LAHORE: The Punjab police in collaboration with a mobile phone company has launched a single-click Emergency Alert System (EAS) to facilitate schools throughout the province.

“The system is free of cost and will work on any mobile phone, not requiring high-end smart phones, by using Ufone SIMs,” an official of the company said.

In order to avail themselves of the facility, schools will have to register their Ufone numbers with the forms available online or at all police stations of Punjab. Once the number is registered, any alarm generated would alert the police, containing details such as the name of the school and the person who initiated the alarm and location.

IG Mushtaq Sukhera said: “This SOS/Alert system will greatly help us in emergency response. We appreciate this effort as it will also improve our overall efficiency.”

Noman Azhar, Head of M-Governance and Financial Services (Ufone) said: “We have used our technological expertise in creating such a mechanism that would facilitate the police in coping with emergency situations. The system would help ensure that all schools are safe and sound.”

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2015

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