Rawalpindi awaits safe city project

RAWALPINDI: The safe city project is still a dream for the people of Rawalpindi where a command and control system building has fallen prey to government negligence.

Owing to lethargy of government to release funds, the incidents of street crimes have risen over the past few years, people told Daily Express.

It has been discovered according to official records that 80 per cent of the city is not in coverage of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

Punjab government had launched the safe city project in Lahore after which Rawalpindi was chosen to be monitored with CCTV cameras.

For this purpose, in October 2017, the City Police Office opposite  Deputy Commissioner House was demolished to construct command and control office and a new CPO complex. Offices of the CPO, SSP Operations, SSP Security, SSP Investigation, Complaint Cell, OSI branch and all other departments were shifted to police lines. However, at the moment, the construction has certainly paralysed due to continuous delays in the project.

A police officer, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that Punjab government has stopped funding the project owing to which it was still incomplete.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2019.