Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated mobile police station vans equipped with modern facilities and technology, aimed at providing police services to citizens at their doorstep.
The initiative includes 33 mobile police stations across different districts, with six vans dedicated to dealing with matters concerning women, according to a briefing by Home Secretary Ahmad Javed Qazi.
The chief minister inspected a mobile police station and observed its working. She interacted with the staff and asked a senior station assistant and a lady public guide about the procedure for providing services to citizens.
Each mobile police station will have a sub-inspector as its in-charge, a field supervisor, senior station assistant, male and lady constables. The vans will offer 14 police-related services, including registration of FIRs, online e-tagging, reports of lost documents, criminal record checks and registration of tenants and private employees.
The vans will also provide character certificate verification and facilities for learner and driving licences, including renewal, duplicate and international licences.
According to the briefing, the vans will visit universities and girls’ colleges according to a schedule, while their deployment in different areas will also be based on data received through the police emergency helpline 15.
The schedule of visits will be publicised through social media and other channels, while announcements will also be made in mosques in the relevant areas before the arrival of a van.
The mobile police stations will operate under specially constituted teams in accordance with official SOPs. The relevant station house officer and beat officer will remain present in the field to supervise operations.
The senior station assistant will manage IT operations, digital databases and online data entry, while male and female constables will guide and facilitate citizens.
Citizens will be able to submit applications for FIR registration and receive an online e-tag for further action. Reports regarding lost CNICs, cards and chequebooks can also be registered through the mobile stations.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Punjab said the initiative was aimed at bringing policing services to people’s doorsteps with dignity and respect.
She said the mobile police stations would help reduce the gap between the public and police while saving citizens’ time and travelling expenses, particularly in remote areas.
