The Karachi Safe City Project had been officially initiated on Friday in a graceful ceremony held at Sindh Police Security & Emergency Services Division Headquarters.
The project is a joint venture of Government of Sindh and National Radio Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), according to a news release. In 2016, the Supreme Court had instructed to launch the project.
In January this year, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) Security and Emergency Services Division Dr. Maqsood Ahmed was handed over the additional charge of DG Sindh Safe Cities Authority.
A series of meetings were presided over by the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Sindh Sohail Rajput and DG Sindh Safe Cities Authority during a short span. Chief Secretary Sindh constituted a committee under the supervision of DG Sindh Safe Cities Authority to evaluate and prepare an enhanced technical proposal/solution as well as a financial proposal of the project.
After long deliberations with all the stakeholders, the project cost, which was earlier Rs. 44 billion approximately, was reduced to Rs. 22 billion approximately, with enhanced standards as compared to earlier proposals.
DG Sindh Safe Cities Authtority Dr. Maqsood Ahmed chaired a meeting which was attended by the representatives of Sindh Safe Cities Authority, NRTC, Technical Committee members and all stake holders of the project to officially announced the launch of project.
DG SSCA said best technical firms have been selected from among the wide array of options and that the project will be launched in two phases. In the first phase, 4000 cameras will be installed at various points of the city alongwith the up-gradation of 2000 existing cameras.