PESHAWAR, Jan 22: The additional inspector-general of NWFP police and some officers from the technical sections of the department will be invited to the United States to attend the annual conference of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in February, officials said here.

They said Dr Nasik Illahi, Adviser to the US Embassy on Forensic Sciences, had also suggested some improvements in the infrastructure for the forensic science laboratory here to be able to get financial and technical assistance from the US. The adviser had visited the laboratory two months ago.

The official said the US was interested in assisting Pakistan in strengthening scientific investigations, such as finger-printing and those relating to gender-based crimes, such as rape.

An official, however, said no progress had been made yet to fulfil the conditions laid down by the US.

Sources said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation was already helping the US authorities collect data about Pakistanis involved in various crimes as a part of the international campaign against terrorism. “A fingerprint bureau was established in the FIA headquarters in Islamabad two years ago, where computerised crime data is being kept and transferred to the US,” they said.

“We are already sending sets of fingerprints and other relevant details to the FIA headquarters, like other provinces,” an official here said.

He said police visited jails, courts and police stations to obtain fingerprints of criminals on special forms.

“We take 20 impressions of fingers of each under-trial or convicted prisoners on cards before forwarding them to the FIA headquarters,” the sources said.

“After computerisation of the forensic laboratories, as planned, the FBI will have access to the Automatic Fingerprints Information System,” he said.

The official said the FBI would train police officials from the four provinces for ensuring a smooth and reliable fingerprinting process.

"Fingerprints of Afghan refugees are also obtained whenever they are found involved in crimes,” the sources said.

They said that currently only data about criminals was being collected but later fingerprints of some other people might also be obtained.