Maryam opens first-ever virtual women police station

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated Pakistan’s first virtual women police station, “Meri Awaz...Maryam Nawaz,” here Monday.

“Thanks to the Virtual Women Police Station, women will no longer have to unnecessarily visit police stations,” said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz while launching the project at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA).

“The Virtual Women Police Station will guide women through all stages of the crime, from the FIR registration to its investigation and trial,” Maryam Nawaz explained, adding, “Women can contact the police through the 15 Call, Women Safety App’s live chat feature, video call feature, Punjab Police App, and the Safe City web portal.”

She highlighted that “all problems faced by women, including harassment, will be solved on a priority basis” at the virtual women’s police station. She explained that “a woman can share her problem with complete privacy and confidence without revealing her name and address” at the Virtual Women Police Station.

She said, “A live video call feature has also been introduced at the Virtual Women Police Station, allowing women to point out their problems, including their location, through the video call feature.”

IT graduate women police communication officers have been posted at the Virtual Women Police Station to facilitate women complainants. On the special instructions of the chief minister, 100 modern emergency panic buttons have also been installed in Lahore.

The chief minister said, “Panic buttons installed in universities, colleges, markets, intersections, and bazaars can be connected to Safe City immediately by pressing them.” She said, “A complaint mechanism against crimes, police officers, and officials on IG 1787 has also been made operational. Complaints on the 1787 Helpline and Safe City Authority Web Portal can be made anonymously.”

Maryam visited and observed the Virtual Women Police Station and discussed it with the Women Communication Police Officer. She also directed the early completion of the hostel and daycare centre for women officers. She was also given a detailed briefing on different projects of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority on the occasion.

Additionally, Maryam Nawaz launched the “CM Maryam Nawaz Free Wi-Fi” service at over 50 locations across Lahore. Earlier, the authorities concerned briefed the chief minister that, for the first time in South Asia, 19 traffic violations were being challaned in Lahore using artificial intelligence.