Punjab survey: Rs38b saved in terms of time, fuel cost

Two-week-long activity engaged 2,100 participants

LAHORE: A survey conducted by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) revealed that the estimated cost of time and fuel saved on the highways was Rs38 billion annually, which is double the total cost of this national security project.

The survey conducted following the directions of Punjab Inspector General of Police Shoaib Dastagir, further revealed that 89% of the citizens expressed their confidence in the 15 emergency system.

The survey was conducted by the authority’s research and innovation team in collaboration with Lahore University of Management Sciences professor Hassan.

The two-week-long survey engaged 2,100 participants from different locations across the city. The survey results revealed a vast majority of citizens expressed satisfaction over initiatives taken by the PSCA and praised its performance.

Around 85% of the citizens said the crime rate has been reduced in the city due to PSCA. Around 91% of the citizens expressed satisfaction over the e-challan project and said the traffic management has improved in the provincial capital due to the PSCA interventions.

Citizens were of the view that after Safe City traffic interventions, they managed to save more than 40% of their time and energy on highways which was previously wasted due to unnecessary traffic congestion.

Around 85% of the citizens described the Safe City model as the only way forward on modern-day policing. In response to a question, 85% of the citizens said that if they had Rs100 million with them and given the decision power, they would invest the amount in cameras and security equipment, keeping in view the significance of this security project.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2020.