Thursday
19th Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Dr.Muizzu
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu Launches Initiative to Decentralize Passport and ID Card Services
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Photo: President's Office
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has inaugurated a nationwide initiative to decentralize the issuance of national identity cards and passports. The project, launched at a ceremony held at the President’s Office, aims to extend these essential services beyond Malé, ensuring greater accessibility for citizens across the Maldives.
Under the first phase, passport services will be introduced in Hulhumalé Phase I and II, Dh. Kudahuvadhoo, and L. Fonadhoo, while ID card services will be available in Hulhumalé Phase I and II, Villimalé, and Kulhudhuffushi City. The initiative is part of a larger roadmap to complete the decentralization of these services by next year.
During the ceremony, officials highlighted the role of the NARES portal, launched in July, in streamlining ID card applications through island councils. The portal enables councils to track application progress, issue ID cards, and accept new requests, mirroring the system used in Malé City.
This expansion underscores the government's commitment to improving service delivery and accessibility, particularly for residents in the atolls. By decentralizing passport and ID card issuance, the initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens and delays faced by citizens outside the capital.
The President expressed his dedication to ensuring equitable access to critical government services as a cornerstone of national development efforts.