Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif signed an agreement Wednesday to establish Smart Safe City projects across the province's tehsils [1].
The initiative aims to modernize public safety infrastructure through the integration of advanced surveillance and AI-enabled monitoring. By expanding these capabilities beyond major urban centers, the government intends to increase the reach of law enforcement and improve emergency response times in smaller administrative districts.
The agreement, signed at the Central Police Office in Punjab, outlines the rollout of surveillance cameras to create safer urban environments [1]. To support the implementation, the government released 15 billion Pakistani rupees [2] for the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.
Reports vary on the exact scope of the project's reach. One source said that 98 tehsils are targeted for the Smart Safe City projects by the end of 2026 [1]. However, another report said that funds have been released specifically for the installation of cameras in 94 tehsils [2].
The program focuses on the deployment of high-tech monitoring tools to deter crime and facilitate the tracking of criminal activity. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority will oversee the technical installation and the management of the data feeds, a move designed to centralize security operations across the region.
This technological expansion is part of a broader strategy to digitize governance and security in Punjab. The government said the full rollout of these systems will be completed within the current year [1].
“Punjab to set up Smart Safe Cities in 98 tehsils by 2026”
The expansion of AI-enabled surveillance into smaller tehsils represents a significant shift toward a centralized security state in Punjab. By scaling the 'Safe City' model from major hubs to nearly 100 smaller districts, the government is increasing its granular visibility into local movements, which may improve crime detection but also raises long-term questions regarding digital privacy and data management in rural areas.
