PESHAWAR: Since the launch of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police’s Android app on March 22, the law enforcement agency has received 164 public “complaints,” or calls, said Muhammad Imran, who helps to manage the app’s backend operations, on Saturday. Out of all those calls, he added, 127 were sent to the relevant police stations while 37 were still pending.
The app was launched to bridge the gap between police officials and the residents of the province. It’s available on the department’s website, and people can use it on their smartphones to report crimes and road accidents.
Superintendent Police (SP) Peshawar City Shahzada Kokab Farooq said the app had significantly improved the response time of his department.
“Depending upon the success of this app in Peshawar, we may also introduce it in other districts,” he added.
Farooq said: “It is much easier to manage 40 complaints that arrive through this app than handle 20 people who physically visit police stations with their grievances.”
The KP police have also set up a control room to deal with the public complaints arriving digitally. It consists of two big plasma screens, several computers, telephone lines and is managed by four staff members.
Imran, the control room operator, said that the app gave each complaint or report a unique ID.
“We copy the ID from one plasma screen and paste it in the search box of a map in the other. This highlights the area where the complaint or report has originated. It also reveals the contact number of the sender,” he added.
After this step, he said, the control room operators need to mark these complaints to the station house officer of the relevant police station, who directly receives the report.
Assistant Director at the Data Analysis Wing of the city’s police lines, Asfandyar Khan, told Arab News there were eight staff members managing the Android app. “Four of them receive public complaints in the control room,” he said. “The other four work in the data analysis section to monitor the process and get feedback from relevant police stations on the digitally received complaints.”
E-policing gradually takes off in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
E-policing gradually takes off in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan raises fuel prices by Rs55 per liter as Middle East conflict drives oil surge
- Government says adequate fuel stocks in place despite global energy shock
- Oil prices jump from about $78 to over $106 per barrel amid regional conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter each as escalating conflict in the Middle East sent global oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supply routes, officials said.
Global oil markets have been rattled since coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran began last week, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region, raising fears of disruption to key energy shipping routes and pushing petroleum prices sharply upward.
The price adjustment in Pakistan was announced after a joint press conference by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, who said the government was monitoring international energy markets and domestic supply conditions amid the crisis.
“So, the decision we have made by changing the levy a little bit is that we are going ahead with increasing the price of both fuels, petrol and diesel, by Rs55 ($0.20),” Malik told reporters.
“And as soon as this matter settles, we will revise the prices downward with the same speed and take steps on how to increase people’s income and purchasing power.”
He said Pakistan entered the crisis with “comfortable energy reserves” due to earlier planning but rising global prices had forced the government to adjust domestic fuel rates to maintain supply continuity.
He said international petrol prices had climbed from roughly $78 per barrel on March 1 to around $106.8 per barrel, while diesel prices had risen to about $150 per barrel.
Malik added that the government had taken steps to minimize the burden on consumers, noting diesel plays a critical role in agriculture, transportation and public mobility.
Malik also warned that authorities would take strict action against anyone attempting to hoard fuel or manipulate supply for profiteering.
The minister said Pakistan was working with international partners to secure additional energy supplies, including arrangements with Saudi Aramco and the use of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation vessels to transport crude oil imports.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb said a high-level government committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been meeting daily to review developments in global petroleum markets and their potential impact on Pakistan’s economy.
“Pakistan currently maintains adequate energy stocks and macroeconomic stability,” Aurangzeb said, adding that the government’s response was based on preparedness rather than panic.
He said the committee, which includes senior ministers, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and other officials, was assessing short-, medium- and long-term implications of the crisis for inflation, foreign exchange reserves and broader economic indicators.
Deputy PM Dar said the regional conflict had significantly disrupted global energy markets, with international petroleum prices rising by as much as 50–70 percent in recent days.
The deputy prime minister added that Pakistan was also engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and restoring stability in the region.
Petroleum prices will now be reviewed more frequently, potentially on a weekly basis, and any reduction in global oil prices would be passed on to consumers.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported fuel to meet its energy needs, is particularly vulnerable to global oil price shocks that can quickly feed into inflation and pressure the country’s external accounts.
