Latest news with #PunjabSafeCitiesAuthority
Express Tribune
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Instant arrests over hate content ordered
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the adoption of zero-tolerance against violation of a code of conduct for ensuring peace during Muharram. Presiding over a meeting, she ordered immediate arrest of anyone found involved in spreading hateful content on social media. The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to enforce a ban on displaying banners, posters and wall chalking throughout the province. She also ordered immediate arrest of those violating the ban on flying drones during Muharram. She directed the provincial ministers, commissioners, deputy commissioners, RPOs and DPOs to oversee the arrangements for the occasion and contact religious scholars for the purpose. Chief Minister Maryanm Nawaz directed the Punjab Safe Cities Authority to make functional the out of order surveillance cameras. She also directed the Special Monitoring Unit to monitor and report on hate content. She directed the authorities to launch drills of security arrangements and to install 'sabeels' in a uniform manner for Muharram gatherings for distributing refreshing drinks, lemonade and cold water bottles. It was agreed during the meeting to install iron railings for security during the processions and gatherings. The chief minister issued directives to sprinkle water to protect the participants of the gatherings from severe heat and humidity along with other steps to protect them from heatstroke. She ordered the setting up of field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels along the Ashura procession routes along with an effective traffic management plan and advisories. She also called for arrangements to ensure timely drainage of water in case of rainfall. The chief minister also ordered activation of the hotel and travel surveillance web applications, continuation of combing operations and the acquisition of an anti-drone system. She said the SOPs for the occasion should be implemented in letter and spirit. She said hanging electric wires posed a big risk and they should be urgently removed. There should be no power outage at during the gatherings street lights should not be turned off, she added. "It is our foremost responsibility to safeguard the country and the nation from hatred, prejudice and disunity. Division and hatred are poisonous for the new generation and we want to eliminate the at all cost. There is a dire need to take effective and sustainable measures to eradicate hatred and prejudice," she said.
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Country's first virtual centre for child safety established
LAHORE: Under the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's first 'Virtual Centre for Child Safety' has been established with regard to forced child labour under the auspices of Punjab Safe Cities Authority. A team of professional experts in the centre is tasked to carryout search operation for the missing persons, getting in touch with heirs and verifying their credentials. The centre has proven to be an effective in bringing back home not only missing children but also frail elderly people. In case of disappearance of a child or an elderly person of loved ones, there is an easy-to-use contact system at Virtual Centre for Child Safety. It is possible to contact the Virtual Centre for Child Safety immediately by calling the emergency helpline 15 and pressing the button number 3. Citizens across Punjab can contact the Virtual Centre for Child Safety through the Safety App. For the first time, a special helpline 0309-0000015 has also been activated for missing children and citizens of other provinces as well. There is also a facility to report missing children by making a call, sending WhatsApp message or text message on a special helpline. More than 59,635 people have contacted the Virtual Safety Centre to complain about missing persons. 53,542 cases of missing persons have been successfully resolved through Punjab's first Virtual Centre for Child Safety. More than 26,000 people have reached their homes after going missing on account of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's innovative initiative to establish Virtual Centre for Child Safety. The Chief Minister highlighted 'Children are my red line; I can understand the profound grief of parents in case of their disappearance. Whether children belong to Punjab or any other province, they are all dear to us.' She maintained, 'In case of disappearance, we are determined to fulfil our responsibility of bringing every child home safe and sound. Every citizen of the country can benefit from Pakistan's first Virtual Centre for Child Safety.' She outlined, 'Punjab's first Virtual Centre for Child Safety is a successful initiative of promoting humanitarianism, national solidarity, digital technology and good governance. We are ready to utilize all available state resources for the safe return of missing children.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
08-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Organised crime drops in Gujranwala: police
Gujranwala has seen a notable decrease in organised and property-related crimes during the first four months of 2025, with police crediting aggressive anti-gang operations and the use of digital surveillance tools for the improvement. According to statistics from the Punjab Safe Cities Authority, calls to emergency helpline Pucar-15 reporting shop robberies dropped by 47% compared to the same period in 2024. Other key categories also saw declines: shop dacoities were down by 20%, house robberies by 29%, shop burglaries by 11%, and car thefts by 14%. City Police Officer (CPO) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Muhammad Ayyaz Saleem attributed the reduction to the dismantling of inter-district criminal networks and enhanced monitoring efforts. "In just four months, we arrested 290 members of 113 gangs and recovered stolen property worth Rs70.7 million," said DIG Saleem. The total value of recovered property during this period stood at Rs128.8 million. Efforts to reduce repeat offences have also been intensified through implementation of the Restriction of Habitual Offenders Act, 1918, under which individuals with repeated criminal records are subject to movement restrictions and periodic check-ins at a designated monitoring centre. Technology has played a pivotal role in prevention. "We've revised our patrolling strategies using crime hotspot mapping and conduct snap checking through the E-Police Post App," the DIG explained. Between January and April 2025, over 390,000 individuals and more than 318,000 vehicles were checked via the app, resulting in the arrest of 220 proclaimed offenders and recovery of 1,161 stolen vehicles. The crackdown also extended to narcotics and illegal weapons. Police registered 1,085 drug-related cases in the first four months of the year, leading to the seizure of 199kg of heroin, 811kg of charas, 13kg of opium, 600 grams of methamphetamine ("ice"), and over 4,700 litres of liquor. In 858 cases related to illegal arms, 872 suspects were arrested and police recovered 58 Kalashnikovs, 76 rifles, 45 shotguns, 688 pistols, and over 5,400 bullets. A marked increase in arrests of proclaimed offenders, particularly those classified as Category-A, was also reported. Police said 3,740 such individuals were taken into custody from January to April. On the violent crime front, Gujranwala police reported progress in murder investigations. From January 2024 onward, 580 suspects were arrested in 292 murder cases, including 31 blind murder cases. Additionally, 29 individuals were held in connection with 18 robbery-cum-murder incidents. Authorities claimed a 90% resolution rate in blind murder cases for 2024. In line with provincial directives prioritising the safety of women and children, the police also stepped up arrests in sexual violence cases. In the first four months of 2025, 27 individuals were arrested in 11 gang rape cases, 52 suspects in 51 rape cases, and 66 individuals in 46 incidents involving rape or sodomy of minors. DIG Saleem said, "We are committed to making Gujranwala safer for all its citizens through proactive policing, strategic planning, and an unwavering crackdown on organised crime."
Express Tribune
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Security beefed up for cricket fixtures
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has completed security arrangements for the Champions Trophy. According to details, the monitoring of matches being played in Lahore and Rawalpindi is underway using the latest surveillance systems. Monitoring is being done inside and outside the Qaddafi and Rawalpindi stadiums through Safe City cameras. For match security, monitoring continues with over 600 cameras, including facial recognition. Surveillance is being carried out 24 hours a day from the airport, hotel to the stadium, and surrounding routes. The spokesperson for the Safe Cities Authority stated that virtual patrolling officers and technical teams are on duty 24/7 at the Safe City Headquarters.
