The Jordan government is expected to start issuing single multi-application smart cards for citizens to be used for various public services by early 2014, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. The smart cards will be used as identification cards and also for public health insurance. At a later stage, the cards can be used for distributing government subsidies, whether for fuel or other commodities, according to reports. The smart cards will be financed by the grant extended to Jordan by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and the project will be on the list of projects in the 2014 state budget, the ministry said, adding the project is part of the government’s efforts to improve the e-services provided to citizens and will be convenient and user-friendly for all. A committee has been formed including all stakeholders in the public sector to revisit the e-government program and look into means of speeding up its implementation. Some 88 e-government services are currently available for users and around 19 new e-services will be introduced in 2014, reports stated. The government formally inaugurated the e-government program in 2006 with the intention of streamlining bureaucracy and enhancing access to the Internet in rural area.
