Safe City Authority bill: Establishment of integrated command, control and communication systems sought
The bill passed by the PA grants immunity from legal proceedings to those associated with the authority
The bill passed by the PA grants immunity from legal proceedings to those associated with the authority. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority bill passed by the provincial assembly this week seeks development and maintenance of an integrated command, control and communication (IC3) system in major cities of the province.
The bill says that a separate fund – called the IC3 fund – will be set up for the authority to meet its expenses. The funds will consist of grants from federal and provincial governments, foreign aid and loans and proceeds from all charges and income from sale of its assets and any recovery made otherwise.
A special provision in the bill grants immunity from legal proceedings to those associated with the authority including consultants. The bill reads: “No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie against the authority, the chairperson, the vice chairperson, the managing director, the secretary, any other member, officer, employee, expert or consultant of the authority, in respect of anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this act.”
The bill says that the authority may construct and maintain IC3 systems for future expansion and enter into contracts, grant licenses, leases, make other arrangements and perform all tasks necessary for efficient functioning of these systems. The bill states that the authority will work under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. It will have a vice chairperson. Other members will include the finance minister, the chief secretary, the Planning and Development chairman, the home secretary, the finance secretary, the Punjab Information Technology Board chairman, the police heads of cities concerned, three eminent persons nominated by the government and lawmakers.
The authority will have an executive committee chaired by the chief secretary and a management committee chaired by the IGP. It will have a chief operating officer who will also serve as the secretary of the authority, the bill states.
Speaking about the expected role of the authority, the chief minister said on Saturday that it would play help maintain law and order and control crime in cities. He said all resources would be utilised for maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property. “The use of latest technology is the need of the hour for curbing crime and making the cities safer. The completion of this important project will help control crime and keep a watchful eye on miscreants,” he said. The bill was passed on Monday and would become an Act as soon as it was signed by the governor.
In its report on the bill, the Standing Committee on Home Affairs’ had submitted that the project would be initiated in Lahore and replicated in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan in the second phase. Later, it will be expanded to other major urban centres in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2016.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority bill passed by the provincial assembly this week seeks development and maintenance of an integrated command, control and communication (IC3) system in major cities of the province.
The bill says that a separate fund – called the IC3 fund – will be set up for the authority to meet its expenses. The funds will consist of grants from federal and provincial governments, foreign aid and loans and proceeds from all charges and income from sale of its assets and any recovery made otherwise.
A special provision in the bill grants immunity from legal proceedings to those associated with the authority including consultants. The bill reads: “No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie against the authority, the chairperson, the vice chairperson, the managing director, the secretary, any other member, officer, employee, expert or consultant of the authority, in respect of anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this act.”
The bill says that the authority may construct and maintain IC3 systems for future expansion and enter into contracts, grant licenses, leases, make other arrangements and perform all tasks necessary for efficient functioning of these systems. The bill states that the authority will work under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. It will have a vice chairperson. Other members will include the finance minister, the chief secretary, the Planning and Development chairman, the home secretary, the finance secretary, the Punjab Information Technology Board chairman, the police heads of cities concerned, three eminent persons nominated by the government and lawmakers.
The authority will have an executive committee chaired by the chief secretary and a management committee chaired by the IGP. It will have a chief operating officer who will also serve as the secretary of the authority, the bill states.
Speaking about the expected role of the authority, the chief minister said on Saturday that it would play help maintain law and order and control crime in cities. He said all resources would be utilised for maintenance of law and order and protection of life and property. “The use of latest technology is the need of the hour for curbing crime and making the cities safer. The completion of this important project will help control crime and keep a watchful eye on miscreants,” he said. The bill was passed on Monday and would become an Act as soon as it was signed by the governor.
In its report on the bill, the Standing Committee on Home Affairs’ had submitted that the project would be initiated in Lahore and replicated in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Multan in the second phase. Later, it will be expanded to other major urban centres in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2016.