Addressing a press conference at the Immigration and Travel Documents Department, IT Department director Col Saleh Khamis al-Kobeisi said the smart card was introduced as a part of the interior ministry’s strategy to adopt the hi-tech programmes of security and to improve the services offered to nationals and expatriates.
“The newly introduced smart ID cards would enable Qataris to avail of many services, including e-gates at the Doha airport, e-government services, issuing exit permits for expatriates, digital signatures and finger printing,” he said.
“The same type of cards would be available for expatriates next year. They would have the same features in addition to the (provision for online) renewal of residence permits,” he said.
Col al-Kobeisi said that though some other countries had already launched smart ID cards, the Qatari measure contained additional features and services.
“Only the UAE, Bahrain and Oman have adopted this type of cards, but theirs do not have all the features that the Qatari one can offer,” he said. The official assured that the card was secured against any kind of forgery.
About the Doha Airport e-gate cards, launched two months ago, he said they were available for both Qataris and non-Qataris.
Quelle/Source: Gulf Times, 08.10.2007
