Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah speaks during a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: NNI
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday approved Phase II of the Karachi Safe City project, which aims to strengthen city security, surveillance and the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies.
Chairing a meeting of the Sindh Safe Cities Authority at the Chief Minister’s House, he said ensuring public safety through modern technology remained the government’s top priority.
The meeting was informed that a total of 2,314 smart surveillance cameras would be installed under the project, including 870 for general surveillance, 1,300 equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and facial recognition, 80 for traffic enforcement, 56 mobile surveillance units and eight dedicated to traffic signal monitoring.
The cameras will be installed across Karachi’s districts, significantly expanding the city’s surveillance network.
The project, estimated to cost Rs.9.98 billion, is expected to be completed within 12 months and work is expected to begin in May 2026. The infrastructure will include nine Points of Presence (PoP) sites with solar and generator backup, a smart monitoring tower, 50 public panic buttons linked to a central command system, eight on-board response vehicles, 1 drone and 1 drone.
The chief minister said over Rs 1 billion had been saved during the procurement process through negotiations, reflecting financial discipline without compromising on quality. He termed the initiative as a critical investment in public safety and national security.
He directed the authorities to speed up approvals and ensure timely completion, warning that delays could lead to cost escalation, especially against the backdrop of rising global prices of surveillance equipment.
To strengthen operational readiness, SSCA has implemented a transparent recruitment process for technical staff through multi-stage, merit-based evaluations. The Chief Minister approved the appointments under the SSCA Act.
The meeting also reviewed proposals to set up Safe City projects in divisional headquarters including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad at an estimated cost of Rs.3.15 billion involving installation of 780 cameras. It was decided to refer the proposals to the planning and development department for further review.
Emphasizing on integration, the Chief Minister said that all Safe City initiatives should operate under a unified SSCA framework to ensure standardization, avoid duplication and improve institutional coordination.
He added that the project would not only improve crime prevention and response, but also strengthen traffic management and emergency services, which will help make Karachi a safer and more resilient city.
The meeting was attended by Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Superintendent of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, along with senior officials and legislators.
