KASUR: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Friday inaugurated three mega projects worth Rs1.5 billion and laid foundation of two other schemes amounting to Rs220 million in Kasur.

He also inaugurated the Safe City Authority centre, Punjab Police Command, Control and Communication Centre and Rescue 1122 emergency service centres in Mustafabad and Khudian, says a handout.

Mr Buzdar visited the centre of the Safe City Authority where a briefing was given to him on the project.

Speaking on the occasion, he hoped the safe city project would help maintain peace by timely identification and arrest of the criminals besides helping the authorities in other issues like emergency police response.

The estimated cost of this project was $12m but the incumbent government had completed it with $9m in seven months, he added.

The CM said 450 CCTV cameras had been installed in Kasur and 160km long optical fibre cable had been laid.

He said face and registration number plate recognition systems would be installed in phases.

He said the system in Kasur was linked with Lahore head office which would help in keeping an eye on Kasur district from Lahore. He said safe city centres were also being established in Nankana Sahib and Sheikhupura and the concept of changing the police culture was being given a practical shape.

Later, board meeting of Punjab Safe City Authority was held in Kasur under the CM. Provincial ministers Basharat Raja, Hashim Dogar and Asif Nakai, assembly members, including Makhdoom Raza Ali and Sumaira Ahmed, the chief secretary, IGP, ACS (Home) and others were also present.

Later, Mr Buzdar planted a sapling at the DPO office besides laying foundation stone of construction of tehsil complex and residences for doctors and paramedics of the THQ Hospital in Kot Radha Kishan.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2019