The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched a Rs. 16 billion project to expand its digital surveillance network to 98 tehsils across the province.
Under the project, around 10,000 new surveillance cameras will be installed as part of the government’s plan to extend Safe City operations beyond major urban centers. The expansion was approved following reports of positive results from the existing surveillance network, including a reported 70% reduction in heinous and serious crimes across Punjab.
The government also plans to extend digital surveillance coverage to 7,602 union councils, significantly increasing the use of technology-based policing across the province.
Safe City operations are currently functional in nearly 40 cities, while 43 smart Safe City centers provide round-the-clock surveillance and operational support to police and other law enforcement agencies. More than 24,000 high-definition cameras are already monitoring roads, markets, highways, and public spaces across Punjab.
The surveillance network uses more than a dozen artificial intelligence systems, including automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), facial recognition, smart vision, crime analytics, and intelligent traffic management. These technologies help analyze surveillance footage, detect suspicious activity, identify stolen vehicles, monitor crime patterns, and identify potential crime hotspots.
Officials said improved coordination between the PSCA, Crime Control Department (CCD), and district police has strengthened crime prevention, surveillance, and rapid response operations.
The provincial government plans to further expand technology-driven policing under its “Safe Punjab” initiative, with the latest project aimed at extending digital security infrastructure across the province.
