Islamabad Police units to get separate budget for investigation

IGP says making most of technology for swift action on complaints

ISLAMABAD:

Under Prime Minister Imran Khan's vision, all police units operating in the federal capital will get separate budgetary allocations from the next fiscal year to strengthen their investigation wings as well as modernise the system, announced Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman on Thursday.

He stated that improving the investigation process is a topmost priority of the current government, adding that the draft of the amendment for equal budget allocation would be approved within two weeks.

The IGP maintained that eradicating crime by improving the investigation system and speeding up the process of providing justice to citizens is of the utmost importance to the Islamabad police. He further said that they are promoting the use of modern technology for the prevention of crime and swift execution of the investigation process

Rehman stated that the capital police have continued to embrace digital technology through innovation to address public issues besides improving the performance of the force. In this regard, the department has taken several initiatives such as free registration of crime system, sense of security, community policing, the establishment of an e-desk, training of force and SMS alerts for citizens, he added.

Read more: Capital police chief opens e-police desk

The police chief said that soon an online service through SMS to update complainants on their registered first information reports (FIRs) will also be introduced. He added that more than 2.62 million valuables worth and 40 stolen vehicles have been recovered in robbery incidents at present.

Talking about the e-desk initiative at Super Market, Rehman said the police have introduced the high tech e-desk system for the registration of complaints without any human interaction in the Super Market area. In case of any untoward incident or mishap, the citizens can lodge reports there, following which the police call centre would contact them for immediate redressal and to further guide them, he added.

The IGP maintained that such e-desks will be established throughout various shopping centres in the federal capital where citizens can easily lodge their complaints through e-desk system. He explained that this system is entirely based on technology just as an ATM where citizens would have to scan their NIC or type their NIC number on it after which relevant data would appear and within five minutes, citizens would get an official’s response. Moreover, he said that an emergency contact number is also available at the e-desk where citizens can lodge their complaints by calling on the helpline.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.