DIG Security Maqsood Memon says the objective of setting up facilitation centres is to provide
twenty-four seven service to citizens through a one-window process
Karachi
The first Police Facilitation Centre (PFC), a project of the Special Security Unit (SSU), started working on Korangi Road in Defence Housing Authority on Saturday.
Talking to The News, DIG Security and SSU Commandant Maqsood Memon said police facilitation centers were a vital component of a “Promise of Peace Project”, and the space, allotted to the unit for the establishment of the first centre in Defence Housing Authority (DHA), had been renovated.
As a pilot project, the Police Facilitation Centre in DHA will address issues of the residents of South Zone. It has been recommended that a legal cover be provided for the authorisation of the centre through a standing order of the inspector general of police.
The required manpower would be provided by the SSU and the ZIB Incharge South should coordinate with the incharge of the facilitation centre, Memon said, adding that all strategic and administrative partners may be taken into confidence to manage the working mechanism.
He said idea behind setting up PFCs was to provide twenty-four seven services to citizens through a one-window process and a helpdesk.
The helpdesk was intended to provide a trouble-free interface and guidance for all sorts of public complaints, he said.
Moreover, the DIG security said, educated and professional staff would help common citizens in dealing with their problems.
He said the police station would be dedicated to crime control only, and the facilitation centre would offer quality service in a professional manner and filter cognizable and non-cognizable matters.
Besides, he said, dispute resolution committees at district and divisional levels would resolve domestic disputes while civil matters could be resolved through law consultancy by professionals.
The strategic and administrative partners the police facilitation centres were zonal police stations, Anti Car Lifting Cell, Nadra, Traffic Range, Driving Licence Branch, Defence Housing Authority, Cantonment Board Clifton, Excise and Taxation Department and Anti-Corruption Establishment.
Memon said the scope of the centre was to ideally address issues of walk-in general public. He said the centre would issue character certificates, offer legal counselling, provide police verification, file non-cognizance reports, verify vehicles, work as a facility to deposit traffic fines, lodge complaints against police, keep a record of investigation progress, issue learner’s driving licences and file reports of missing documents.
He noted that character certificates would be issued for visas and immigration and verification would be carried out through zonal and district Intelligence Branch by a representative of the centre. Moreover, for police verification, the applicant will submit all relevant documents to the centre and power should be delivered to the Police Facilitation Centre’s SP and commandant for the issuance of the certificate.
According to the DIG security, most probably, the police verification certificate will be issued for job or employment or for working as a house servant. The particulars will be cross-checked by the police station, the Crime Record Office, the Crime Investigation Agency and Nadra.
Legal counselling is aimed at creating awareness among the citizens about their fundamental rights according to the Constitution of Pakistan and for criminal and civil cases. The advisory service includes tenancy issues, public nuisances and guidelines about government department procedures.
Memon said Driving Licence Branch staff or a mobile unit which consisted of the data entry operator with a bank challan for the licence payment, a camera and a doctor should be deputed at the centre for the issuance of learning driving licences. The traffic branch staff will also deposit traffic fines at the PFC.
The centre will also lodge complaints against police officials there. Such complaints will be forwarded to the DIG Complaint Cell Office for necessary action. Moreover, the complainant will also get a duplicate copy of the FIR on the completion of codal formalities and he will be informed about the investigation progress.
SSU Commandant Memon said the PFCs were obliged to facilitate guide and assist victims of crime and other misdemeanors.
They would also deal with complaints against police abuses and record reports regarding those missing and provide a copy to the person concerned. The PFCs are authorised to issue permission for public gatherings also.
He said the PFCs would play a facilitator role between complainants and investigating officers. They would reduce the workload of police stations and help them improve their performance in other aspects, he added.