Pakistani expatriates in Oman will no longer have to wait in queues at the embassy to get national cards issued or renewed.
With the introduction of an online system, the embassy has stopped manual issuance of NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis), CNIC (Computerised National Identity Card) and POC (Pakistan Origin Card) with effect from October 1. The processing time of these cards which earlier took three months, now takes only two days.
Pakistani nationals can apply for these cards on the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) website and according to officials, can get them delivered to the address provided.
Naheed Naveed Atif, deputy head of the Pakistani mission in Muscat told Muscat Daily, “As per instructions of NADRA, manual booking of NICOP applications through forms has been stopped at the Embassy of Pakistan. Pakistani residents can apply online for NICOP services at the NADRA website.”
She added, “We have a counter at the embassy for people who need assistance in using a computer for this. This will help the community to get faster service. We used to have 50-60 people coming for renewals every day. But since the announcement, the number has come down to 40-45. Anyone can get the cards done online, with a few exceptions like newborns etc. The feature also includes online payment.”
According to the official, 245,000 Pakistani nationals live in Oman. NADRA cards are mandatory for renewing or issuing new passports for Pakistani nationals and for other official formalities.
“The cards that used to earlier take about three months, will now be delivered on the provided address in two days without the national having to wait in line. One can apply from home.”
She added, “As part of the push towards e-government initiatives, Pakistani nationals can take the opportunity to renew or apply for new NICOP, CNIC and POC cards online and get them delivered to their Oman address by making online payment through the NADRA portal. We hope more people learn about it so that they can save time.”
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Quelle/Source: Muscat Daily, 12.10.2015
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