Implement ‘Safe City’ project by September, directs Nisar

Police directed to make sure the project meets its fall deadline.

ISLAMABAD: Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday asked the authorities concerned to ensure the Safe City project is afoot by September this year, said an official.

The minister conducted a meeting to review progress on the project, with Inspector General of the Islamabad Police (IGP) Tahir Alam Khan, the Operations SSP and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) officials in attendance.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League PML-N government had already decided to revive the controversial multi-billion rupee project, under which some 2,000 surveillance cameras would be installed in the capital.

While sharing details, the official said that the project will have multiple functions such as a computer-aided dispatch system, facial recognition software, and a vehicle management system, which help law enforcement agencies to intercept suspects. Beside, a control room will be operated by police officers who will get training from the UK. “After installation of the project, check posts will be removed from the city,” said the official.

The official explained that under the project, a 2,009 square-metre bombproof command centre would be built, and all cameras would be connected through 500 km of fibre optic cable, operated through a 4G network.

The project was approved on December 29, 2009 by the PPP-led government after China agreed to provide $124.7 million for the project in the form of a soft loan. However, the project was challenged in the Supreme Court, which struck it down due to Public Procurement Rules violations. The project was reconsidered in June 2014 by the PML-N government.

The minister also directed the IGP to keep a close eye on Sabzi Mandi, Tarnol and Bhara Kahu, which he believes are security threats area in the capital.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2015.