In a major move to boost public safety, the Punjab Home Department has decided to fit habitual offenders and individuals listed under the Fourth Schedule with electronic tracking bands.
The decision was finalised during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, attended by Special Secretary Interior Fazal-ur-Rehman, Additional IG Crime Control Department Sohail Zafar Chattha, DIG Operations Punjab Waqas Nazir, Additional Secretary Police Dr Zeeshan Hanif, and representatives from the law and finance departments.
Initially, 1,500 GPS-enabled bands will be distributed among three departments: 500 to the Crime Control Department, 900 to the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and 100 to the Parole Department.
These devices will enable 24/7 real-time monitoring of individuals’ movements, aiming to closely monitor those considered threats to public safety and national security.
Home Secretary Mengal also instructed officials to prepare for the next phase, which will involve importing more sophisticated tracking technology. Plans include exploring the use of sub-dermal micro-tracking chips, following international best practices in criminal surveillance.