July 20, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, July 19: The installation of Personal Identification Security Comparison Evaluation System (PISCES) on four airports has been delayed owing to additional features demanded by Pakistan in computer-based programme.

The PISCES computer-based system to keep record of all those entering or leaving the country was supposed to be installed at the airports of Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta by July but has been slightly delayed, Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider told reporters on Friday.

He said he had been informed by the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage that the additional features demanded by Pakistan was resulting in the delay.

Pakistan, he said, had requested the American authorities that the software of PISCES should have a provision to identify passengers through father’s name, recognize all those having their names on exit control list (ECL) and number of passports recently stolen from the registration department.

The interior minister said Armitage had recently written a letter informing him that inclusion of these features required modification in the software of the programme and it would take at least three to four months.

Moin disclosed that in the recent visit of Armitage to Pakistan he had asked for early delivery of the system.

The minister dispelled an impression that foreign agencies would also have access to the system. He said through dedicated lines these airports would be linked to main frame at the National Data Base and Registration Authority.

This system would be eventually extended to all the 18 exit and entry points of land, air and sea. Initially, the system had been installed on pilot basis at Quaid-i-Azam International Airport Karachi.

The minister said immigration wing of the FIA had to verify the father’s name and passport number separately. After inclusion of these additional features, Pakistan would have the largest PISCES in the world, he added.

Regarding an agreement between the US and Pakistan for supply of surveillance equipment worth $73 million, including three fixed wings planes, he said, a batch of Pakistani pilots was proceeding to the US for training on the fixed wing planes.

These planes, he further said, were equipped with special surveillance system and the pilots had to be trained to use this equipment.