LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday inaugurated the ‘CM Crime Surveillance Unit’ introducing a new digital system to monitor police performance at district, circle and police station levels across the province.
Under the new smart policing system, the performance of police officers, including District Police Officers (DPOs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and Station House Officers (SHOs), will be monitored and analysed digitally.
The chief minister interacted with officers deployed at the Crime Surveillance Unit, while its head, Usman Tanveer, gave her a detailed briefing on its functions and objectives.
Maryam Nawaz expressed displeasure over complaints of unjustified delays in the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs). She directed the authorities to ensure effective utilisation of data available through the Police Station Record Management System and called for an immediate response to negative propaganda against the police.
During the meeting, the chief minister sought a comprehensive police reforms plan from the Inspector General of Police Punjab.
According to the briefing, the latest crime data from every police station in Punjab will be accessible with a single click. The unit will also analyse the performance of police officers, including DPOs, DSPs and SHOs.
The system will ensure timely redressal of every citizen’s complaint or application, while enabling action in cases involving unnecessary delays.
Data on different crimes under 20 categories will be compiled at the Crime Surveillance Unit. Experts at the unit will prepare immediate data analysis reports to facilitate effective monitoring and decision-making. The unit will also identify social media posts in accordance with national security requirements.
The chief minister said the government wanted to rid Punjab of all forms of crime, adding that the establishment of the Crime Surveillance Unit aimed to make the campaign against crime more effective. “Good and bad people exist everywhere, but criticising the entire police force is not an appropriate approach,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz said it was unfair to cast doubts on the overall performance of the police because of the actions of a few individuals.
She termed the historic decline in crime rates, achieved through effective reforms in Punjab, an encouraging development.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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