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A DIS official demonstrating the new services to government ministers |
The Metrash 2 digital service combines traffic violation services, country exit services for citizens and exit permit systems for expatriates. Brigadier Saleh Khamis al-Khulaifi, director of DIS, said that more MoI services, such as visa application and passport services, will be added as users adapt to the new system.
Brigadier al-Khulaifi said that the Department was inaugurated in the framework of the improvement strategy of the MoI along with the Internet, mobile device and other information services “because this is a basic part of the infrastructure of any country”.
He said DIS has taken all measures to secure the data services of the country with the new facilities, and was able to transfer all services from a number of MoI departments without any downtime, describing it as a “Herculean” task.
The new facility in Duhail cost around QR100mn and covers 32,000 square metres.
At a press conference, Brigadier al-Khulaifi said that all precautions have been taken to prevent data theft through hacking or any other means through “special strategies” and close co-operation with ictQATAR, which has a specialised centre to deal with such threats.
While no such threat has been posed so far, the Criminal Investigation Department has an Electronic Crime Prevention Centre which also deals with such security matters.
He also said that there are a number of failsafe systems in place should any equipment stop working for whatever reason.
To develop the human resource capacity of DIS, Brigadier al-Khulaifi said that 30 students have been sent overseas to specialise in the IT field, and some will be joining the Department after completing their course within one year.
He said that DIS is also closely following international conferences and is in contact with experts in the field from around the world. He also praised the highly qualified Qatari engineers who are working to improve the department.
The director said that the task of updating and integrating Qatari government IT systems is not yet complete, as more work is still to be done.
MoI and DIS will be conducting a publicity campaign in the coming months to promote digitial usage of its new, fully integrated government services, helping people learn how to register for and navigate the system.
The opening ceremony was attended by HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Minister of State for Interior Affairs, HE Sheikh Abdurrahman bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Minister of Urban Planning and Municipality, Hessa al-Jaber, secretary general of ictQATAR and other MoI dignitaries.
Brigadier Abdulaziz al-Ansari, director of Logistics Department MoI, said that the MoI is going to have an eventful three months, starting with the opening of the Death Prevention Department headquarters on December 15.
Also in the pipeline is the inauguration of new Criminal Investigation Department facilities, the Zubarah Security Complex, the Rayyan Security Department, the Security Printing Press, Mekaines Service Centre and the Civil Defence Headquarters.
