After 17 years of delay, AI surveillance network goes live; expansion to three districts announced
Secure city cameras will soon be installed that can easily read new license plates. photo: express
PESHAWAR:
After a delay of 17 years, the much-awaited Safe City project in Peshawar has been formally inaugurated, ushering in a new era of technology-driven law enforcement for the provincial capital.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Superintendent of Police Zulfiqar Hameed who described the milestone as a significant achievement for public safety and modern policing in the province.
In its initial phase, the project has installed approximately 700 to 750 state-of-the-art surveillance cameras at 130 key locations across the city. Special surveillance systems have been activated at entry and exit points, while vehicle tracking, e-callan issuance for traffic violations and AI-equipped cameras have been integrated into the network. These features are expected to enable quick detection of traffic violations and criminal activities.
A modern control room has been established at Police Lines Peshawar, operating 24/7 to monitor real-time city-wide surveillance.
The Chief Minister described the formal launch of the Safe City project in Peshawar as a day of immense joy and pride, fulfilling the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister announced that Safe City initiatives in Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan would be implemented in the next 40 to 45 days.
This expansion aims to strengthen security systems in the province’s sensitive districts.
Acknowledging that the security situation remains unsatisfactory in many areas, he cited a recent tragic incident in Balochistan as deeply regrettable. He hailed the KP Police for preventing a major terrorist attack and praised their frontline role in protecting the public despite challenging circumstances.
The chief minister revealed that his discussions with federal representatives focused on a single agenda: prioritizing state and political interests to prevent a worsening of the situation. He suggested sending a delegation comprising representatives of the KP government, tribal elders and federal authorities to Afghanistan for direct talks to resolve outstanding issues.
