The long-awaited distribution of electronic ID cards will start next month, officials said Sunday, but complained the process is still grossly underfunded.
Officials said that the new ID cards are expected to be distributed over a period of three years, a process that will cost $121 million and employ thousands of people.
"The registration process starts next month. We are fully prepared to distribute electronic ID cards to an estimated 30 million people," said Masoom Farhad, head of the Computerized ID Card Distribution Department at the Ministry of Interior.
But Farhad said only $5 million has been allocated for his department in the 1392 (2013-14) budget, which is not enough.
"For next year, only $5 million has been allocated for distribution of ID cards, while nearly $121 million is required to distribute ID cards for 28 million people," he added.
Some of the current election challenges and a lack of precise demographic stats are expected to be tackled after the distribution of these ID cards.