- Dr Usman Anwar says 33% drop in serious crimes credited to smart surveillance network
- Reviews Faisalabad Safe City Project and Police Khidmat Markaz, hails Safe Cities as key to crime control
LAHORE/FAISALABAD: Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr. Usman Anwar on Thursday said that the Punjab Police is fast advancing under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Safe Punjab Vision (SPV), as smart surveillance, digital policing, and environmental enforcement combine to make cities safer and cleaner.
During his visit to Faisalabad, the IG reviewed the Safe City Project and Police Khidmat Markaz, inspecting the Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre (IC3) where he assessed real-time monitoring and response mechanisms. He was accompanied by RPO Faisalabad Zeeshan Asghar, CPO Sahibzada Bilal Umar, and other senior officers. SSP Safe City Tariq Mahboob briefed the IG on the operational features and performance of the system powered by modern surveillance cameras.
RPO Zeeshan Asghar informed that the establishment of the Safe City Project had resulted in a 33 percent reduction in serious crimes. Dr. Anwar noted that Safe City initiatives across Punjab were playing a “pivotal role” in crime prevention, traffic regulation, environmental monitoring, and encroachment control.
Later, the IG visited the Police Khidmat Markaz to inspect citizen service facilities, including driving licence simulators and training centres. He termed the Police Khidmat-o-Tahafuz Marakiz and Misaq Centres “flagship projects” of the Punjab Police aimed at public welfare, and directed the staff to treat citizens with courtesy and respect.
Police Intensify Operations to Curb Smog and Air Pollution
Meanwhile, Punjab Police have intensified operations to curb smog, control air pollution, and protect the environment. In the past 24 hours, 22 cases were registered in Lahore and other districts under the ongoing anti-smog crackdown, leading to the arrest of several violators.
According to the Punjab Police spokesperson, 1,539 individuals were fined a total of Rs. 3 million for violating smog SOPs, while 53 were issued warnings. Reported cases included 11 of crop residue burning, 1,317 of excessive smoke-emitting vehicles, 8 of industrial violations, and 14 of brick kilns.
During the current year, a total of 1,915 smog-related cases have been registered across the province, with 1,854 violators arrested. Fines amounting to over Rs. 210 million were imposed on 82,601 individuals, while more than 16,000 warnings were issued.
Dr. Usman Anwar has directed supervisory officers to further accelerate the crackdown on highways, industrial zones, and agricultural areas, ensuring strict enforcement of anti-smog laws under a zero-tolerance policy.
