LAHORE – Inspector General of Punjab, Dr. Usman Anwar, is leading a transformative initiative to modernize police operations by establishing a paperless environment across the province.
During a review meeting on Thursday at the Central Police Office, the IG emphasized that moving away from physical files and manual record-keeping will enhance transparency, improve efficiency, and ensure the swift and accurate management of crime data and official correspondence. This strategic push for digital documentation is aimed at streamlining police functions and building a more responsive force for the future.
The Law Today Pakistan has learnt that a group of defense lawyers has suggested Inspectors be appointed as Station House Officers to strengthen community-focused policing in addition to paperless regime in criminal administration of justice. They noted that this would require a paradigm shift and continuous support from senior police leadership for strong delivery in the contemporary era.
He assessed the performance of police Readers from Lahore and other districts. The session was attended by various senior officers, including Additional IG Punjab Sultan Ahmad Chaudhary, DIG Establishment-I Suleman Sultan Rana, and others. Dr. Anwar has directed all Readers to adopt paperless working and regularly update crime data. He emphasized that under the Integrated Criminal Justice System, accurate records are vital for ensuring justice and for senior officers to effectively identify and respond to criminal activity.
Revealed in a press release, the IG stated that he will conduct surprise inspections to ensure all records, including crime diaries and files on proclaimed offenders, are accurate, authentic, and fully computerized. He also underscored the importance of destroying unnecessary papers and maintaining only essential documents. Staff were also instructed to utilize artificial intelligence and modern technology in their work. Dr. Anwar also highlighted the importance of swift registration of FIRs and timely resolution of complaints received via the 1787 helpline.
