Kuwait Times

Published Date: June 24, 2009
By Nawara Fattahova, Staff Writer

KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) held a press conference yesterday at is premises to announce the introduction of the new smart civil ID cards. The new smart cards will be issued toward the end of this month. It has the added advantage of containing an electronic chip that can store more data and information.

The PACI has carried out the smart id project within an year. "Applying the new smart ID card will simplify government services and easy processing of paperwork. It will also support the private sector in serving its clients, by providing new services. This will have a positive impact that transforms Kuwait into a financial and commercial center," said Musaid Al-Asousi, General Director of PACI.

The smart ID will replace the existing one and will be currently issued for Kuwaiti citizens only. "The validity of this ID will be for five years, personal photographs will be updated after every five years. Photographs will be included for children above the age of five, if it is also used for travel purposes. After three years, expats will use them, though using a different color. The problem is that this ID is expensive and most expats change their ID every year, so it is costly," he added.

Dates will be inscribed in both Arabic as well as English numerals. "It will include the civil id number, the name in both Arabic and English, nationality, sex, birth day, expiry date. On the reverse, the civil id number will be included again, the blood group type, address in detail, serial number of the ID, the international MRZ data, and the electronic number of the address that consist of eight digits. The chip will also include the same information and data, in addition to the e-mail, phone number, fi
nger prints, and other information," he explained.

The IDs will be exchanged gradually, though the current civil ID will be still valid till the end of the exchange period. "Priority will be given to those who's IDs have expired, infants, those that have changed their data such as address, and who have recently been conferred citizenship," Al-Asousi pointed out.

The new ID will include a personal photo, fingerprint and additional information. "The electronic chip placed on the smart ID will allow room to save a large amount of data. This ID is of high security specification. Special inks have been used that change into green and gold colors, and other techniques have also been used. It is protected against forgery, thereby solving the drawback of previous IDs. We went through 14 designs till we reached the final one. Our ID is the best in the region and meets 97 p
ercent of the international standard," he asserted.

Al-Asousi also explained the pre-requisites to be fulfilled to receive the new smart ID card along with parameters for photos. "The smart ID is very sensitive, so it's important to protect it against scratching or spoiling, and it shouldn't be exposed to direct sunlight," he concluded.

The new smart ID can be used as a personal ID, while traveling between GCC countries instead of passport, in addition to using it as a health card in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. Citizens can receive subsidized goods in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, to be used in lieu of electronic signature in cooperation with the Central Authority for Information Technology, as an e-Purse in cooperation with (K-NET).