A revamped service system should alert citizens and others about the renewal dates for various official documents such as passports, vehicle registrations, driving licences and IDs, so that they can avoid unpleasant surprises during extra time, using the football specialists’ language.
Ali Al Matani -
ali.matani2@gmail.com -
The Royal Oman Police (ROP) exerts tremendous efforts to make the most of the technological developments to serve the beneficiaries of its services.
Nevertheless, there are certain aspects that should be incorporated into its services so that ROP can serve citizens and residents more effectively, and without any added burden.
The revamped service system should, first of all, alert the citizens and others about the renewal dates for various official documents such as passports, vehicle registrations, driving licences and IDs, so that they can avoid unpleasant surprises during extra time, using the football specialists’ language.
Consequently, they can do away with irregularities and fines, and also embarrassing situations such as delay in departure because of an expired passport, or realising after a car accident that the driving or vehicle licence has been expired. Such cases lead to bad consequences such as a vehicle or driver losing insurance benefits.
ROP can implement an SMS system that sends reminders to individuals about the expiry dates of various documents.
Such focused services, along with the existing set of services, will take Oman ahead of other nations.
True, the ROP offers excellent services, including the highest security and safety for citizens and residents in Oman, but providing direct services of the kind mentioned above by targeting individuals can enhance the overall efficiency of its services.
Providing such electronic services can make our life easier and enjoyable.
For example, a family was about to depart for a destination, when they realised that one of its members’ passport had expired even as all the others had completed their procedures related to travelling. All such sad situations can be avoided if there is a more personalised service system.
Similarly, some fail to renew IDs due to various reasons, including not remembering the expiry date. The issue can be easily resolved through a morning SMS from the system of the Royal Oman Police. This will not cost the police much, and will surely have a good impact on the receivers’ souls.
Such attention will have great significance and boost the public image about ROP’s services.
Some authorities have already started using the query services feature via SMS as is the case with the Ministry of Health, Muscat Municipality, Ministry of Housing, courts and others, who alert the public about the specific time of appointments for their transactions, and the status of transactions.
Such services have economic benefits as represented by the cash flow to the state treasury, even as they help individuals to avoid fines.
We, of course, must not appreciate the citizens or residents for the mistake of not renewing their own documents in time, nor should we put the blame on competent authorities.
However, we believe it will be an excellent service which will raise the image of the Royal Oman Police.
Hopefully, the Royal Oman Police would enhance its services by including personalised reminders, and thus enhance the Sultanate’s electronic services system.
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