Punjab bureaucracy to be equipped with Android phones

LAHORE: After the police, the provincial government has decided to equip the bureaucracy with Android phones at divisional and district level to improve communication among departments as well as with law enforcement agencies, The News has learnt.
Punjab Home Secretary Azam Suleman Khan suggested the provincial government that like the police, Android phones should also be given to commissioners, DCOs and assistant commissioners. He also suggested that respective districts and divisions would bear the expenses of Android phones from their own resources.
Keeping in view the proposal of the Home Department, the chief minister referred the matter to the cabinet sub-committee on law and order and directed it to review the matter and submitted a summary. The cabinet sub-committee analysed the matter in detail and decided to give Android phones to commissioners, DCOs and assistant commissioners, however, respective districts and divisions would bear expenses from their own resources. Moreover, Android phones being given to police officers from BS-16 to BS-21 would have a limited facility of free calls, the cabinet sub-committee has decided. The police will bear the expenditure of Rs300 million from its own budget and in this regard a separate account would be opened with the Controller General of Accounts Islamabad, the committee recommended.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had sent a summary to the Home Department, which was forwarded to the CM Secretariat, requesting the government to provide Android phones to police officers from BS-16 to BS-21 to improve communication and response to any emergency situation.
The Finance Department had opposed it in the light of a notification of National Telecommunication and Information Technology Security Board Islamabad issued on July 10, 2012, according to which cellular phones cannot be brought in any official meeting, storage of official data in mobile phone is banned and use of mobile phones in sensitive offices is prohibited. However, the Home Department had supported the demand of Punjab police.
The IG Police in the summary had mentioned that keeping in view the prevailing security situation it was needed that communication gap among field and commanding officers should be bridged so that secret orders and data could be delivered to them through the high-tech communication system. The existing communication system is confined to offices, therefore, it becomes difficult to communicate any direction to commanding officers about a change in a security plan in an emergency situation to control law and order, it added.
In order to overcome the complicated situation the police department has decided to provide Android phones to police officers of BS-16 to BS-21 at the estimated cost of Rs300 million and the police have the required funds. Several government departments are using Android phones. Moreover, mobile phone companies will provide phone sets free and replace them after every two years. The mobile phones will be issued against a post. Moreover, security of data is not an issue and in this regard the police have already consulted with Punjab Information Technology Board, it added.
The total number of posts of police officers from BS-16 to BS21 is 1,224 including 14 posts of Additional IG (BS-21), maximum limit of bill is Rs 3,000 per month, 38 posts of DIG (BS-20) with maximum bill limit Rs 3,000 per month, 74 posts of Assistant Inspector General (AIG)/ Senior Superintendent of Police (BS-19) with maximum bill limit Rs 2000, 184 posts of Superintendent of Police (BS-18) with maximum bill limit of Rs1500, one post of Deputy Director CPO (BS-18) with bill limit of Rs1500, 150 posts of SDPOS (BS-17) with bill limit of Rs. 1500, 55 posts of Assistant Directors (BS-17) with bill limit of Rs. 1500, 708 posts of SHOs (BS-16) with bill limit of Rs. 1500.