LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the CM Crime Surveillance Unit on Friday, unveiling a digital system designed to monitor police performance at district, circle, and police station levels across the province. The initiative aims to streamline police operations and improve accountability through digital analysis.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the new smart policing system will oversee the performance of police officers, including District Police Officers (DPOs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and Station House Officers (SHOs), with the goal of enhancing efficiency. During the inauguration, Chief Minister Sharif engaged with officers at the unit, receiving a detailed briefing from its head, Usman Tanveer, about its functions and objectives.

Chief Minister Sharif addressed concerns regarding delays in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs), urging authorities to effectively utilize data from the Police Station Record Management System. She emphasized the need for prompt responses to negative perceptions about the police force and requested a comprehensive police reforms plan from the Inspector General of Police Punjab.

The briefing revealed that the latest crime data from all police stations in Punjab will now be accessible with ease, allowing for swift analysis of police performance. The system is expected to expedite the resolution of citizen complaints and applications, and it will also enable timely action in cases of unnecessary delays.

The Crime Surveillance Unit will compile data on 20 categories of crime, providing immediate analysis reports to aid in monitoring and decision-making. The unit will also track social media posts in line with national security requirements. Chief Minister Sharif highlighted the government’s commitment to eradicating crime in Punjab and expressed that the new unit is pivotal in strengthening the campaign against crime.

She underscored the importance of not generalizing the police force’s performance based on the actions of a few and praised the decline in crime rates attributed to ongoing reforms in Punjab as a positive outcome.