LAHORE: Central Coordination Officer (CCPO) Lahore Bilal Siddiqui has vowed to eliminate online gambling using advanced IT tools. Addressing a media conference at Central Police Office here on Saturday, Mr. Bilal Siddiqui said that online gambling and gaming have become a major concern for the police department, as it is spreading rapidly and affecting the youth of the city.
He revealed that CCPO Lahore directed the Cyber Crime Cell to develop and activate a software to detect the online gaming servers and block them. This software was activated by the IT wing of Lahore police and so far, it has blocked 400 websites involved in online gambling, he added.
CCPO Lahore stated that a task force has also been constituted to monitor online activities and take action against those involved in this menace. 'Our mission is to ensure online safety and protect the youth from the devastating effects of online gaming and gambling,' he emphasized.
Bilal Siddiqui stated that this is a challenging task, as online crime and gambling have spread very fast and involved various websites from all over the world. 'But we are determined to tackle this challenge and make Lahore a safe city,' he vowed.
To a question, he said that CCPO Lahore in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a comprehensive drive to block all websites involved in online gambling. So far, the FIA has blocked over 1,200 websites involved in this online crime, he added.
CCPO Lahore appealed to the citizens of Lahore, especially the parents, to be vigilant about the online activities of their children and monitor their online presence regularly. Online gambling is a serious crime and can cause harm to the individuals and their families, he said.
The CCPO Lahore also appreciated the cooperation of the public in this regard and emphasized that the information provided by the citizens is vital in tackling this issue. 'We are committed to protecting the citizens of Lahore from this menace and will spare no effort in this noble cause,' he vowed.