LAHORE: The Punjab police has introduced an innovative 'facial recognition system' powered by artificial intelligence to enhance accountability, reliability, and efficiency in tracing and apprehending suspects and wanted criminals.
Known as the "Face Trace System (FTS)," this state-of-the-art technology utilizes artificial intelligence to create a comprehensive database of over 18 million individuals, including suspects and criminals. The system will enable law enforcement officers across Punjab province to efficiently locate wanted criminals and accused persons.
The system was launched by Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar and developed by Punjab Police Information Technology (IT) wing in collaboration with Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). DIG Ahsan Younas, heading the IT Wing, gathered data from various sections and organizations within the Punjab police, leading to the development of this advanced system.
With the FTS now accessible to investigating officers throughout the province, the identification process has been significantly streamlined. Previously, officers relied on traditional methods, involving physical visits to various locations, resulting in substantial time and resource wastage. However, now, with just the press of a button, investigating officers can instantly verify and identify suspects and criminals through the online platform.
The system's database comprises 16 million records and pictures from the driving licenses branch, 1.8 million records from the Crime Record Branch, 1.3 million from the Punjab Khidmat Marakaz, and 300,000 records of accused individuals and criminals from Punjab prisons.
Additionally, the FTS will assist in identifying and tracing suspects detected through CCTV cameras and other sources. The system is designed with compatibility for the latest artificial intelligence technology, ensuring prompt arrests following accurate criminal identification.
Both the IGP and Mr. Younas expressed their commitment to further improving the system through training, integration, and feedback from the police force. They aim to link the system with the database of other institutions for enhanced performance.
Mr. Younas stated that districts have been informed about the use of FTS and it will soon be connected with e-police posts and crime prevention apps to further enhance its capabilities.
PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf, Additional DG Qasim Afzal, Chief Technical Officer Adil Iqbal, and Project Director Asim Iqbal were present at the ceremony to mark the launch of this groundbreaking technology.