Karachi, November 14, 2023 : On Tuesday, Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Brigadier Retired Haris Nawaz announced that the initial Safe City project, featuring the installation of 4,000 cameras, is scheduled for completion in January 2024.
Speaking to the media, Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Haris Nawaz stated that the initial phase would be finalized within 1.5 years, facilitating the monitoring of vehicle records and models.
He also disclosed the Sindh government’s initiative to hire an additional 6,000 policemen. Furthermore, he mentioned that police officials assigned to the security of various individuals have been summoned for specific reasons.
In connection with the safety concerns in Karachi, he emphasized that land grabbing poses a significant challenge to the economy. Addressing this issue, clear instructions have been issued to the DIGs and SSPs to take stringent measures against land grabbing.
Nawaz expressed concern about the politicization of the bureaucracy, noting that one faction supported the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) while another aligned with the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
He censured the practice of removing officers affiliated with opposing bureaucratic groups whenever a new government is formed. The caretaker home minister advocated for empowering local governments (LG).
Haris Nawaz appealed to the citizens to transcend community biases and vote for the right individuals in the elections.
Safe City Project in Karachi
Despite a seven-year timeline, the completion of the Safe City project in Karachi, involving the installation of 10,000 CCTV cameras, has faced delays. The collaborative effort between the Sindh government and the National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has been hindered by various factors, despite the Supreme Court’s directive to initiate it in 2016.
Over this duration, the initial estimated cost of the project has surged from Rs10 billion to Rs40 billion, and the committee established to finalize the project has conducted numerous meetings.
Approved in 2011, the launch of the project has been delayed, witnessing a 300 per cent increase in costs. The initial 2011 estimate for the Safe City Project was Rs 10 billion, but after 12 years, the cost has escalated to Rs 40 billion.
The Karachi Safe City Project aims to install 10,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in phases across the metropolis. The first phase involves the installation of 4,000 cameras, followed by an additional 6,000 in the next phase.
The project encompasses the deployment of CCTV cameras, the establishment of command and control centers in the city, and the implementation of face and vehicle recognition software along with a biometric system to identify perpetrators.
Despite the Sindh government’s assurances of an imminent project launch, the escalating costs attributed to delays by provincial authorities have raised significant concerns about the performance of the Sindh government.
