Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

1,000 E-ID Card Distributors Placed on Suspension

1,000 E-ID Card Distributors Placed on Suspension

KABUL - The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has suspended around 1,000 workers charged with distribution of computerised national identity cards, an official said on Wednesday.

The employees were placed on suspension on Tuesday in compliance with orders from Interior Minister Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi, the distribution agency’s head Humayun Mohtat told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Mohtat linked the move to suspension of international aid to the organisation, which had no funds to finance workers’ salaries. The official estimated monthly staff salaries at $800,000.

The suspended staffers would be called back to work as and when the distribution of the electronic ID cards resumed, he promised, without giving a specific date.

In a letter to the workers, the ministry said: “MoI is thankful to you for your services and will prioritise hiring you once again when political issues are resolved and cash support from donor nations resumes.”

The trial launch of e-ID cards distribution drive was put on hold by President Ashraf Ghani amid differences with the Chief Executive Office over some unsettled issues.

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology spokesman Nusrat Rahimi had previously said the president wanted to settle the issues linked to the new ID cards before launching the distribution process.

Earlier, similar protests have been carried out in Kabul, Nangarhar, Kunar, Balkh, Paktika and some other provinces, in which hundreds and thousands of people have taken part.

The cards issuance was earlier scheduled to begin before last year’s presidential election, but it had to be delayed for some reasons. The distribution drive is a joint venture of the ministries of interior and telecommunications.

Residents of different province have joined anti-government protest demonstrations to push for adding the words “Afghan” and “Islam” to the cards. They have staged a series of protests Kabul, Nangarhar, Kunar, Balkh, Paktika, Ghazni and other provinces. (Pajhwok)