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LAHORE, Jan 30 (APP):The Punjab government has launched the integrated Case Flow Management System (CFMS) and Prison Management Information System (PMIS) to improve efficiency, transparency and coordination within the criminal justice system.
Punjab Minister for Health and Chairman Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique, representing Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, officially inaugurated the mutual integration of CFMS and PMIS during a ceremony held at the Punjab Home Department on Friday.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Khawaja Salman Rafique welcomed the US Consul General and other members of the delegation, conveying best wishes from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He termed the launch an important milestone for the justice system of Punjab, saying the project has been funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in close partnership with the Punjab government.
The minister said the 1.31 million dollars CFMS-PMIS project has significantly strengthened digital case management by linking prosecution and prison records. He added that real-time tracking of cases and prisoners would enhance coordination among departments, ensure timely hearings and promote efficient decision-making, thereby safeguarding the right to fair and timely trials.
He emphasized that the reforms go beyond technology and focus on public welfare. Through the public access module, families can now securely check case progress and detention status online. It is expected that more than 2.2 million users, particularly from vulnerable and marginalized communities, will benefit from improved transparency and ease of access each year.
As part of the project’s hard component, UNODC has also handed over critical IT infrastructure to the Public Prosecution Department. Khawaja Salman Rafique reaffirmed the Punjab government’s commitment to integrating all criminal justice institutions into a unified digital system, aiming for faster justice, safer societies and stronger institutions.
US Consul General Stetson Sanders and UNODC Country Representative Trollus Wester said the system integration is a significant step toward strengthening institutional coherence in the criminal justice system. They noted that technology-driven reforms, coupled with capacity building, can make justice delivery more effective and equitable.
Secretary Prosecution Punjab Salman Ghani said the integrated system would provide prosecutors with immediate access to case data, improving case preparation, decision-making and inter-departmental coordination.
During the ceremony, ICT equipment was also provided to the Prosecution and Prisons Departments to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of the system.
The Punjab government reiterated its resolve to further expand digital integration across all justice-related institutions in the province. The initiative, implemented with the support of the US Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) and technical assistance from UNODC, marks a major step toward establishing a modern, transparent and technology-enabled justice system.
US Consul General Stetson Sanders, UNODC Country Head Trollus Wester, Punjab Prosecutor General Farhad Ali Shah, Secretary Prosecution Salman Ghani, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board, DIG Prisons and senior officers of the Home Department were also present on the occasion.