Punjab plans tracker tags for criminals

In a move to curb crime and strengthen law enforcement, the Punjab Home Department has decided to introduce electronic tagging for habitual offenders.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal. The new initiative aims to boost surveillance across the province. Under this plan, 1500 tracking bands will be distributed among key security agencies. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) will get 900 devices, the Parole Department 100, and the Crime Control Department 500. These devices will allow 24/7 real-time monitoring of targeted individuals.

The move comes as part of broader efforts to control repeat offenders and ensure public safety. With the help of this technology, authorities can now closely watch the movements of people considered a security risk.

Meanwhile, Sindh has also taken a similar step. In Karachi, Sindh’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ghulam Nabi Memon recently held a meeting to review the rollout of e-tagging under the Sindh Habitual Offenders Monitoring Act, 2022. It was revealed that 4000 repeat offenders will be monitored using these electronic bands in the first phase.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that e-tagging will start at the police station level and later expand across zones and divisions. The identification and tagging of offenders will be based on court decisions.

IGP Memon emphasized the need for accurate record-keeping and active monitoring of such individuals. He directed all police officers to ensure that proper data is collected and used effectively to track repeat criminals. Both Punjab and Sindh’s initiatives mark a new phase in crime control using modern technology.