KEY POINTS
- AI-integrated camera and drone network enables real-time alerts for rapid response.
- Technology expands beyond policing to monitor traffic, smog, encroachments, and disaster coordination.
LAHORE, Pakistan: Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has deployed an AI-powered smart tracking system to strengthen public safety and crime prevention across its cities.
The system integrates advanced artificial intelligence with a province-wide network of surveillance cameras and drones to monitor criminal activity, track suspects and vehicles in real time, and support rapid responses by law enforcement and civic authorities.
The technology is designed to revolutionise crime prevention by enabling faster identification of suspects and real-time monitoring of criminal activity across the province.
AI capabilities for tracking
PSCA spokesperson detailed the system’s advanced features, which utilise AI algorithms to analyse a suspect’s physical features, clothing, and movement patterns.
A key innovation is its ability to track vehicles even without functional license plates.
The system identifies vehicles using a combination of unique characteristics, including colour, design, stickers, and structural features, making it difficult for criminals to evade detection by tampering with plates.
The technology is integrated with the extensive network of Safe City cameras. When a suspicious or wanted vehicle is detected, the system automatically generates an alert.
This alert immediately mobilises both virtual patrolling officers monitoring feeds and field formations on the ground, ensuring a coordinated and rapid response to potential threats.
Tool for urban management
Beyond its primary law enforcement function, the AI system supports broader urban management.
The spokesperson explained that the technology, often used in conjunction with surveillance drones, helps identify crime hotspots for proactive policing.
It also monitors traffic flow, smog levels, and encroachments, providing data to relevant civic agencies for timely action.
Tech-driven approach
The integration of Safe City cameras, drones, and the new AI monitoring system represents a holistic, technology-driven strategy for public safety.
The spokesperson emphasized that this enhanced surveillance infrastructure is making crime prevention and investigation more effective.
By improving response times and investigative accuracy, the authority aims to strengthen public confidence in Punjab’s law enforcement and safety institutions.
The launch of this system marks Punjab’s continued investment in smart city solutions, leveraging cutting-edge technology to create a safer environment for its citizens.
PSCA is intensifying its use of advanced drone technology for real-time monitoring and rapid response across the province.
In extensive operations over the past 24 hours, drone surveillance has proven instrumental in identifying a wide spectrum of violations, from criminal activity to environmental and traffic hazards, leading to immediate action by relevant authorities.
Surveillance for swift response
Punjab Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, while briefing a foreign delegation on Lahore Safe City’s integrated surveillance system, said that it is a fully indigenised system that enables district-wide monitoring, emissions detection via thermal cameras, and rapid on-ground response, ensuring enhanced security and law enforcement efficiency across Punjab.
She said the coordinated drone missions covered multiple districts, addressing both safety and civic issues:
Meanwhile, in Raiwind, drones detected violations of the Anti-Kite Flying Act and identified smoke emissions from local factories, with reports swiftly forwarded for legal action.
In Multan, surveillance of brick kilns led to action against industrial pollution, while monitoring of crime hotspots helped identify suspicious activities for further police investigation.
An emergency response was demonstrated in Lahore, where a drone team provided immediate aerial support to rescue services during a fire at Faisal Bank in Shah Alam Market, aiding in coordination and damage assessment.
Traffic and civic violations were pinpointed in Gujrat, where illegal parking at Prince Chowk was reported to the traffic police, and in Sialkot, where drones identified crime hotspots and other civic issues on key roads.
Weather forecast and traffic management
The utility of drones extended to managing natural challenges. In Murree, aerial surveillance helped authorities quickly identify and clear traffic routes blocked or affected by recent snowfall, ensuring smooth traffic flow.
Similarly, operations in Okara and Dera Ghazi Khan focused on identifying crime hotspots and monitoring traffic violations.
The PSCA reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the role of this technology, stating that drones will continue to be a key asset in ensuring public safety, reducing crime, and providing effective, technology-driven support to law enforcement agencies across Punjab.
