KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani has asked the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to consider a pilot phase rollout of the digital ID program in Kabul after months of delay for full implementation, according to ministry officials.

Afghan lawmakers, meanwhile, have kept up the pressure on the central government to move ahead with the full ID rollout. The new program is considered crucial for enhancing transparency in national elections, but before it can be taken nationwide, President Ghani has decided to implement it within the capital over the course of 90 days.

"We have considered three options in the plan: first, to distribute the electronic ID cards in the suburbs of Kabul, secondly, to launch it in the major cities of Afghanistan where the security environment is a little bit better, and thirdly, to see which plan is accepted by the president so that we can launch our plan according to that," head of electronic ID department of the MoI Homayoun Muhtat said.

Lawmakers have criticized the national unity government for failing to implement the ID program despite the fact that over nine months have passed since it came into power. The digital ID program was initially launched under the administration of former president Hamid Karzai.

"Unfortunately, a huge amount of money has been spent for this project, so the government of Afghanistan is responsible for the distribution of electronic ID cards in order to maintain rule of law," MP Abdul Qayoum Sajjadi said on Friday. "A single day delay in this respect is a great oppression against the people of Afghanistan and their national interests."

Although there are no legal restrictions standing in the way of implementation, the central government has gone through a year of delays when it comes to the program. And given the troubles of the 2014 presidential election, many see the digital IDs as a crucial solution to electoral corruption moving ahead.

"In wake of the current situation, it is quite important to launch the electronic ID distribution so that we can enter a new phase of citizenship," Afghan journalist Hussaini Madani told TOLOnews. "The parliamentary elections are ahead and also there is no accurate census about the population." (Tolonews)