Baghdad: The Integrity Commission has emphasized the necessity for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the contracting company, Switch, completes the electronic payment procedures. The Commission’s specialized team conducted a visit to the Ministry to assess compliance with electronic payment tools as per the standards for activating electronic transactions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the team observed the need to address international card issues and interruptions in electronic payment cards like Q Cards, following the Central Bank of Iraq’s standards. The team also recommended monitoring and evaluating the ministry’s use of the system to facilitate procedures and bolster anti-corruption initiatives.

The report further suggested studying the feasibility of Switch implementing the electronic payment program based on the team’s insights, aiming to enhance the ministry’s electronic operations. It also highlighted the requirement for the Central Bank to tackle system interruptions that adversely affect electronic payment functions.

The Commission noted that the team found instances where the payment system was halted by the Central Bank, leading to transaction delays. These delays also affected the issuance of cards for various committees, causing confusion due to the inconsistency with the committees’ six-month formation period. To address these issues, the team developed forms to assist in monitoring and applying the Central Bank’s standards to the electronic payment project, ensuring the practical implementation of the project and resolving discrepancies noted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.