The portal was launched by Dr Hessa Al Jaber, Secretary-General of ictQATAR, at an event held at the Sharq Village & Spa. The portal, called Hukoomi, can be accessed at www.gov.qa.
It will offer access to a gamut of services and information such as on paying traffic fees, job opportunities, emergency numbers, property ownership and management, health card applications, residency permits and utility bills.
The name Hukoomi signifies a more open and transparent government which listens and responds to the needs of its constituents.
Businesses can get details on work visas and operating laws while visitors can access information on visit visas, accommodation, shopping destinations and sporting and cultural events being held in the country. Other links will direct the user to ministries, councils and other organisations in Qatar.
In total, 275 services are available on the site, including 56 e-services.
Al Jaber said: “Hukoomi brings the government closer to the people it serves while demonstrating Qatar's commitment to building a modern and responsive government. Hukoomi is an illustration of how ictQATAR is fulfilling the promise of ‘e' for those that live and work in Qatar.”
Yousef Al Naama, ictQATAR Integrated Government Programme Manager, said more contents and services will be added over time. Hukoomi is a government-wide effort coordinated by ictQATAR. Forty-eight government entities were involved and IT staff of government departments underwent training to ensure they were comfortable with the new portal.
All 62,000 users registered with the previous e-government website were notified of the launch and provided with new registration information for Hukoomi. Frequent users were given briefings over phone and a call centre set up to answer questions and dispense information.
Lt-Col Abdulla Al Muftah, Public Relations Director at the Ministry of Interior, said: “Hukoomi will align the many services offered by the Ministry, such as visa applications and traffic fees with the many offerings and information provided by Qatar's other ministries and councils."
The portal's new commercial registration services will allow citizens to register new business and manage existing commercial registration processes online. “The new e-registration services available on Hukoomi will help the government better serve business and allow for continued development and growth in the country,” Abdulla Al Nuaimi, IT Manager at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, said.
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Quelle/Source: The Peninsula, 06.02.2008
