Indian Embassy introduces machine-readable passports By Aftab H. Kola / Times of Oman http://www.timesofoman.com/newsdetails.asp?newsid=29202&pn=local
MUSCAT Taking advantage of the information technology revolution and keeping pace with the times, the Embassy of India in Oman will shortly start issuing machine-printed and machine-readable passports and visa stickers. This is part of the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, which is in the process of streamlining the issuance of passports and visas by making use of latest technological tools. Indian Embassy in Muscat is one of the first Indian diplomatic missions, which has been provided with the facility of producing machine-printed and machine- readable passports and visa stickers. At a press briefing held on the embassy premises yesterday, Ashok Kumar Attri, Indian ambassador to the Sultanate, issued the first machine-readable passport to Kevin Mathew, who was born here on April 16, 2006. The machine-readable passport was received by Kevins parents. Kevin was also handed his birth certificate while the parents were given an India information kit. Kevin hails from Alappuzha district in Kerala. Elated by the provision of such a facility, the ambassador said: Machine- printed passports would reduce the risk of forging, eliminate human error and they would be more acceptable at the airports in other countries. It will also ensure that the immigration clearance at the airport is done fast. The ambassador added: These printed travel documents meet the stringent technical requirements of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) specification on travel documents. The ambassador also informed that a three-member technical team is in Oman to put in place the facility. The facility will be formally inaugurated within a few days. Yusuf Mohammed Al Balushi was also handed over the passport with the first machine-readable visa sticker. The security features were introduced recently in many countries on the recommendations of the Interpol and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to check the use of tampered and counterfeit travel documents by air passengers with dubious background, especially after the 9/11 attacks in the US Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi recently announced the start of similar facility for the Indian citizens living there. _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
