Rawalpindi to install QR panic buttons in public transport

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi Traffic Police has launched the installation of QR-based panic buttons and a GPS tracking system in public transport as part of a move aimed at improving passenger safety and strengthening oversight of vehicles operating in the city.

According to a police spokesman, the rollout of the CM Punjab QR Panic Button in public transport has formally begun, with Chief Traffic Officer Farhan Aslam directing circle and sector in-charges to ensure the system is installed across the network. The spokesman said implementation steps have already been initiated in the field.

The system is to be fitted in buses, wagons, rickshaws and other public transport vehicles in Rawalpindi. Officials said the initiative is intended to enhance monitoring of public transport while also helping police investigate road accidents and other incidents.

CTO Farhan Aslam said passengers facing an emergency would be able to contact police and Safe City authorities immediately through the QR panic button. He said a passenger’s live location and the vehicle’s data would be transmitted to police without delay in an emergency, allowing Rawalpindi police to respond in time on the basis of information received through the Punjab Safe Cities Authority.

Mr Aslam said the QR panic button system would be particularly important for the protection of women, students and the large number of people who use public transport every day. He added that citizens could obtain QR panic buttons free of charge through the Public Safety App and the Safe City website.

Police said awareness efforts are also underway to inform the public about how the system works, along with its benefits and safety features. According to the CTO, cooperation between Rawalpindi Traffic Police and the Punjab Safe Cities Authority is turning public transport into a modern digital safety network.

Mr Aslam said the system would support citizen protection, crime prevention and accident-related inquiries. He added that the use of modern technology was expected to make travel safer, more dependable and of better quality for the public, while also contributing to improved traffic discipline and overall public safety.