AI system for tracking criminals at Jinnah Terminal

New system to reduce queues, waiting time at counters

Karachi: Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport (JIA) is all set to install an Artificial Intelligence System to prevent criminals from escaping from the airport scot-free. The system is fast, user-friendly, flexible and cost-effective. Aviation experts believe it will change the face of international travel in Pakistan and will also help in reducing long annoying queues and wait times at various counters without compromising security.

Recently enhanced security measures typically include intensive baggage, vehicle, and passenger checks, as well as increased security deployment and traffic restrictions near airports which is creating a bottleneck in the smooth flow of passengers. So there is a need to introduce a system which is efficient enough to automatically process the passengers through a Facial Recognition System (FRS) at checkpoints, including entry point checks, security checks and aircraft boarding.

In the first phase, a system for scanning people through facial structure and impressions will be introduced at Karachi Airport with the help and assistance of the Japanese government which provided 200 million yen for installing an advanced FRS at JIA. The system is being installed using Japanese technologies, considered to be the most reliable and secure technique.

With the installation of this system, passengers will be able to be identified from the time they enter the limits of Karachi’s Airport to the immigration counter. The system is capable of identifying suspected criminals in seconds, making it easier for law enforcement agencies to reach those involved in illegal activities. The installation is to be overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is seeking to restructure its security systems.t

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 a rising threat of terrorism.

Moreover, responsible utilisation of the system will also help security staff at airports 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. It is expected that the installation will help Pakistan to woo back all those airlines which suspended their operation at our international airports.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s airports and particularly Karachi have been a major stopover and refuelling hub for international flights. But due to the deterioration of the law and order situation in the region, airlines shifted their stops to the Gulf States, making Dubai the aviation hub. If the system is handled efficiently Pakistan may regain the status of the aviation hub of the region in the coming years.

According to a CAA spokesperson, most importantly with the help of facial technology, the wanted to be accused in any case will be identified as soon as he passes the cameras, making it impossible for the ‘most wanted’ ones to leave the country. The purpose of installing this system at airports is to provide convenience to those travelling from Pakistan as well as to ensure efficient safety management. According to immigration officials, facial technology will also prove useful at the immigration counter in the future. The technology will allow the Immigration Wing to identify suspects who are not on the exit control list (ECL) or the stop list. It is worth noting here that the Immigration Wing currently lacks a mechanism to prevent non-ECL criminals from fleeing abroad. However, the installation of this system at the immigration counter will take some time as even the paperwork has not been started yet.

It may be mentioned here that in the year 2017, Japan decided to install a modern security system at Pakistan’s airports, which was delayed and concerned authorities have no valid reasons for this inordinate delay. However, if everything goes according to the plan, in 2023, this security system is expected to be installed at other airports in the country. It may be mentioned here that in 2017 Japan agreed to fund a face recognition system for deployment at Pakistan’s major airports. This included a grant of $4.46 million for the installation of a Facial Recognition System at three key airports in Pakistan to enhance security. An agreement was also signed between Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai and Economic Affairs Secretary Tariq Mahmood Pasha.

It may also be added here that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funded project was to be implemented at Multan International Airport in Multan, Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore and Benazir International Airport in Islamabad. The $4.46 million grant was provided to Pakistan under the ‘Economic and Social Development Program’ of Japan for developing countries.

A facial recognition system is a technology capable of matching a human face from a digital image or a video frame against a database of faces. Such a system is typically employed to authenticate users through ID verification services and works by pinpointing and measuring facial features from a given image. In this system, the camera scans the facial structure and impressions and identifies the face within seconds.

That system snaps a photo of an international traveller and compares it against a gallery of faces — made up of passport and visa photos — associated with the intended flight. It’s all a part of a comprehensive “Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Biometrics Roadmap” to automate and meet the challenges of evolving security threats, rising air travel volumes, resource constraints, and limits on the operational footprint.