PESHAWAR: Launched in 2007 in the wake of a surge in deadly terrorist attacks, the Peshawar Safe City project was envisioned as a high-tech security initiative to bolster urban surveillance and bring policing in the 21st century in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which shares multiple border crossings with Afghanistan.
Yet nearly two decades later, the initiative remains largely incomplete, only recently showing signs of life as authorities grapple with rising insecurity.
Battleground years
Between 2004 and 2013, Peshawar suffered more than 600 terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 3,000 people.
According to multiple independent media reports and security analysts, Peshawar experienced over 600 terrorist incidents between 2004 and 2013, including frequent suicide bombings, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, and targeted killings.
South Asia Terrorism Portal indicates that the city alone witnessed approximately 80 to 100 suicide attacks and more than 150 IED blasts between 2005 and 2013, with particularly deadly surges recorded in 2009 and 2013.
This will be the most advanced Safe City system in Pakistan, which will feature AI-based anomaly detection, real-time tracking, predictive policing tools, and access to facial recognition databases, making it more sophisticated than any other system currently operational in the country.” – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief, Zulfiqar Hameed
More recently, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered 23 suicide attacks in 2023, resulting in 254 deaths and 512 injuries.
In response, the provincial government launched the Safe City project, with the aim of turning the tide by enhancing surveillance and response capabilities through modern policing tools. The plan envisioned installing over 3,000 cameras and laying approximately 1,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable to monitor key locations across the city.
However, despite multiple budget allocations, a lack of follow-through disrupted procurement, bidding, and planning phases—leading to bureaucratic gridlocks and lost momentum. Additionally, bureaucratic hurdles and technological limitations—including a lack of indigenous technical capacity, and reliance on costly imported solutions that were incompatible with existing police infrastructure—brought the project to a standstill.
Only now, 18 years later, has tangible work begun.
Stuck in limbo
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed confirms that work has commenced at 10 strategic locations in the city and is expected to be completed within six months.
“The contractor has received the initial payment, and over 700 cameras will monitor more than 100 locations,” he told WE News English. He added that this is the part of the first phase of the project, which in total envisages installation of 3,000 cameras to be installed in subsequent phases, “subject to the purse string being loosened.”
The IGP highlights the inclusion of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), facial recognition, automatic number plate readers (ANPR), and drone surveillance.
“This will be the most advanced Safe City system in Pakistan, which will feature AI-based anomaly detection, real-time tracking, predictive policing tools, and access to facial recognition databases, making it more sophisticated than any other system currently operational in the country.”
Eighteen years lost
About the 18-year delay, the IGP explains that Pakistan had no precedent for implementing such large-scale surveillance projects. “Lahore only implemented its first Safe City Project in 2015. Back then, the technology was expensive and we lacked the experience,” he says.
He also cites financial constraints as major hurdle. “If the government doesn’t release funds, how can such a project move forward? Now, the funds are being released, and the project is progressing rapidly.”
Only 700 cameras are being installed, which is not enough for a city the size of Peshawar. The command centre should be so advanced that it can view the entire city as clearly as a cinema screen.” – Syed Akhtar Ali Shah
Former Inspector General of Police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and ex- Secretary for Home and Tribal Affairs, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, provides further insight into the delay.
Speaking to WE News English, he reveals that fear of future inquiries by accountability bodies such as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) led to bureaucratic hesitation. “Officials were reluctant to proceed because they didn’t want to take the risk. That fear paralysed decision-making,” he said.
According to Shah, the Safe City project was included in the Annual Development Plan (ADP) in 2013 and entered the planning phase the following year. However, no funds were allocated for several years, leaving the initiative in limbo.
Now that the project is finally being revived, he expresses concern about its limited scope. “Only 700 cameras are being installed, which is not enough for a city the size of Peshawar. The command centre should be so advanced that it can view the entire city as clearly as a cinema screen.”
He also emphasises the importance of recruiting qualified personnel to operate the system. “This is not a job for a constable—we need trained professionals to ensure its success.”
Unlike Lahore’s Safe City project, which cost Rs 17 billion, Peshawar’s system is projected to cost just Rs 2.2 billion. The IGP attributes the lower cost to the smaller size of Peshawar compared to Lahore, the declining cost of modern technology, and a more streamlined implementation model. “Our team has studied the Lahore model closely, and we’ve partnered with them for technical support,” he adds. He also notes that Peshawar’s system will benefit from the latest advancements, cutting corners without cutting quality, making it one of the most technologically up-to-date Safe City projects in the country.
Crime still rising
Peshawar continues to grapple with a steady stream of crime and terrorism. According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD)’s statistics, this year alone, 19 terrorism incidents were reported in the city. Among the 19 incidents, three were suicide attacks, seven were IED blasts, and nine were targeted killings, resulting in 42 deaths and over 60 injuries.
Police data further reveals that in Peshawar this year, 225 attempted murder cases were reported, leading to 299 arrests. There were also 73 robbery cases with 99 arrests, 69 theft incidents resulting in 80 arrests, and 37 burglaries with 56 suspects apprehended. Additionally, 23 cases of vehicle theft and 12 cases of vehicle snatching were recorded.
Officials say the absence of a functional Safe City network has made it difficult to identify suspects and collect reliable evidence, leaving investigators in the dark.
Province-wide, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed five suicide bombings and 756 terrorism-related cases in the first six months of 2025, according to a semi-annual report released by the Central Police Office (CPO) early this month.
The report also recorded 94 extortion cases, 41 targeted killings, and 38 kidnappings. Militants carried out 80 IED blasts, 12 missile strikes, and 35 grenade attacks, along with 269 gunfire incidents targeting police and officials. Additionally, 44 cases were filed against alleged terrorist facilitators and 13 for terror financing.
KP government under fire
Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Information and Broadcasting and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, blames the prolonged delay on the PTI-led provincial government. “They failed to complete any major project in 10 years—be it the Safe City, BRT [Bus Rapid Transit], or the Billion Tree Tsunami. Despite receiving Rs 500 billion in federal security funds between 2013 and 2023, little progress is evident.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Law Minister Aftab Alam echoes the urgency. “The project is now a necessity. Without modern surveillance, our courts often lack concrete evidence to convict criminals. The Safe City system will help collect that evidence effectively,” he remarks.
They failed to complete any major project in 10 years—be it the Safe City, BRT, or the Billion Tree Tsunami. Despite receiving Rs 500 billion in federal security funds between 2013 and 2023, little progress is evident.” – Ikhtiar Wali Khan
The IGP clarifies that no new employees were hired during the 18-year delay in the Safe City project, and therefore, no public funds were spent on salaries. “Our internal IT staff handled the planning. Now that the project is underway, we may hire a few specialised personnel.”
Building for tomorrow
Project Director Ejaz Ahmed confirms that the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has been contracted to operate the Peshawar Safe City project for a period of three years. “NRTC will manage the system and provide operational staff during this period,” he tells WE News English.
According to the project’s PC-1, the first phase includes the recruitment of 15 to 20 personnel through the Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA), including up to 13 assistant directors. These officers, nominated by the police department, will be responsible for overseeing project execution and ensuring compliance with security protocols.
Ahmed further reveals that the government intends to introduce legislation to establish a permanent authority to manage the Safe City initiative. “Our aim is to ensure that once NRTC’s contract ends after three years, a dedicated governing body is in place to manage and sustain the project,” he says.
In addition to Peshawar, Safe City operations are also being extended to southern districts of the province, including Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat, as part of a broader effort to beef up the province’s security infrastructure.
Hopes and hurdles
Police hope the project will follow in the footsteps of Lahore, where the surveillance camera installation has contributed to a noticeable decline in criminal activity. According to official figures from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), incidents of street crime in monitored areas of Lahore dropped by over 30 per cent between 2017 and 2020.
“Cameras deter crime. People think twice before committing illegal acts when they know they’re being watched,” says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief.
He cites a recent example to underscore the importance of surveillance. On April 27 this year, six people were gunned down in broad daylight at Jameel Chowk in Peshawar. Although no government-installed cameras were present at the site, the incident was captured by private CCTV cameras. While the footage helped identify the suspects, some slipped through the cracks, fleeing to Afghanistan—highlighting the limitations of the current system.
“This project will change that,” the IGP hopes. “With real-time monitoring and integrated systems, we’ll be able to stay one step ahead and act more effectively.”
