Starting October 1, citizens of Uzbekistan will be able to view all phone numbers and bank cards registered in their name through the Unified Portal of Interactive State Services (EPGU). This is provided for in a presidential decree adopted on July 15.
Citizens will be able to submit a request to temporarily deactivate a phone number and then reactivate it. The portal will also allow terminating service for an unused phone number. Additionally, information about paid services connected to a specific phone number will be available on the EPGU.
Regarding bank cards, users will be able to send a request to the issuing bank to block or close a card via the portal. The operation will be carried out by the bank that issued the card based on the citizen's electronic application.
The action plan approved by the decree includes the development of administrative regulations for providing these services. Draft government decisions are to be prepared in August, and practical measures for launching the services are scheduled for September 2026.
From September 1, the EPGU plans to introduce virtual payment cards from commercial banks. Users will be able to link their existing bank card to the virtual card and use it to pay for state services through the portal. Opening a virtual card, topping it up, and transferring the remaining balance to another bank card will be commission-free.
The document also provides for the automatic refund of certain funds to the citizen's virtual payment card without requiring a separate application.
In May, Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved measures to reduce bureaucracy in the sphere of public services. At that time, Uzbekistan had 1,041 public services, 80% of which were provided online, but the system still contained excessive procedures and duplicate requirements. By 2030, it is planned to introduce the “zero bureaucracy” principle in 783 services, convert 550 services to electronic format, another 80 to proactive and composite formats, reduce the average service delivery time for 80 services from 13 to 6 days, and lower fees for 25 types of services. This is expected to save the population up to 35 billion soums annually in travel expenses to government agencies and up to 851 billion soums through reduced fees.
Source: www.gazeta.uz