LAHORE: The Punjab caretaker government has launched mapping of 2.5 million private close circuit cameras for crime control and monitoring purposes across the province after Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the project here on Saturday.

During a meeting the chief minister was informed that mapping of 400,000 private cameras in Lahore for the digital monitoring and crime control had been completed.

It was informed that the digital monitoring would be ensured by installing 60 cameras on the entry and exit routes of Lahore.

“Installation of [Punjab] Safe Cities [project] cameras at the [sites of] seven ongoing mega projects of Lahore is underway.”

Under the project, digital monitoring, e-challan, traffic control and identification of faces would be possible in the districts and tehsils of the province, Naqvi was briefed.

The chief minister ordered selection of cities for the installation of Smart Safe City project DEC-3 during its first phase.

The Safe City project in Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi was also reviewed during the meeting.

The meeting was attended by additional chief secretary, IGP, P&D chairman, CCPO, PITB chairman and other officials concerned.

Meanwhile, during a surprise visit by the chief minister to the Data Darbar Eye Hospital, the medical superintendent and many doctors were found absent, says a press release.

There were poor cleanliness arrangements in the gynae ward, eye ward and bed sheets were dirty, it said.

Dismayed by the situation, Mr Naqvi ordered removal of the hospital’s medical superintendent (MS) and termination of the doctors who were absent from their duty in the gynae ward.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2023