What can be a better housing project than a low income housing scheme by government? This was the same reason people flocked to branches of Silk Bank after the launch of Taiser Town Scheme 45 by Sindh but now they are facing problems to get application form with the risk of online data leak.
Sindh Government announced that application forms will be available from all branches of Silk Bank and online through the official website of Malir Development Authority (MDA) and Taiser Town. But it seems that people are facing problems through both methods.
Online Data Leak:
The online application form from Taiser Town website is a serious threat for the confidential information of applicants because the website is leaking their information to unknown visitors.
If any applicant enters his data and them submits it then the print option gives the application form of some other applicant which means the online form is of no use for the citizens. Additionally anyone can see their personal data include:
- Name
- Computerized National Identity Card Number (CNIC)
- Address
- Occupation
- Phone Number
On the official portal for application form there is an option ‘Search Your Old Record’. When any person enters his CNIC number the website shows application form.
Ideally the website should show the information of the CNIC number but it shows the application form of some other applicant which is a serious data breach from MDA & Sindh government.
The official website of Taiser Town is also not reachable through the link which was advertised on newspapers. It shows the message ‘website under maintenance’.
Representatives from MDA said that due to greater traffic the website is temporary down and will be up again. But despite this claim on 6th March the website is still not up.
Long Queues:
It seems that the branches of Silk Bank are too few to cater the need of form request and submission in Karachi. This is resulting in formation of long queues in front of these branches.
In Karachi you can easily spot the branch of Silk Bank by seeing the long queues with dozens of citizens waiting for their turn to get a simple application form.
Citizens have to wait hours to get the application form but this is only the start as they have to fill it, attach the required documents and then again go through the difficult process for submission of their forms.
Official website of Silk Bank shows that they have just 23 branches in the metropolitan city of Karachi where thousands of citizens want to apply for the Taiser Town Scheme 45. This raises questions that why a bank with so few branches was selection for form submission.