ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: The National Police Bureau (NPB) has started a project to set up a scientific Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to enhance operational capacity of the police in combating organized crime and terrorist activities, a senior police official said on Friday.

The US-funded project will be completed within two years at a cost of Rs1,107 million. The system will provide necessary infrastructure and network connectivity to the law enforcement agencies down to the district level for instant comparison and identification of criminals through fingerprints.

It will also provide police department and law enforcement agencies with database facility for sharing intelligence. The fingerprint technicians will be provided comprehensive training in modern techniques and detection work.

In the first phase of the project, which is likely to be completed by December 2005, a central website at Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) headquarters will be connected online with four Multi-Function Work Stations (MFWSs) in the provincial capitals.

The stations will then be brought in online contact with 52 remote terminals located at the headquarters of 52 districts by the end of June 2006. The remaining districts will be brought online during fiscal 2006-07.—APP