ISLAMABAD: The capital police have decided to establish technical laboratories at the zonal level to reduce the cost of investigation.

The decision was taken by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sajid Kiani after it was brought to his knowledge that at the moment only the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the police had the facility of such a laboratory.

A police officer told Dawn on the condition of anonymity that preparations to set up the laboratories at each of the four police zones were almost complete.

The labs would start working within the next a couple of days.

ThereisnoneedforanyhugeHnance as the establishment of a lab needs just a few computers having data banks and experts, he added.

Besides, an official having technical expertise, called the focal person, would be nominated from each of the zones. These officials have already been briefed on the equipment, skills and handling of the technical data at the SIU.According to the police officer, each of the labs would comprise two subdivisions containing two police stations.

He said the only technical laboratory working under the SIU handled 22 police stations of the capital city along with the Crime Investigation Department, the Crime Investigation Agency and the Anti-Car Lif ting Cell.

Besides, the laboratory also assisted its parent department, the SIU, in investigating crimes referred to it by the police stations.

At present, investigation officers from all the police stations have to visit the SIU to get access to the technical data about different cases.

After the laboratories are set up at the zone level, the access time to the technical date can be reduced and IOs can also save their time.

The officer said the incharges of the zones had been asked to set up the labs in consultation with the focal persons.

Besides, they were also asked to develop communication links between the zone and the concerned police stations for cutting short the time required to get the technical data.