Police to computerise Finance and Welfare branch

Branch headed by officer of additional inspector general rank and assisted by DIG

LAHORE: Punjab police are all set to computerise the Finance and Welfare branch, said Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Information and Technology Zulfiqar Hameed. He stated this during an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune.

Finance and Welfare branch is of considerable importance due to its role. On one side, the branch is responsible for finance, funds and budget allocations for procurement of each item from the day to day working of the force to its developmental works.

On the other side, it looks after the steps taken for the welfare of the 200,000-strong police force including Shuhada packages, relief packages and pension-related issues.

The branch is headed by an officer of additional inspector general (Grade 21) assisted by an officer of DIG (Grade 20). An officer shared that the Punjab inspector general of police has been declared an ex-officio secretary to the provincial government, to exercise administrative and financial Powers under Police Order, 2002. Consequently, he is chief purchase officer of Punjab police.

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The DIG added that the process of computerisation of this important pillar of the department is being continued at a fast pace. “So far, they had set it on ‘pay and allowances’ sections of the finance department after developing software.”

Sharing details about the procedure adopted for computerisation of the finance aspect of the branch, he highlighted that they had prepared a system that was automated. “Once adopted, the allocation of funds will not be possible without a proper head. Similarly, bill submission will also be possible only after allocation under a head.”

Similar will be the case with bills for expenditure, he added. “The system will be computerised and centralised. This means that the set up could be accessed at different levels from district to range to central police office.”

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Besides being efficient, the set up will bring transparency and serve as a means to end corrupt practices, he asserted. “In regards to the financial scams reported in the department so far, the allocations were made without proper heads with the connivance of staff.”

The welfare section of the branch will also be centralised. “The checklist necessary for applying for the case can be accessed by the financeand family of the official, online. The checklist will include all the necessary details including a list of documentation.”

The updates on each case will be communicated, monitored and evaluated digitally, he maintained. “Updating the branch from manual to digital will promote transparency. Corrupt practices will be minimised automatically as each detail will be available at a single click in multiple forums.”

Secondly, it will be efficient for many tedious unnecessary processes, involved in the current system, to be filtered out, he explained. “Thirdly, the system will be efficient after being computerised and centralised. It will also promote a sense of accountability.”

The DIG elaborated that the reporting process will also be reformed. “Last but not least, it will help out in better policy formulations as a lot of data will be available in a position suitable for better analysis.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2019.