Ali Ihsan, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, announced today that the Maldives is poised to launch a comprehensive database to store and manage the information of all foreigners, aiming to streamline registration processes and enhance security measures.

Ihsan's remarks came in response to a query posed by Mohamed Rasheed, Member of Parliament for Central Maafannu constituency, during a parliamentary session. Rasheed underscored the necessity of maintaining registers of foreigners to address pertinent issues, highlighting the failure of maintaining such a register by the previous government.

Acknowledging the previous government's shortcomings in implementing such a system, Ihsan emphasized the significance of an efficient database to facilitate effective record-keeping and enforcement measures.

To tackle this challenge, Ihsan revealed the development of a specialized database, providing councils and police stations with essential resources to streamline registration procedures. The database will enable the collection and storage of vital information, including fingerprints, allowing authorities to ascertain the identities and activities of individual foreigners.

The ambitious initiative aims to equip councils and police stations with mobile and fixed devices, enabling instantaneous access to the centralized database. Ihsan affirmed the government's commitment to completing this project within a year, thereby empowering local authorities to monitor the entry and exit of foreigners effectively.