Online domicile certificate service troubling people in Dir

DIR: The online domicile certificate service launched by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has become a source of trouble for the people of Upper Dir, instead of providing ease.

The complicated process is causing problems for matriculated students and the staff responsible for preparing domicile certificates, who are facing difficulties due to either slow or closure of the Internet.

Students and citizens said that the process of acquiring a domicile certificate was previously very simple and easy, but has become more difficult for the people since the chief secretary announced the online domicile service on the instructions of the provincial government.

A student, Zeeshan, said that the online domicile form was so complicated that it was not easy for everyone to fill it out. “We don’t have the Internet facility in the district and the areas where it is available is not speedy to take advantage of this online service,” he said that it was impossible to fill out the form due to weak Internet in Upper Dir. He said the government should consider launching such online services keeping in view the problems of the people of backward areas, so that it can be beneficial for the entire province.

Students, including Daniyal Syed, Zafar Khan, and others said that they were facing severe problems due to the online domicile procedure which had become very complicated, and were wasting a lot of time and money. “We are facing difficulties in filling out the form, and even after filling it out, we have to go to Nadra’s e-service centrer for biometric verification, and then we have to go to the offices of patwaris, tehsildar, and AC’s for verification,” said a student.

Students said they would be deprived of admission to colleges if they did not get domicile certificates in time as the document was necessary for admission.Daniyal Syed said what more verification was needed for a domicile certificate besides Form B and parents CNICs?

After filling out the form, we have to stand in line for hours at Nadra’s e-service center for biometric verification, and we have to pay Rs 150, and some people are complaining that they are being charged Rs 300 to Rs 500.

When we go to the DC office to submit forms and receive domicile certificates, the staff there is also troubled due to severe rush and Internet connectivity issues, and they are forced to work until late at night.

Citizens and students asked the provincial government to take stock of the problems of the people and make the domicile certificate process simple and manual as was in the past, or provide high-speed Internet facilities in Upper Dir and other backward districts to make the online service effective.