Punjab Safe City Expansion, A metropolitan city with advanced security systems is referred to as a ‘Safe City’. A Safe City incorporates advanced technology, including: CCTVs (closed circuit televisions), digital monitoring systems, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and a hub with a centralized command system to improve things like public safety, crime management, traffic managing, emergency response, etc.The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) was created in the year 2015, as the main government organisation established to implement Smart Security Systems throughout the major cities of Punjab. The project began in Lahore and, because of its success and the presence of a number of successful practices, the Safe City was expanded into several more of Punjab’s major cities.Due to increased population growth, increases in urbanisation, new levels of traffic and increased levels of security issues, the Punjab Government made the decision to take the program further under the expansion of the Punjab Safe City.

Also Read: Punjab Safe City Expansion                                      https://smu.punjab.gov.pk/smart-safe-cities-for-19-districts

❓Why Expansion Was Necessary for Punjab Safe City Expansion?

The Urban Developments in Punjab are drastically increasing in complexity.

Because of this, Policing through traditional means was no longer practical for the monitoring of high volumes of people, congested traffic routes and gathering locations for crime.

With the Global trend of policing changing to a move away from heavily relying on human workers to more on the use of Technology for similar services, the need exists to adopt new methods of operation for Law Enforcement in Punjab through the use of Smart Automated Policing Technologies, such as:

• Facial Recognition Powered by Artificial Intelligence
• ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)
• According to procedures using Video
• Constant, Concise Real World observation of Traffic Violations
• Geo-Mapping of All Locations and Incident Reporting

Due to a variety of threats to the public from terrorist attacks, street crime, and vehicle theft, Safe Cities 24/7 will improve City Safety for the cities of Punjab by:

• Instances of Crime Prediction
• Through the Ability to Provide 24/7 Monitoring
• Ability to Provide Component of an Immediate Response to Emergency Situations
• To Address Traffic Violations through Manual Traffic Policing to Electronic Traffic Management via e-Challans, Traffic Alert Systems, and the Ability to Automatically Collect (Load) Routes.

🏙️Which Cities Are Included in Punjab Safe City Expansion?

The Punjab Government announced that the Safe City project would be expanded to 18 cities across the province.The following cities will be included:

• ✅Lahore (existing, further upgrades)
• ✅Rawalpindi
• ✅Faisalabad
• ✅Multan
• ✅Gujranwala
• ✅Sahiwal
• ✅Bahawalpur
• ✅Sargodha

And several medium sized cities that have been outlined as part of the expansion. The Government has allocated an approximate Rs 3.80 billion in budget year 2024-25 to support Punjab Safe City Expansion.

💥How the Expansion Works by Punjab Safe City Expansion?

1. ✅The Integrated Command, Control, and Communication (IC3) Centre

The Punjab Safe City Expansion has one main command centre:

• Where ALL CCTV data comes together
• Where Emergency Calls are Received
• Where Incidents are Monitored in Real Time
• Where Rapid Action is Co-ordinated Between the Police, Traffic, and Rescue Services

The IC3 Centre is the “Brain” of the Safe City.

2. ✅Extensive Installation of Modern CCTV Cameras

Hundreds of High Definition Cameras have been installed along:

• Major Roads
• Major Intersections
• All Entry and Exit Points
• All Market and Other Areas with High Footfall
• Areas identified as Sensitive
• All Phase One Public Transport Centres

These Cameras provide:

• Night Vision
• Facial Recognition Artificial Intelligence
• Automatic Number Plate Recognition

3. ✅Traffic Management Systems, Automated Traffic Flow Analysis and Violation Detection

The Punjab Safe City Expansion provides Automatic Traffic Flow Tracking and Analysis, Violation Detection (Signal Jumping, Lane Violations, Speeding), Immediate Electronic Violation Notices to the Owner of the Vehicle, as well as Alerts and Routing Assistance for Traffic Congestion.

This will Reduce The Need For Manual Policing, and Curb Corruption.

4. ✅Urban and Environmental Monitoring

Some Cities Use Pollution Level Monitoring Sensors, Encroachment Detection Sensors, and Illegal Construction Sensors to Monitor Waste Dumping.

This Will Allow The Safe Cities to be Taken Out of the Security-Only Box and Become a Smart Governance Model.

5. ✅Digital Policing infrastructure

The Punjab Safe City Expansion Provides For Real-Time Crime Mapping, Digital Case Management, and Digital/Electronic Evidence Storage.

The Digital/Electronic Infrastructure Allows For Increased Efficiency in the Policing System, As Well as Improved Speed of Response to Crime and Decision Making Based on Evidence.

🎯Punjab Safe City Expansion: Recent Milestones

✅Sahiwal Safe City (Projected Launch Date – April 2025)

• Total Expense = Rs. 300M
• Total of Cameras = 165 High-Definition Cameras
• Total of cameras on critical entrance/exit corridors = 12
• Complete integration to IC3 network.

✅Compared to the Completion of Multan Safe City (Projected Launch Date – March 2025)

• Total Expense = Rs. 752.466M
• Total of Cameras = 350+ cameras
• Advanced AI surveillance capabilities.

✅Crime Rate Reduction statistics collected by the Punjab Police indicate a:

• 33% reduction in Major Crime incidents within Safe City coverage area.
• Significant decrease in auto theft.
• Substantially improved TABLEMOUSE arrest rates as a result of video evidence collected via Safe City cameras.
• These statistics illustrate the effectiveness and the necessity for continuing expansion of Safe Cities throughout Punjab.

✨Advantages of Punjab Safe City Expansion

1. ✅Crime Decrease and Prime Security
   Punjab Safe City Expansion cameras are a means to reduce crime because:

• Criminals stay away from monitored areas.
• Response times are faster for police.
• The collection of evidence and conviction rates will improve.
• Faster identification of missing persons and stolen vehicles.
• The network of surveillance will deter some criminal activity.

2. ✅Traffic Control
   The traffic monitoring system will:
   1) Automate the enforcement of traffic laws.
   2) Reduce corruption and manual bribery.
   3) Make roads safer.
   4) Alleviate traffic congestion.
   5) Decrease accidents with real-time monitoring.
   6) Make enforcement fair and transparent through e-challans.
3. ✅Efficient Emergency Services
   The Punjab Safe City Expansion will assist:
   1) Rescue 1122,
   2) Police response units,
   3) Fire Brigade,
   4) Ambulances
   They will have a coordinated digital map to allow them to reach victims more quickly.
4. ✅Improved Confidence of Citizens
   When people feel safe in:
   1) Public Parks,
   2) Markets,
   3) Educational Institutions,
   4) Transport Hubs,
   Overall urban life becomes easier and more productive.
5. ✅Intelligent Future
   Punjab Safe City Expansion is the first phase of smart cities.
   The infrastructure of safe cities can also be used for:
   1) Smart street lighting,
   2) Public W-Fi zones,
   3) Automated municipal services,
   4) Air Quality Monitor,
   5) Digital Governance.

📈Need for Improvement in Punjab Safe City Expansion

The Punjab Safe City Expansion is not without its critics. There are a number of concerns related to privacy, data security and operational efficiency.

• ✅Privacy Issues:

There are some legitimate concerns regarding the use of CCTV cameras throughout cities and how this impacts:

• Personal Privacy Of Individual Citizens
• Increased Government Surveillance
• Potential For Misuse Of Video Footage From CCTV Cameras.
• Facial Recognition Technology Must Have Strict Oversight And Regulations.

• ✅Data Security

The amount of video data generated each day, stored on hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of cameras raises many issues:

• Protection Against Hacking.
• Protection Of Video Data From Being Lost Or Corrupted.
• Preservation Of Video Backups.
• Protection Of Sensitive Video Footage.
• Any Leak Of Sensitive Video Data Could Result In Significant Repercussions.

• ✅Technical & Maintenance Issues

The Safe City project requires:

• Ongoing Monitoring.
• Utilizing Highly Trained Staff.
• Performing Regularly Scheduled Maintenance.
• Having A Reliable Source Of Power.
• Having A Reliable Source Of High Speed Internet.
• Any Failure To Provide These Elements Will Result In Decreased Operational Efficiency.

• ✅Ethical and Legal Questions

Questions from the citizens:

• Who has access to this video footage?
• How long will the video footage be stored for?
• Could the video evidence be misused by someone?
• Is there a legal framework protecting public rights?
• There need to be strong regulations in place so that we can balance our need for safety with the need for privacy.

• ✅Dependence on Technology

• Law enforcement agencies and the administration should not become overly reliant on technology. Technology should act as a tool for support to human judgment, rather than replacing it altogether.

Also Read: BISP Taleemi Wazaif 2025                                            https://merischeme.site/bisp-taleemi-wazaif-2025/                                                   

📌Why the Punjab Safe City Expansion Matters for Cities Like Multan

The following sections contain information that specifically pertains to Multan; you may want to request this information from our office. We can provide the following data on each of the four areas of interest:

1. Economic Activity Growth:

Surveillance cameras on the street and in stores reduce the chances of robbery or theft from both locations. This leads to an increase in each of the three types of crime above along with increased economic activity.

2. Improved Traffic Conditions:

The presence of surveillance cameras and electronic ticketing will create better control over the flow of traffic along Bosan Rd., Chowk Kumharanwala and Daroghawala.

3. Improved Safety for Women:

Through monitoring of bus and university travel routes, women should feel safer while travelling because of improved reporting options available to them in case of harassment and the ability to get assistance faster.

4. Urban Development Benefits:

The establishment of a Safe City in Multan helps build credibility and reputation for Multan as a future metropolitan area for business and tourism development.ss and tourism.

👉Conclusion

Punjab Safe City Expansion Plan – the largest digital policing program in the history of Pakistan; through state-of-the art surveillance systems, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based monitoring tools, IC3 command center and integrated emergency response systems across the entire province of Punjab; the Punjab Safe City Project has changed the way cities operate in Punjab.
If Safe Cities are implemented correctly and include rigorous privacy protections, strict data use and purposes, the potential for reducing crime significantly, vastly increasing the efficiency of traffic flow, and transforming the province of Punjab into a leading example of modern, technology-oriented urban management is great.
There is no argument regarding the positive impact of Safe Cities: however, to achieve success, we must consider a few essential components:

• ✅The ethical application of technology.
• ✅The ongoing maintenance and sustaining of Safe City infrastructure.
• ✅The importance of creating a public awareness campaign about Safe Cities.
• ✅The importance of government transparency regarding the data used and how it will be used.