Punjab government, NADRA join hands for computerisation of arms licenses in Punjab
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Punjab government and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for computerisation of arms licenses in Punjab.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were the chief guests at the ceremony held at ModelTown Tuesday. Punjab Home Secretary Maj (r) Azam Suleman and acting NADRA chairman Shahid Hamid signed the document.
Under the agreement, the existing system of issuance of arms licenses in Punjab would be changed and a consolidated and comprehensive computerised arms license information management system would be evolved and all old licenses would be replaced with new computerised chip cards under a phased programme. The project would be completed within 140 days.
Addressing the ceremony, the Punjab chief minister welcomed the agreement between the Punjab government and NADRA for evolving computerised arms license information management system. He said that the project of computerisation of arms licenses in Punjab is a milestone towards setting up a peaceful society. He thanked Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan and NADRA authorities for extending fullest cooperation for the computerisation of entire system of issuing arms licenses.
He said that the Punjab government and NADRA will change the existing system of issuing of licenses and devise a comprehensive computerised arms license information management system. He said that the existing obsolete arms licenses in booklet form would be replaced with computer chip cards. He said that Punjab government with the help of NADRA is laying the foundation of such a system of issuance of licenses which would be error-free. He said that there is a need for purging the society of weapons for providing a peaceful and violence-free atmosphere to the citizens. He said that the decision of computerisation of arms licenses is an important and revolutionary step in this direction. He said that after computerisation, the chip card of every license would be linked with arms manufacturers, arms sellers and arms repairers through a database.
The chief minister said that under the agreement, a computerised system of issuance of licenses would be evolved in all districts of the province. A centre of the system would also be established in the building of Interior Ministry which would be in contact with the Special Branch and DPOs across the province. The project is being started initially in five districts of Punjab.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government has been in the forefront in the use of IT in every sector of life. He said that land record computerisation, use of smart cameras and information technology in the campaign against dengue and also on religious and national festivals are examples of this fact. He said that arms licenses were issued recklessly in the past and even licenses were issued for such weapons which were of prohibited bore.
He said that the issuance of computerised arms licenses is a revolutionary step towards curbing of illegal weapons and improvement of law and order. He said that NADRA and the Punjab government would work as a team for this purpose. Offering NADRA the data available with Punjab government under land record information management system for the project of issuing computerized arms licenses, Shahbaz Sharif said that NADRA can benefit from land record information management system which would substantially reduce the cost on the project as well as help its early completion.
Meanwhile, a delegation of industrialists associated with textile sector led by All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman SM Tanvir met Shahbaz. Federal Minister for Textile Industry Abbas Khan Afridi, Member National Assembly Pervaiz Malik, Provincial Minister for Industry Chaudhary Muhammad Shafique, Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Member Provincial Assembly Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Advisor Dr Ijaz Nabi, concerned federal secretaries and senior officials of Punjab government were also present on the occasion.
The APTMA chairman informed the chief minister about the problems of textile sector and the five years programme for the development of textile industry in the wake of granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan.
The chief minister while talking to the delegation said that lakhs of job opportunities can be created through development of textile sector. He said that awarding of GSP Plus status to Pakistan will result in substantial increase in textile exports therefore Punjab government has evolved the project of Quaid-e-AzamApparelPark over a large area near motorway. He said that an agreement has been signed with the Chinese company for the establishment of Quaid-e-AzamApparelPark. He said that all modern facilities would be available to the textile and garments industry under one roof with the setting up of state-of-the-art Quaid-e-AzamApparelPark which would strengthen textile sector and increase national exports. He said that government is determined to resolve energy crisis as early as possible as it is also essential for the development of industrial sector.