As part of the Karachi Safe City Project, two state-of-the-art vehicles equipped with advanced camera systems have begun trial runs on the streets.
These vehicles, known as Emergency Response Vehicles, are fitted with six modern cameras designed to identify suspicious vehicles’ number plates and the faces of potentially suspicious individuals.
Each vehicle is equipped with seven high-resolution 12-megapixel cameras. Of these, six cameras focus on capturing the number plates of suspicious vehicles and recognizing faces, while the seventh camera, mounted on the vehicle’s roof, has a 360-degree rotation capability for comprehensive coverage.
Currently, these vehicles have been stationed in the Defence area, a high-security part of the city. Each vehicle carries a commander and three officers. The commander is equipped with a tablet linked to the vehicle’s cameras, allowing real-time data transmission to the central command and control center.
Shahbaz Mughal, who oversees Safe City operations, explained that, under the project’s scope, 23 such camera-equipped vehicles will be deployed throughout various parts of the city, including key highways.
He also noted that the cameras are equipped with night vision technology, enabling them to operate efficiently in low-light conditions. These cameras are specifically designed to capture detailed images of vehicle number plates and faces, ensuring high accuracy even at night.
The Safe City Project works in coordination with NADRA and the Excise Department. If a vehicle with a suspicious or fake number plate is detected by these vehicles, or if an individual with a questionable identity is recognized, the relevant police station will be immediately alerted.
The Emergency Response Vehicles are also equipped with internet and wireless communication systems. In case of internet connectivity issues, the vehicles can still communicate with the police stations through wireless radios, ensuring constant communication in all conditions.
Mughal further stated that these vehicles will not be assigned fixed parking spots but will be deployed wherever they are most needed across the city to ensure maximum coverage.
In addition to the mobile units, the Safe City Project will install a total of 1,300 advanced cameras throughout the city. As of now, 100 cameras are already operational, and an additional 300 poles are planned for installation. Over 15 of these new poles have already been set up in various locations, enhancing surveillance and security coverage across the urban landscape.