The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) signed an agreement on Tuesday to launch the long-awaited Peshawar Safe City project, which will be completed in the next six months for Rs2.2 billion.
The signing ceremony took place at the Chief Minister’s House, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur attending as the chief guest.
According to Peshawar Safe City Project Director Rai Ijaz Ahmad, work will begin immediately, with the project scheduled for completion by October 21, 2025. Installation of poles for 710 advanced closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras is set to start right away.
“This project will feature cutting-edge 12-megapixel CCTV cameras—an upgrade from the 8-megapixel cameras used in similar projects elsewhere in the country,” said Ahmad.
Originally proposed in 2008, the project had faced repeated delays until the current government provided the necessary funding. Ahmad emphasized that this initiative goes beyond simple surveillance, as it is powered by artificial intelligence and integrated with police databases to help identify criminals and suspicious vehicles.
“If the system flags a vehicle, it will automatically alert emergency police patrols,” he explained.
Project official Mr. Saeed added that the system includes an e-challan feature for 15 traffic violations. Once linked with the excise and taxation department, digital challans will be sent directly to violators.
The Safe City project will also be integrated with surveillance systems already installed along the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit route and in commercial areas. The contract for implementation was awarded to NRTC on a government-to-government basis.
Saeed noted that a proposal has also been made to establish a central command and control center, along with the installation of over 500 additional cameras within a year.
The initiative is set to expand beyond Peshawar. The government has approved the implementation of similar Safe City systems in six southern districts affected by terrorism—Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North Waziristan, Tank, and Karak—at a projected cost of Rs6 billion.
To ensure long-term impact, legislation will be introduced to create a Safe City Authority. This body will regulate CCTV standards and ensure integration of public and private surveillance systems across the province.
Phase one will see the deployment of 710 high-definition cameras at 125 key locations throughout Peshawar. In phase two, an additional 600 sites will be outfitted with security infrastructure over the next year at Rs5 billion. Eventually, the Safe City model will expand to other cities, including Mardan, Kohat, Nowshera, Swat, and Abbottabad.
In an official statement, Chief Minister Gandapur said the project marks a major step toward transforming Peshawar, all divisional headquarters, and other sensitive districts into secure urban centers.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to peace, public safety, and modernization of the police force, describing the Safe City Project as a milestone initiative that leverages modern technology to protect citizens and reinforce trust in state institutions.
“The project will significantly improve law and order while enhancing governance through innovative tech-driven solutions,” he said.