Punjab Police makes Biometric Verification mandatory for complainants, accused, and witnesses

ISLAMABAD – Punjab police stations will now require biometric verification for every complainant, accused, and witness before any case entry is recorded to eliminate fake identities, false witnesses, and fabricated FIRs by making all records digitally verified and traceable. Authorities announced sweeping new digital verification policy aimed at strengthening transparency and reducing fraudulent reporting in police stations. Under the new directive, no complainant, accused person, or witness will be entered into official records without biometric verification. A notification titled “Operationalization of Biometric Identification Devices in All Police Stations,” stated police stations are being directed to fully activate biometric verification systems integrated with the Police Station Record Management System (PSRMS). The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (National Database and Registration Authority). The biometric module, once fully deployed, will make it mandatory to verify identity through fingerprint (thumb) authentication before any entry is made into police records. Officials stated that the system will be used for identification and verification of accused persons, complainants, and witnesses, entry and checking of criminal records in PSRMS and attendance marking of police personnel. Authorities made it clear that without successful biometric verification, no individual will be registered in any case file, effectively eliminating the possibility of fake identities or fabricated witnesses. The directive instructs senior officers to conduct a complete stock-taking of all existing biometric devices in police stations under their jurisdiction. Where equipment is missing or non-functional, arrangements must be made to ensure full availability within seven days. Additionally, officers have been ordered to submit compliance reports within the same seven-day timeframe. The urgency of the directive re