RAWALPINDI: Biometric attendance system (BAS) has been introduced in 40 prisons in Punjab to make them more secure as it will make identification of each individual including jail staff members more accurate.

Initially, the biometric system will link all prisons across Punjab, including central and district jails, with National Database and Registration Authority.

In the second phase, the system will link six prisons of Lahore, Adiala, Faisalabad, Multan and Vihari with police and prosecution.

“Yes, biometric attendance system under the Educational Management Information System project have been installed in all prisons across Punjab and it would link them with Nadra in the first phase,” Punjab Inspector General of Prison Shahid Saleem Baig told Dawn.

He said the BAS had yet to be linked with police, prosecution and prison department. The prison police chief said that with the installation of biometric system, a prisoner could not change his name or identity on his own.

The BAS would also help the prison authorities to accurately identify each individual who leaves or enter the prison.

Deputy Inspector General of Prison Rawalpindi Region Rana Abdul Rauf told Dawn that the biometric attendance system has been installed and process of data entry of staff and prisoners was under way.

“Data of inmates, under-trial prisoners and those released on daily basis or enter into the jail is yet to be updated,” the DIG said adding that it would help the jail authorities to keep the record of actual prisoners released or sent to jail.

He further said with the installation of biometric system, the jail authorities would be able to keep complete record of prisoner who is shifted to jail and his complete record will also be transferred to other jails.

Earlier, the jail authorities had kept record manually, but with the installation of biometric system, the jail authorities would be able to get details of all prisoners.

DIG Prison Rana Rauf further revealed that the data of all the prisoners like their date of entry, trial and other particulars would also be computerised.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2019