KARACHI, Jan 14: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell of the police department on Friday launched an automated short messaging service (SMS) for seeking information about the status of a vehicle.

SSP ACLC Bashir Memon said that the service was available on experimental basis for the past five days. He said that people anywhere in the country can send a message from their mobile phone set and can get a prompt response within a couple of minutes about the status of a vehicle as to whether it was clear or wanted.

Describing the method of sending an SMS, he said that one can write a vehicle's registration number in the message menu and send it to 0300-2011151 or 0300-2011161. The reply would be sent automatically within a couple of minutes, he added.

Mr Memon said in the near future, the software would be upgraded and information about make, model and colour of a vehicle would be disclosed in reply to an SMS.