Daily Times

LAHORE: The Sindh government has been planning to computerise its police department to facilitate the public and enhance departmental efficiency for the improvement of law and order situation in the province.

Sindh government officially contacted the Punjab government, seeking assistance about IT reforms in its police department too. This initiative was taken to improve the department’s ability to combat crime with the help of information technology, as its manual functions had become obsolete and useless.

A letter was written in this regard by Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon to the Punjab chief secretary, stating that the Sindh inspector general of police had shown his desire and keenness to adopt the software of Punjab Police in Sindh.

An official of the police department, on the condition of anonymity, said that Punjab had introduced Police Station Record Management System (PSRMS), which helped improve the efficiency of the department. He said this web-based online application digitised the complete FIR lifecycle from launching an FIR, nominating a culprit, investigation and court proceeding details, to the final process of case closure.

He said that another initiative of Punjab Police was the establishment of Police Complaint Centre. The idea behind this step was to use the benefits of information technology in reaching out to people and address their issues related to the performance of police. “Previously the complaints were received through post or a person had to travel to Lahore to submit his complaint in person at the IG Office,” he said, adding that the new intervention was aimed at receiving complaints through SMS and voice calls on a short code (8787). Moreover, he said, complaints were also received online as well as through emails and dedicated team of young IT professionals were deputed to handle these complaints.

He said the Punjab Police had also been using Human Resource Management System, which is a complete and secure human resource database with advanced reporting capabilities combination of systems and processes that connect human resource management and information technology. “The HR function consists of tracking existing employee’s data, which traditionally included personal histories, skills, capabilities, accomplishments and salaries, personal information, suspension, criminal record, judicial Inquiries, psychological profile, punishments, show-cause notices, assets, departmental proceedings and biometric attendance,” he added.

Another initiative was the development of digital criminal tracking system (CRO) with the help of Punjab Information Technology Board, he said, adding that the system included digital cameras with fingerprint reading devices that have been provided in every district, starting matching of fingerprints with crime scene prints, developing linkages with prisons and court.