Why are people content with Kabul Directorate of Passport?

KABUL (SW): In the past, Kabul's Directorate of Passport was subjected to severe criticism both by the government and the citizens. 

The government was suspicious about the widespread and covert corruption at this directorate, and bureaucracy caused uncertainty among the people prolonging the process of obtaining a passport. Of course, the directorate of passport also acknowledged the lack of office equipment, modernization of the process of issuing passports and large crowds of citizens to get a passport as the main reasons for failure. 

But, over the last 2 years, there has been a lot of changes in the Directorate of Passport. From the digitization of the passport to the reduction of applicants in the Directorate. I went to this Directorate to review these changes and talk with applicants and authorities.

Applicants for passports in Afghanistan are enormous, as soon as one gets close to the Directorate of Passport the humming voices of the applicants can be heard. Vehicles parked on both sides of the street near the Directorate and the people going and coming while some were in the queue.

In the large courtyard opposite the Passport office, a man was sitting under the shadow of a tree with his application. I went ahead and approached him. I sat next to him. He was tired and content at the same time. I said hello, and added that I am a reporter for Salam Watandar wanting to know if you are satisfied with the services at the passport office.

In response, he said his name is Samad Yousefi and since few days he is here to get his passport. Yousefi emphasized that he did not have to bribe anyone nor does he know anyone in this department, however, his application was accepted without any problems and is now in the final stages of obtaining a passport.

Yousefi claimed that the entire process of obtaining a passport goes smoothly and transparently. The Passport Office considers an exception for elders and patients to provide quicker services. He hopes that all government departments around the country would follow the Kabul Directorate of Passport’s example and change their working practices and policies.

Near the entrance gate to the Passport Office, a woman with her children stood in front of a mobile printer waiting for her paperwork. I went near her. Her name is Mahtab and was going to pay her application fee.

Mahtab also appeared to be content with the behavior of passport office employees and added that all employees try their level best to process applications smoothly. She managed to get her passport in 2 days.

I spoke with Nadera as well. She was here with her husband to get passports. They intend to go to India for treatment of infertility. They had managed to get their passports in no time.

After speaking with applicants I went to see Omar Saboor, the Director of Passport, in his office. There was a long queue in front of his office. After greetings, I asked Mr. Saboor that what reasons led to structural changes in the leadership of the Passport Office.

Mr. Saboor responded that he and his associates initially identified challenges. Then they created a work program and then tested it for a while. Base on the program, for the first time, the passport system was computerized and replaced the pen system.

The extension of the outbound branch, expediting the process for the verification of National IDs (Tazkira), and the selection of seven new bank branches to pay application fees, are some of the achievements of this Directorate.

The new distribution of passports has been set up in 34 provinces and the postal distribution system in the 14 districts of the capital has reduced the crowds of citizens in the passport office.

According to Mr. Saboor, however, the centralized system has not yet been set up in this Directorate. The design of this system has been finalized with the help of Ministry of the Interior, and its database has been prepared but has not yet been put into use.

Mr. Saboor said that the apprehension of those who used to charge people for their commission was another achievement of the Directorate. The arrests were conducted in cooperation with the people, and several passport office staff were also among them.

According to him, the Directorate of Passport has also worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Finance over the past year on the design of new passports and has been able to prepare a great passport with very significant security features.

The Directorate of Passport plans to use audio and video media to keep citizens informed of the work of this Directorate.

After our meeting got over, I thought to myself that if we, Afghans really have the will to work and to some extent use our abilities and creativity we can address all the problems in the country, especially administrative and financial problems.

ENDS