RIYADH: The Passport Department in Hafr Al-Batin has started issuing identity cards to citizens and families who have migrated from the northern provinces of the Kingdom, but many have reportedly rejected the cards.
These cards will give the families rights with government and private establishments, such as enrolling their children in local educational institutes and opening bank accounts, a source from the General Passport Directorate.
The source told local media on Tuesday that families have rejected the cards, in favor of the civil status ID. He confirmed that these cards don’t affect the nationalization procedure of the affected families and that the Ministry of Interior is continuing the verification processes with the relevant authorities.
The Director General of the Passport Department, Maj. Gen. Suleiman Al-Yahya, criticized the rejection of the IDs at certain passport directorates. During a surprise visit to the Riyadh passport headquarters, he evaluated the views and criticism of the public and issued a directive to speed up the implementation of electronic programs at passport branches across the Kingdom.
Al-Yahya also issued an order to organize halls for the public to personally receive and deliver documents, or to identify the issues in the procedures.
During the opening event of the Muqeem service for postal parcels in Riyadh, he promised the implementation of the e-system and the exchange of documents through express mail.
Al-Yahya concluded his statement by stressing the importance of the directives of Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif, which stipulate the transfer of such procedures to electronic means, thereby providing citizens access at home.
