Sindh government is developing software which will enable the user to remotely lock the phone in case it’s stolen or snatched, a high level security meeting was informed on Wednesday.

The meeting to oversee the progress made in efforts to curb street crimes in the metropolis, chaired by Sindh IG Allah Dino (AD) Khawaja, was attended by senior officials including AIG Mushtaq Maher, DIG Sultan Ali Khawaja and Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) Chief Zubair Habib among others.

The meeting was apprised that the said software will be compatible on all types of mobile devices. It programmed to register the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number of the mobile phone along with its SIM card number.

"When a user will get the SIM card blocked following a theft or snatching, the mobile will be blocked automatically."

The software can be called internet offline mobile fighter which will help in timely recovery of the device.

The Sindh IG directed all stakeholders to complete their framework and present it for approval so that the software becomes functional at the earliest.

He also directed the Customs and Intelligence Bureau officials to cooperate with Special Investigation Unit (SIU) authorities in order to unearth the nexus of mobile phones smuggling and bring the perpetrators to book.

Khawaja asked the Karachi police chief to handover the street crime culprits to SIU so that proper investigations could be conducted.

Earlier this month, the CPLC had identified 60 places in the sprawling metropolis where incidents of street crimes, particularly snatching of mobile phones, have increased alarmingly.

Law-enforcement officials believed that with the identification of the 60 “hot spots” the area police could manage to cut the number, if not curb the menace entirely, of street crimes by effective patrolling and consistent vigilance.