KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the Safe City Project goes beyond the installation of sensitive closed-circuit cameras, as it encompasses a comprehensive IT package empowered with artificial intelligence.
The chief minister made these remarks while presiding over a meeting of the Safe City Authority at CM House on Thursday.
During the meeting, the DG Sindh Safe City Authority (SSCA) briefed the chief minister about the commendable work done by NRTC for the development of the city project.
“In the first phase, the project aims to install 10,000 cameras in the red zone area, along with a modern Command and Control Centre,” he said.
The CCTV system will feature the latest cameras, and the network will have a dual power system comprising solar and electricity.
Shah expressed his concerns about the maintenance and operational issues faced by safe city systems in other cities of the country. He urged the SSCA to address these issues during the design stage.
Additionally, he emphasised the need for involving the concerned equipment suppliers through a contract to ensure the system’s proper maintenance and operation.
The CM reiterated that the objective of developing a safe city system is to enhance the security of the citizens’ lives and property in the province by utilising smart technology and equipping the police with modern surveillance and law enforcement capabilities.
He highlighted that this technology-based initiative would not only enhance security but also stimulate economic development by attracting local and foreign investments. “I expect the purpose to be fully achieved,” he added.
Furthermore, the chief minister directed the SSCA to propose the formation of committees for finalising the Financial Regulations and Service Regulations of SSCA, and to present their working papers in the next meeting.
He also instructed the authority to propose a procurement committee for approval and subsequent notification.
Concluding the meeting, CM Murad instructed the SSCA to prepare the PC-1 of the project and submit it to the P&D department for approval. This would enable the project to commence its work at the beginning of the next financial year.
Minister for IT Taimur Talpur, Special Assistant to CM Tanzila, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, Secretary LG Najam Shah, DG Sindh Safe City Authority Aijaz Shaikh, MPA Nida Khuhro, MPA Mahmood Alam Jamote, and other officers concerned were present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2023.