This document discusses the implementation of a computerized national identity card system in Afghanistan to replace the traditional manual ID card system. It outlines some of the challenges in fully implementing electronic ID cards (e-ID) across the country, such as the large budget required, needing to collect population data and visit war-affected provinces, and lacking necessary expertise. It also questions what role the new government should play and how to overcome issues like a dispersed population with low technology adoption due to decades of war and weak infrastructure. The document examines the benefits electronic IDs could provide for services like e-governance but notes the current system still allows for duplicate IDs without an integrated national database.

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Case Study on: Implementation Cent Percent of Computerized
ID Cards in Afghanistan
How to convert manual ID cards to computerized national identity of the people of
Afghanistan.
Ministry of Communication & Information Technology
Authors:
Roohul Amin Mashwani & Faisal Raza Khalil
October 22, 2014

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1. Abstract:
The development of e-ID (e-TAZKIRA) card in Afghanistan has improved to a higher
level (Ministry of Telecommunication & Information Technology-Afghanistan) of e-government
application in the local area. The research problems of this study are;
firstly, it was related to the concept of the manual ID cards (TAZKIRA) and its
drawbacks in social and service sectors; and secondly, it was related to the influence
factors of the e-ID card program implementation in the efforts of service quality
improvement. The research data and information were collected by an intensive
observation, in depth interview, and documentation. The research was also analyzed by
the qualitative approach and discussed by the evaluation concept as a grand theory of
analysis. The research results were derived from the research problems that concluded
two main analysis results; firstly, Department of Population and Civil Registration used
the Information and Technology (IT) based governance that has led to the
implementation of e-service. Secondly, the restraining factors also relate to the external
and internal factors, such as; infrastructures, organizational structures, skill of the
employees, and program socialization. The external factor came up from the low
awareness and interest of community.
Keywords: Public Service Quality, e-Government, e-Service, Evaluation, TAZKIRA
2. Background
This case study is regarding the 100% implementation process and challenges in
converting the traditional TAZKIRA system to electronic TAZKIRA (e-ID). National
ID cards and birth certificates are very important to establish the identity of people and
their enjoyment of citizenship privileges.
This align with constitution of Islamic republic of Afghanistan, as the government is
obliged to provide every Afghan with appropriate identification documents which can
serve as the national identity papers without the doubts of authenticity.
With the prevailing security and socio economic situation there is a dire need for
national identification system which cannot be forged, stealth and portray the true
national and demographic state of the country. This identification system addresses all
of the issues prevailing in the current system and also enable the government
institutions to gather on‐time data on security, social and economic issues; it should
be supported by such technologies that make it possible for the civil servants to provide
best and feasible solutions to the problems in hand. The current development in the
telecommunications sector of Afghanistan will provide the best infrastructure for such
a huge nationally important project.
The Independent Election Commission (IEC), the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) are the key stack
holders in this regard.
The population administration become important thing because always contacts with
each human activities in Afghanistan. For example, it will be used during legislative
election, presidential election, local election, and for vehicles administration, land
administration, and other. If we are domiciled at certain area, we should have the
domicile card that is proven by the Identity Card (ID).

3. The e-ID card program is based on the conventional ID making system in that make
possible for someone to have more than one ID. It is caused by no integrated data base
that collects population data from all Afghanistan. The facts give opportunities for
someone to do fraudulent in certain case by doubling his ID. For example can be used
to avoid tax, hide identity (such as terrorist) and falsify and double the ID.
Countries currently issuing government-issued EICs include Belgium, Bulgaria,
Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal,
Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Slovakia. and Mauritius. Countries currently
accepting bank-issued EICs for identification towards authorities (also known as
Bankid) include Norway and Sweden.
3. Problems/Challenges
Doing any progressive work for the nation and multicultural population is definitely a
hard work. Many challenges can come in your way. The conventional system of
TAZKIRA is still exists, and many people are having conventional ids. It is quite
difficult to convey the message among those who don’t understand the importance of
electronic TAZKIRA.
MCIT signed National ID Project with GTR (Grand Technology Resources)- On
December 12, 2010 Ministry of Communication and IT, in close collaboration with the
Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Finance officially announced
the start of the Electronic Tazkira (NID) project. MCIT faced many challenges and still
100 percent it is not implemented in the region.
Apart from some burning issues for the new government, implementation of e-ID cards
is quite challenging job for the new government too.
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The challenges that I gather are given below:
Huge Budget
Primary Data Collection
Visit to War Effected Provinces (Security Threats)
Need for Expertise
The root causes for this problem are:
Disperse nation because of 30 years of war
Low level of technology people and experts
Unavailability of financial resources
MCIT weak infrastructure etc.
4. Actions (Student Based Activity)
In the light of above information-problems & challenges, what will be the numerous
stages to convert manual ID cards system into e-id cards system? Please suggest and
brainstorm different techniques and ideas.
5. Conclusion
So as we discussed above the importance of National Electronic ID cards. It can be
useable in e-Governance, e-Services, Election, Electronic Banking System and
Population Records, etc. Many people don’t poll their votes and agreements to the
elected people. If a person is not having e-ID how he/she can prove themselves as a
true citizen. There are some questions regarding the scenario given below:

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5.1 Questions:
1. What should be the role of new government in implementing e-ID cards
100 percent in the region?
2. What do you suggest to implement e-ID 100 percent in the region?
3. Describe the importance of e-ID?
4. Explain the agreement process between MCIT and GTR?
5. What are the software tools needed to design, code, test, debug and
implement e-ID cards system?
6. List out all hardware needed for data storage and database backend.
7. How to overcome the challenges and problems as mentioned above?
8. What will be the benefit to a e-ID card holders?
9. Discuss the drawbacks of traditional ID (TAZKIRA) cards?
6. Exhibits:
References:
http://mcit.gov.af/en/page/7081
http://mcit.gov.af/en/news/273
Ministry of Communication and information Technology (MCIT) is in the process of
implementing electronic National Identification documents. (pdf)
Afghan Ministry of Interior (MoI) Advisor Guide (pdf)
http://www.wiki.com