The Japanese government has granted Pakistan $ 4.4 million for installation of Facial Recognition Systems (FRS) at major airports across the country, reported Propakistani.The move is likely to enhance security systems at local airports. The installation is to be overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), that is seeking to restructure their security systems.
This system will be linked to a computer application which identifies and certifies a person from an image of the human face that has been captured on video on the CCTV cameras.
The FRS is widely used globally for mass identification in large crowds where physical interaction with people for things e.g for fingerprinting is not always feasible. It is the need of the hour, in a country like Pakistan where there is rising threat of terrorism.
Responsible utilisation of the grant is likely to boost local security at airports not only against terrorists but also to safeguard the passengers’ belongings, help reduce the smuggling of drugs and other illegal substances, and the assets of the airlines while increasing confidence in international airline companies.
The agreement was signed last Friday by the Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan and the Secretary of Economic Affairs of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s airports and particularly Karachi has been a major stopover and refuelling hub for international flights. But due to deterioration of law and order situation in the region, airplane companies shifted their stops to the Gulf States, mainly Dubai.
Just last year, Japan helped Pakistan with the installation of X-Ray machines at international airports all over the country, and this is in progress for the ports at Bin Qasim and Karachi.
Furthermore, some two years ago, Japan helped the security of the country by handing over 123 hybrid vehicles to the police and the Ministry of Interior for patrolling the highways.
