Doha: The Search and Follow-up Department (SFD) has launched its new services office in order to expedite the completion of the procedures at the Department in the shortest time through its integrated staff counters. This is part of the Ministry’s efforts to save time and effort of the visitors.

“The opening of this office comes as an advanced step in facilitating the access of the citizens and residents to the services provided by the Department,” said Brigadier Abdullah Jaber Al Lebda, SFD Director. He added that it is an effort to reduce the time and effort of the visitors to avail the services while ensuring the highest standards of service delivery.

The Department implements the ‘Law of entry, exit and residence of expatriates’ in the country and works to reduce the run-away and illegal workers and ensures they leave the country if it required so by the relevant authorities after they have received their full legal rights.

The office, which operates from 6am to 6pm, has a large area that can accommodate more than 150 visitors and with 20 service counters and 2 entrances. This gives the visitors convenience of easy entry and exit and helps in smooth flow of transactions. With the latest electronic and technical systems, it will ensure accuracy and take less time to complete the transactions. The services office has a highly qualified staff of officers and other ranks with integrated counter staff system so that the counter staff performs all the transactions needed by the visitor without need to move to other employees or counters or service halls.

The average number of visitors received by the Office per day is 450. The Office also has five counters for officers to facilitate easy approval of the applications of the visitors, receive their inquiries, listen to their grievances and to solve the problems they face to complete the procedures. These facilities will shorten a lot of time and effort as the issues will be handled with utmost attention and seriousness.

“This office is a great qualitative development in providing excellent services to the visitors, in line with the Ministry of Interior’s direction towards achieving its strategy”, said Lt. Col. Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari, Assistant Director of the SFD. He pointed out that the Department has trained a number of employees to carry out the functions of the integrated counter staff by providing an electronic system that can finish all the procedures related to the request of the visitors through a single counter.

The visitor of the department can go to the counter to complete all the procedures from the same counter without having to go to another employee or counter. In the case of any violations or fine against the visitor, payment can made directly through the automatic payment machine that place in the new office.

Apart from convenient reception area and counters, ATM machine and awareness screens have been also made available. The parking area can accommodate more than 200 cars, he added. “The office will work in two shifts. From 6am to 1pm, it will receive applications for various services provided by the department. From 1pm to 6pm applications will be received from the expatriates who surrender to leave the country”, Lt. Col. Al Kuwari said.