Computerised arm-licences: Frequent power cuts contribute to slow process of applications

Applicants visiting the centre from far-flung areas demand standby generator at the facility.

ATTOCK: Though the Punjab government and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) have set up a centre in the Attock city to issue computerised arm-licences, frequent power outages and slow Internet service at the facility is contributing to slow process of applications, adding to the woes of applicants.

The applicants visit the centre from all the five teshils — Attock, Hazro, Fatehjang, Pindigheb and Hasanabdal — and other cities as many residents are settled out of the district as well.

As the Punjab government has given April 30 deadline for computerisation of arm-licences issued from 1984 to 1998, the slow processing of applications owing to frequent power cuts and slow Internet service has become a bane for the arm-licence seekers, who, whenever visit the centre, either have to wait at the centre and go back empty.

Hundreds of arm-licence seekers from across the Attock district visit the centre on a daily basis but most of them return empty-handed due to slow process of applications power outages after each hour.

Under the joint venture of the Punjab government and the Nadra, old licences will be replaced with computerised ones in the form of smart cards after a applicant submits an application along with the old arm licence, a photocopy of national identity card and a fess of Rs1,400.

A large number of visitors have to undergo an ordeal at computerisation centre, which lacks a standby generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply to scrutinise the applications before processing them for the issuance of the smart cards.

The arm-licence seekers complained that they make frequent visits to the centre but only to be spurned by the officials, who symbolically remain in the office from 9am to 5pm, but deliver only for three hours, as they wholly depend on the power supply from the national grid.

Besides the frequent power cuts, the slow Internet service at the centre also add to the misery of the applicants, especially those visiting from far-flung areas.

When contacted, In charge of computerisation centre Yasir admitted that the applicants were facing hardships due to frequent cuts and non-amiability of a standby generator.

He said that the issue has been brought to the notice of the Punjab government and Nadra officials and hopefully the centre will soon have a generator facility to ensure uninterrupted working at the centre.

He also admitted that the Internet service was slow at the centre.

“Obviously, the centre is set up recently and provision of missing facilities will take time,” he aimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2015.