Safe City not so safe in Karachi

Distribution boxes containing equipment worth millions of rupees stolen near Bilawal House

A major theft of distribution boxes installed as part of the Safe City project has occurred near Bilawal House, in Karachi, raising concerns regarding the project's security.

According to the Director General Safe Cities Authority, Asif Ijaz Sheikh, the distribution boxes installed for the Safe City cameras were stolen, prompting authorities to remove the cameras from their mounts for safety.

Sheikh confirmed that the stolen boxes were connected to cameras near Bilawal House Chowrangi. "Following the theft, the cameras were switched off and removed from the poles," he added.

This was Phase 1 of the Safe City project, scheduled to be completed by November 30, during which 1,300 cameras were to be installed in Karachi. However, the theft began even before the phase was completed.

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar had announced the launch of the Karachi Safe City, worth over Rs3 billion, (KSC) project last year, which aimed to make the metropolis one of the safest cities in the country. Lanjar had stated that the project was intended not only to reduce the crime rate but also to help eliminate criminal elements.

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The theft has left cameras installed for Safe City and e-challan systems unsecured. The district police were tasked with safeguarding the cameras and related equipment, and meetings were held with zonal DIGs regarding security arrangements, the DG said.

“The theft from the Safe City project is a worrying development,” he added.

According to Deputy Inspector General South Asad Raza, the Safe City cameras and connected equipment lacked a security or alarm system, making it impossible to determine the exact date and time of the theft.

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Authorities are attempting to establish the timeline using eyewitness accounts and other evidence. CCTV footage from surrounding areas is being reviewed to determine how the distribution boxes went missing.

The distribution boxes are tall and heavy, making it unlikely that a single person could easily remove them. Eyewitnesses reportedly saw individuals in a vehicle tampering with the boxes.

The Safe City administration informed the police of the incident on November 6. It was also reported that the cameras were inactive and not functioning at the time of the theft.

"Investigations into the incident are ongoing," DIG Raza confirmed.