Background of Pakistan Safe Cities Authority (PSCA)
In today’s society, the concept of development is to improve people’s “Quality of Life” rather than merely their per capita income. Despite differing expert viewpoints on how to measure “Quality of Life,” the focus of the debate is on residents’ well-being and level of satisfaction. Citizens’ safety and security are among the most important characteristics connected with “Quality of Life,” along with health, education, and the environment. No country can flourish and grow economically unless its citizens have a sense of public safety and security.
Pakistan Safe City Authority (PSCA)
To address the security challenges of a modern urban environment, a self-governing authority was established under the Pakistan Safe Cities Ordinance 2015 for the advancement, establishment, and maintenance of an Integrated Command, Control, and Communications Programme throughout the region. On July 7, 2015, the Ordinance was prepared and approved, with its supervisory body, official, and executive arrangement. It was decided to appoint a full-time Managing Director with skilled staff to successfully manage the Authority’s commitments.
The Working Model of Safe City Centre
The objective of Safe Cities is to create an Integrated Command, Control, and Communication Programme (IC3) that collects and disseminates data and information from multiple sources such as government offices, traffic management executives, intelligence agencies, and other commercial and public institutions. Also, to use this data to develop increasingly successful and effective responses to any type of security issue. It manages several security risks gradually by utilizing cutting-edge technologies, video surveillance, and communication networks. Apart from improving the ability to respond quickly to a crisis, it significantly reduces the load on the state and its assets because data is held centrally and operations are coordinated through a single authority. The term “safe city” refers to brilliant policing, in which cutting-edge technologies are outfitted and law administration organizations’ abilities are improved to make urban surroundings secure.
Objectives and Goals of Pakistan Safe City Authority
- The program intends to improve: by integrating creative operations, efficient procedures, and sophisticated technology. Modern infrastructure provides real-time information and insight.
- Public emergency response systems
- Evidence-based decision-making in crucial scenarios for Police agencies to provide smooth service delivery
- Coordination, communication, and efficacy across agencies are enhanced by a unified IC3 operating model for public safety and emergency services.
Punjab Police Integrated Command Control & Communication Center
To realize the objective of establishing secure cities in the province, the Punjab Police constructed the PPIC3 Centre in Lahore, which would be replicated across the province’s major cities.
Through a comprehensive assessment, PSCA recently selected 2000 areas for installing more than 10,000 surveillance cameras. This comprises public institutions, critical infrastructure, public roadways, criminal hotspots, VVIP routes, entry and exit points, and public spaces.
Monitoring/surveillance
CCTV (Close Circuit Television System) pictures are provided by the 6700 cameras that will be deployed during phases 1 and 2.
The cameras will primarily be used for incident and event management, but they will also be linked to analytics tools. A video management system (IVMS), digital recording and archiving, particular analytic tools, video walls and control systems, and an in-vehicle video system are all available.
Electronic Challan System
The E-Challan system will be linked to the RLMS and ANPR systems to send out traffic violation warnings and allow offenders to pay their penalties via the Internet.
There will also be portable terminals that will allow traffic cops to issue traffic offense warnings for inaccurate or missing licenses, as well as any other traffic violations that may have occurred.
