Sindh police launch citizen-monitoring app in bid to keep people indoors

The Sindh Police Department’s Security and Emergency Service Division has launched a “Citizen Monitoring App” to limit the movement of citizens amid the ongoing lockdown.

Talking to The News, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Maqsood Ahmed Memon, chief of the Security Division, said on Monday that in light of the directives issued by Sindh IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar and Additional IGP Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, the Police Security and Emergency Services Division had launched a mobile application called ‘Citizens Monitoring App’ with the aim of restricting the movement of citizens amid the government-imposed lockdown.

The application will be installed in the mobile phones of police officers deputed at police checkpoints, who would record citizens’ movements in the application. So far, 500 officials deployed at different checkpoints have had the application installed in their cellphones.

DIG Memon added that legal action would be initiated against any citizen found moving more than twice a day. The data of citizens will be entered into the application, including the CINC number, phone number, location and reason of commuting.

DIG Memon said that having launched the app, the movements of more than 6,000 citizens had been recorded in the app so far, in East Range’s Korangi District 918 citizens' commuting details were recorded, in District East 1,254, and in District Malir 550 citizens' movements were recorded.

In West Range’s District West, 838 citizens' commuting details were recorded, in District Central 1,044, in South Range’s District South 871 commuters' details were recorded, and 568 citizens' details were recorded in District City of the South Range. A total of 125 citizens were found violating the rules.

He added that this app would be helpful to ensure effective execution of the lockdown. He appealed to the citizens to remain confined to their homes in order to protect themselves from the coronavirus pandemic.­