Gwadar Safe City Project Approved with Revisions After 9 years

A revised version of the Gwadar Safe City Project, valued at Rs4,966.905 million (Rs4.96 billion), has been officially approved. The project will be financed through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis between the federal and provincial governments.

The Gwadar Safe City initiative aims to enhance public safety and surveillance capabilities through the deployment of CCTV cameras across key strategic locations.

According to government officials, the system will help curb criminal activities such as theft and terrorism. It will also provide real-time monitoring for protecting citizens and foreign nationals in the region.

The revised PC-1 includes stakeholder feedback and rationalized components to meet ground realities and regional security challenges more effectively.

Safe City Projects in Major Pakistani Cities

Gwadar now joins a growing list of cities across Pakistan that have implemented or initiated Safe City Projects to strengthen law enforcement through technology-driven solutions:

• Islamabad Safe City Project: Launched in 2016, it was Pakistan’s first major initiative, equipped with thousands of cameras, number plate recognition, and facial recognition systems. It serves as the model for other cities.

• Lahore Safe City Project: One of the largest in the region, with over 8,000 HD cameras, 4G LTE networks, and a command-and-control center. Managed by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA).

• Karachi Safe City Project: In progress, with partial implementation under the Sindh Police and IT Department. Plans include extensive surveillance across sensitive zones.

• Peshawar Safe City Project: In development under KP’s Digital Policy, with funding from the World Bank and provincial government.

• Quetta Safe City Project: Initiated to tackle urban crime and terrorism in Balochistan’s capital; includes surveillance infrastructure and data integration for LEAs.

These projects collectively aim to establish a connected national security grid that supports surveillance. The authorities concerned also plan to introduce data-driven policing, emergency response coordination, and smart city planning.

With Gwadar becoming a focal point for international trade through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), its inclusion in Pakistan’s safe city network is seen as both timely and critical.