LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday digitally inaugurated the Punjab Integrated Safe City Network, describing it as a landmark project aimed at freeing citizens from the fear of crime and criminals.

“With the establishment of Safe City facilities in 43 cities, Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to establish an integrated Safe City network across all its 41 districts and two tehsils,” the CM said.

She was informed that the joint efforts of the police, Crime Control Department (CCD) and Safe Cities Authority had resulted in an estimated 80 per cent reduction in crime.

The project also incorporates a Virtual Women Police Station, Child Safety Virtual Centre, Virtual Blood Bank, “Misaq”, traffic and environment-related services.

The CM was further informed that another 1,500 panic buttons would be installed across the province, with every police station to be equipped with the facility. Smart screens would also be installed at Police Khidmat Markaz, shopping centres and other public places.

The system would use Emergency 15, digital evidence and real-time command and control mechanisms to strengthen public safety.

AI-enabled cameras would make it possible to identify faces and detect weapons, further enhancing the law-enforcement and surveillance capabilities of the network.

The CM said it was encouraging to see youth from far-flung areas such as Rajanpur’s Rojhan and Haroonabad serving as police communication officers. She said Punjab was leading in technology, smart policing and predictive policing.

She also acknowledged the contribution of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the Safe City project, describing him as her mentor and founder of the Safe City initiative.

She said that every district of Punjab had been transformed into a ‘safe city’ in the past two and a half years, and added that AI-based systems, smart surveillance and predictive policing were being used to monitor and take timely action.

Referring to the security situation, the CM said that more than 70 areas of Punjab had previously been regarded as no-go areas, where movement would come to a halt after sunset.

“There are no no-go areas anywhere in Punjab now, including the riverine (Katcha) belt,” she said and added there had been no serious crime or kidnapping-for-ransom incident in the riverine area for around 10 months.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026