LAHORE: The Punjab government and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Saturday extended contract of the Punjab Arms Licence Management System for three years.

The contract extension was signed by Nadra chairman Usman Mobin and Punjab Additional Chief Secretary Home Maj Azam Suleman.

Computerisation of all arms licences issued in Punjab was extended for another three years till 2020 as the initial three-year contract expired in 2017.

Nadra has established 36 registration centres in each district of Punjab, 191 facilitation counters at NRCs, mobile registration vans (MRVs) and centre for companies and institutions during 2014 to 17.

Nadra has registered and computerised 89.74 percent of total licences issued in the province under the contract during the last three years. It has registered 852,115 individual licences, 15,572 of institutions and 29,685 of security companies.

The authority has plans to introduce smart card based end-to-end solution, re-validation of individual licences, securities companies and institutions licences, new licences issuance system, integration of bank for electronic fee collection, call centre facilitation, verification services for law-enforcement agencies, arms dealers, armorers and manufacturers computerisation for better control and management and allied services.

Punjab Chief Secretary retired Capt Zahid Saeed, members of cabinet sub-committee on law and order, additional chief secretary (Home), police IG, capital city police officer (CCPO), special secretary (Home) and Punjab additional secretary (Judicial) were also present on the occasion.

After a detailed briefing, the extension contract was signed by Nadra chairman and ACS (Home) Mr Azam Suleman.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018