Rattled by escalating violence in Karachi, Pakistan government has decided to computerise the process of issuing arms licences in the port city in a bid to keep a check on flow of illegal arms there.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to issue computerised licences by August 31. He has decided to stop issuing manual armed licences.

Many groups have been involved in making counterfeit licences which have led to a large amount of arms being smuggled into Karachi from Dara Adamkhel and the tribal areas of the country, he said.

By law, one person is allowed five weapons on one licence, but people get dozens of weapons and there has been no proper record of the licence holders.

Malik told reporters yesterday that NADRA has developed a highly secured armed licence management system under which transparent and authentic process will be carried out.

He said that NADRA would also verify the old licences which would be computerised. The government will start the de-weaponising campaign in different phases and people possessing illegal weapons will face punishment of seven to 14 years, The Express Tribune reported.