Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah addresses a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: NNI
KARACHI:
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday approved Phase II of the Karachi Safe City project, aimed at strengthening urban security, surveillance and operational capacity of law enforcement agencies.
Chairing a meeting of the Sindh Safe Cities Authority at the Chief Minister’s House, he said ensuring public safety through modern technology remained the top priority of the government.
The meeting was informed that a total of 2,314 smart surveillance cameras would be installed under the project, including 870 for general surveillance, 1,300 equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and facial recognition, 80 for traffic control, 56 mobile surveillance units and eight dedicated to traffic light monitoring.
The cameras will be installed in all areas of Karachi, significantly expanding the city’s surveillance network.
The project, estimated to cost Rs 9.98 billion, is expected to be completed within 12 months, with work expected to begin in May 2026. The infrastructure will include nine point-of-presence (PoP) sites with solar and generator backup, a smart surveillance tower, 50 public panic buttons linked to a central control system, eight response vehicles equipped with on-board cameras and 10 surveillance drones.
The Chief Minister said that over Rs 1 billion was saved during the procurement process through negotiations, reflecting financial discipline without compromising quality. He called the initiative a critical investment in public and national security.
He called on authorities to speed up approvals and ensure they are completed on time, warning that delays could lead to higher costs, particularly amid rising global prices for surveillance equipment.
To strengthen operational readiness, SSCA conducted a transparent recruitment process for technical staff through multi-stage merit-based assessments. The chief minister approved the appointments under the SSCA Act.
The meeting also reviewed proposals to establish Safe City projects in divisional headquarters, including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad, at an estimated cost of Rs 3.15 billion, involving installation of 780 cameras. It was decided to forward the proposals to the planning and development department for further consideration.
Emphasizing on integration, the Chief Minister said all Safe City initiatives should operate under a unified SSCA framework to ensure standardization, avoid duplication and improve institutional coordination.
He added that the project would not only improve crime prevention and response, but also strengthen traffic management and emergency services, thereby helping to make Karachi a safer and more resilient city.
The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, as well as senior officials and legislators.
