Low attendance: Biometric checking at govt offices

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to set up a biometric system at all public offices to improve attendance among civil servants. The decision was taken last Saturday in a meeting chaired by the chief secretary. The system will initially be installed at provincial departments housed at the Civil Secretariat, followed by other government offices in the city, and then across the province, a senior official told The Express Tribune.  According to the official, the decision was taken because a large number of government officials are often found absent from their offices. With the new system, the government hopes that the existence of a digital entry and exit log will discourage absenteeism. At last Saturday's meeting, the chief secretary also asked all officers to ensure discipline and follow official timings. The system will be tested first on the junior-level staff and later extended to senior officers, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2013.