KARACHI: The Sindh government and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have halted the digital printing process of computerized arms license books from the end of last year.
Daily Times has leant that NADRA has printed only 106,048 arms license books out of 247,591 and remaining are still pending since one year, while Sindh government recently made tall claims of good governance by rejecting 550,000 out of total 1,080,200 licenses as being unregistered and non-verified in province in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The documents reveal that out of 444,987 forms at Deputy Commissioners’ offices 247,591 were sent to NADRA after verification for digital printing of arm booklets, but they only printed 106,048 and since one year no further printing of digital arms incenses has taken place. It is pertinent to mention here that, as per directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Sindh government had initiated computerization and re-validation of arms licenses in the province since October, 2013 and NADRA desks were established at all Deputy Commissioners offices to collect payments for proper issuance of new computerized licenses to deter illegal arms in the province, but the after lapse of one year digital printed licenses have not be arranged.
Daily Times has learnt that Sindh government has collected millions of rupees from arms license holders for issuing new computerized licenses to them since 2013. Tracking IDs were issued to all candidates and Rs 1,000 was collected from each applicant through NADRA Desks set up at all commissioner offices in the province.
Daily Times tried to contact the NADRA officials and Advisor to Chief Minister for Information Sindh Maula Bux Chandio for official version but messages and phone calls remain unattended.