LAHORE, Nov 7: The Personal Identification Secured and Comparison Evaluation System (PISCES) installed at the Lahore airport to computerize the record of passengers travelling into and out of the country is expected to be inaugurated next week.

The system has already been installed and become operational at the Karachi and Islamabad airports. The system is being installed with the assistance of the United States, whose experts are here for the last several days, to check movement of suspected terrorists and illegal immigrants.

As the PISCES becomes operational, the passengers will be required to provide their travel history to immigration officers at the time of their arrival and departure.

Meanwhile, immigration officials admitted on Thursday that the passengers may have to suffer some “inconvenience” in the beginning. But, they added, the system was being installed in the ‘larger interest of the country and its people.’

“Once the passenger data becomes available with the immigration authorities, it would help them detect those who travel on illegal documents,” FIA assistant director (immigration) Javed Shah told Dawn.

At present, the passengers travel history is recorded manually.

He said a three-member team from the US had trained over 60 immigration officials deputed at the Lahore airport for the successful operation of the new system.

He said the recently recruited staff in the FIA was well conversant with computer which would help them successfully and ably execute the project.

Networking and installation of computers on the airport counters has already been completed and it would become operational after its formal inauguration next week, he added.

The new system is linked with all FIA offices in the country. The PISCES will be also be installed at the remaining airports of the country in the next few months.