Ministry of Finance to introduce e-dirham smart forms

In another step towards easier use of e-dirham cards, the Ministry of Finance and Industry will soon introduce smart forms incorporating an e-stamp to facilitate government payments.

These forms may be used by companies and individuals at typing centres, and the fees collected at these centres will be encrypted on the form.

"When the smart form is typed, the fee will be shown (and encrypted), which means the customer need not stand in a queue at any ministry to make payments, but merely submit the papers," said Khalid Ali Al Bustani, assistant undersecretary for revenue and budget, yesterday.

Typing centres cannot issue any form without receiving payment through the e-dirham card.

The smart forms with e-stamp will be adopted in two weeks by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, followed by other ministries. The use of the forms will begin on a test basis next month in 50 typing centres and will gradually include more, Al Bustani said.

Collection of fees through e-dirham cards is currently from points of terminals in various ministries, the Internet payment gateways and now through the smart forms.

Al Bustani said that on average 25,000 e-dirham transactions take place daily.

Eight banks with 30 branches retail the e-dirham cards, and there are 370 points of sale terminals in government departments.