showing the CPR number.

“This receipt will serve the purpose of a CPR card for the initial three months, during which we shall issue them with a temporary CPR card.”