LAHORE: The Punjab government has launched its new AI-powered monitoring system, “Talk to Camera,” across the province to enhance public safety and prevent accidents, following the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy who fell into an open manhole.
According to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the technology was developed by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) to improve real-time monitoring and alert authorities to potential hazards. The system is designed to identify dangers such as open manholes, overflowing dumpsters, and visible smoke, sending immediate alerts to relevant authorities for prompt action.
The system allows officials to review the entire camera network using simple natural-language queries. It was first tested in Lahore and Sheikhupura, where it showed promising results. After a successful trial phase, the government approved expanding the system across the province to enhance response times and improve city safety.
The project was initiated following the tragic accident on the Kahror PaccaâLodhran Highway, where the young boy lost his life due to an uncovered manhole. The “Talk to Camera” system is expected to help prevent similar incidents by providing better monitoring of public spaces and ensuring quicker response to potential hazards.
