ISLAMABAD, April 25: The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) will install video surveillance system in Karachi and other major cities to detect and monitor street crimes and curb terrorist activities.

“This will enable police and civil armed forces to check illegal activities and provide an improved security environment to people,” Prime Minister’s Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik said in a meeting at the Nadra Headquarters on Thursday. Interior secretary Syed Kamal Shah attended the meeting.

The adviser directed Nadra chairman Brig (retd) Saleem Ahmed Moeen to deploy a 24-hour video surveillance system with its control in the central police office.

“It should be monitored by police and data obtained should be maintained by Nadra,” he said.

The adviser was informed that the system would have an inbuilt capability of observing important and sensitive areas, reporting a crime in real time and directing police officers to the scene.

Criminals will be identified through facial recognition by Nadra’s database. The system will provide a deterrent against street crimes and terrorist activities.

Mr Malik asked Nadra to install video surveillance systems at airports, banks and other public places.

Besides, a border monitoring system should be devised especially along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to enable the government to check smuggling and cross-border movement.

He advised Nadra to work with banks to help set up a bureau connecting all banks and create a system against financial crimes and credit card frauds by creating a separate database of those who have defaulted on bank loans, utility dues and other payables.

Mr Malik said Nadra should prepare a proposal for computerising land records and all government functioning like Electronic Document Management System at both provincial and federal levels.

The records from all police stations and courts should also be computerised under this initiative, he added.

The Nadra chairman told the adviser that approximately 62.8 million Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) had been issued so far and the authority was receiving about 20,000 applications a day for new cards.

It has a capacity to make 70,000 cards per day.

He said 342 National Swift Registration Centres had been working in the country to facilitate people in getting new cards.

Some 189 mobile vans were operating in rural areas to assist people in the far-flung areas.

He informed the adviser that Nadra had recently installed E-Toll system on the Motorway for swift passage and electronic toll deduction.

Mr Moeen said over 50 per cent union councils had been computerised in the country to electronically register births, marriages, divorces and deaths.