Bahrain's Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has announced that its branch in Seef Mall – Muharraq will now be back to 5-days-a-week schedule.

The Seef Mall – Muharraq branch along with the Isa Town branch had previously extended its work schedule from five to six days to clear a heavy backlog of applications for the updating of ID card chip, said the statement from iGA.

From now on, the Muharraq branch will remain open during normal working days from Sundays to Thursdays, it stated.

However, the Isa Town branch will continue to offer this specific service on Saturdays until further notice, it added.

Director of Identity & Population Registry at iGA Shaikh Sabah bin Hamad Al Khalifa said the decision to change the working days was made after the processing of these applications reduced the workload, allowing for greater appointment availability during official government working hours.

"The branches were able to satisfy more than 11,000 ID chip updating requests on Saturdays during the second half of 2019, up 20% in output compared to the first half," he noted.

"The iGA is directing its resources towards providing most ID card related services electronically, in line with directives from the Minster of Interior General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa to streamline procedures and improve the quality levels of services," he added.-TradeArabia News Service