Turkish citizens to receive new smart identity cards

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Some two millions citizens are expected to get the cards in June. AA photo

Industry Minister Nihat Ergün introduced new Turkish smart identity cards yesterday that are expected to facilitate banking transactions, transportation and other aspects of daily life.

“If you wish, you can draw money from the cash machine, if you want to buy medical services, you can do it with a smart identity card,” Industry Minister Nihat Ergün said, noting the cards were first tested successfully in the northwestern province of Bolu.

“When you are entering a stadium, you can use this card. Whoever enters a stadium is recorded. Today, more than 700,000 people are in courts due to problems of identity fraud. There are several credit cards obtained by false identities. Several documents are registered at notaries but even the notary is not sure if they are genuine or fake. Now, the notaries want this law to go into effect.”

The minister said the new identity cards would be delivered to about 2 million citizens beginning in June 2013.