*Metrash2 provides an easy way for registration
Since the National Address Law came into effect on January 27, as many as 234,000 have registered, including 227,000 through the Metrash2 app, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced on Monday.
All Qatar residents as well as institutions and companies should register their national address data before the six-month period ends on July 26, it was urged at an introductory seminar for officials of companies and organisations and community representatives.
Head of the National Address Section at the Public Security, Lieutenant Colonel Dr Abdullah Zayed al-Sahli said that the National Address Law is part of the strategic development of e-government, a completion of the legislative structure for government electronic transactions, and a transition from descriptive address to the digital address system.
Registration of national address data can be done by citizens and residents through the Metrash2 app, the website of the MoI or at the MoI service centres, where a special office has been designated for the purpose.
Major Khamis Saad al-Muhannadi of the Nationality and Travel Documents' Department of the MoI explained that the law allows the father to register himself and his children under 18 years, but older children over the legal age and the wife must register themselves.
In the case of separation of the spouses and the children are in the custody of the mother, she has to register the data of the children on her national address via electronic registration or at any of the service centres.
Lt Col Dr al-Sahli explained that every natural or legal person, whether a citizen or an expatriate or his legal representative has to register his data in a simple form including the address of residence, fixed telephone number, mobile number, email, employer address for government and private sector employees, and permanent address abroad, if available.
The guardian of minor children has to register their data and bears the legal responsibility for the validity of the information.
Captain Mohamed Ali al-Kuwari from the General Information Systems Department of the MoI spoke about the role of the department as the operator of the registration system. He called on the public to register online to save time and effort.
The MoI has provided a hotline (2342000) to respond to public inquiries about everything related to the National Address Law or any problem faced by the public during the registration process.
Under Article 6 of the National Address Law, a fine not exceeding QR10,000 will be imposed on anyone who violates any of the provisions of Articles (3) and (4) of this law, or deliberately provided incorrect data about national address.
Maj al-Muhannadi said that in the event of a change in the national address data, the new data must be modified via Metrash2 or any of the MoI service centres. It is the responsibility of the individual concerned to update the data and ensure that any judicial announcements and official notifications are received at the national address.
Captain Mohamed Hassan Al-Haydus from Unified Services Department informed that the process of updating data is always available through any of the means of registration. Children who reach the legal age of 18 must register their national address within two months of reaching the age, he added.
He emphasised that the aim of the national address is to facilitate service to all citizens and residents in their dealings with various governmental and non-governmental agencies, without the need for traditional paper correspondence.
He said the MoI has provided a service to companies that have large numbers of employees who cannot register online. Such companies can approach the headquarters of the Unified Services Department in Mesaimeer through their PROs and register the data of workers through the relevant forms. The department will send a team to the company's headquarters to complete the registration process electronically, the official added.
