Good news, everyone, our government is making the best use of technology! At least, in Punjab now…
Technological integration has done its wonders and it is proven to surpass manpower in terms of efficiency in all aspects. Automation is redefining how systems work; it is bringing a revolutionary change in organizations’ working ways as benefits in terms of time, management, cost, and reliability are pouring in heavily. Easy to say, technology has transformed everything and its use is most fitting to be adopted in certain capacities.
So, gone are the old days of “parchi katana” and “FIR likhwana”, filling registers for hours in the most tedious and hectic manner for Punjab police. Now police stations across 36 Punjab districts are successfully digitized. Punjab Information Technology Board has marked a total of 712 in their digital tally! THAT’S WOW!
What was the old system like?
The old system was anything you could imagine to happen in the 1950s. Seriously, before digitization, all complaints and FIRs (first investigation reports) were written on paper. It was a lot of paperwork to handle. Analog files were maintained which was extremely time-consuming as there had to be a pattern to be followed.
It was also open to any kind of alterations. The culprits could openly bribe and regulate and alter the details maintained in the records.
It was also prone to a threat of being lost or destroyed. In a case of fire, you could totally lose the data that was maintained all along the years. In fact, it happened in Multan after a 150-year old record was blown to ashes after a fire erupted the local police station. Digitizing the system means back-ups would be made, records will not be open to human errors or any kind of alterations because they will not be easily accessed for anyone.
Here’s how the new system changes the game, totally!
The automated system is very smart. Criminal records would be protected and maintained digitally.
The reforms of the digital system programmed in the 712 police stations include the following:
- Receptions handled by IT literate receptionists
- A computerized Complaint Management System
- A Criminal Record Management System that’ll maintain records of the criminals’, “biometrics, physical appearance and a record of previous crimes.” A “rap-sheet”, in other words. This system is integrated with Tenant Registration System and Hotel Eye which will allow guests and hotel customers to be also identified if they have a criminal record.
- A Police Record Management System which will further improve security and accessibility of the data if in case a problem occurs.
- The IGP Monitoring Cell to watch over IT related activities of the Punjab Police (damn!)
- An Operational Media Center which will be helping the police track the law and order situation and to take accountable measures should a situation surfaces.
- CCTV cameras recording over 5 major cities under the Punjab Safe Cities Authority project
- IGP Complaint Center – 8787 (hotline)
Punjab Information Technology Board and Punjab Police were largely appreciated over this step by the CM and Prime Minister. Their efforts are in the process of negating the “thana” culture.
Well, it is great for the people of Punjab as now the system gets smarter and their complaints might just be resolved efficiently. Kudos to the people behind it for laying their successful efforts.
So, now, Sindh government, take note and do ya thing!