Iraq to launch electronic food ration card system, replacing paper format

The transition to electronic cards is set to take place across the country, with the system already being rolled out in several provinces.

The newly created Food Ration E-Card. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
The newly created Food Ration E-Card. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Iraqi Ministry of Trade announced plans to implement a new electronic food ration card system, replacing the current paper format.

The transition to electronic cards is set to take place across the country, with the system already being rolled out in several provinces.

On Friday, Sattar al-Jaberi, Deputy Minister of Trade, confirmed that the ministry has started converting the monthly food ration receipts of citizens from paper to electronic format.

Alongside this, new registrations, separations, transfers, and replacements of ration cards have been temporarily suspended in all provinces to facilitate the transition.

The new electronic system is currently being introduced in Baghdad, Najaf, Kirkuk, and Duhok. Al-Jaberi explained that the electronic cards will carry the same information as the previous paper receipts, allowing citizens to register their documents online without the need to visit food ration distribution centers.

According to al-Jaberi, the ministry has completed updating the records for all Iraqi citizens—approximately 40 million people—and the program is now fully ready for implementation.

He added that the system will also help distinguish between the living and deceased citizens, ensuring that the names of deceased individuals are removed from the system, effectively stopping their monthly food rations.

The move to an electronic card system is expected to streamline the food distribution process and improve efficiency across Iraq’s food ration program.