The government has announced plans to install 3,187 additional high-performance surveillance cameras across Islamabad by August 2026.
The move is part of the Safe City Islamabad expansion project. which aims to bring nearly the entire city under advanced security coverage, addressing longstanding challenges in monitoring and emergency response.
Currently, only 35% of Islamabad is under surveillance with 2,754 cameras. The expansion will extend coverage to 100% of major city areas, including sectors G-13, G-14, G-15, G-16, I-14, I-15, I-16, the New Airport, Sangjani, Barakahu, Rawat, and other rural zones. The project will also increase the number of police stations covered from 13 to 28.
The new cameras will feature high-definition resolution, facial recognition, and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. These upgrades are expected to enhance crime prevention, improve traffic management, and provide better evidence for investigations.
The system will also support real-time response and efficient emergency services, benefiting both residents and foreigners, especially in sensitive areas like the Diplomatic Enclave.
Officials say the expansion is necessary due to Islamabad’s changing urban landscape and population growth in suburban areas, which have made surveillance more challenging. The project, funded by the Ministry of Interior through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), will also replace outdated cameras and improve data storage capacity.
The Safe City Islamabad project, launched in 2014, is part of a broader effort to modernize urban security, with similar initiatives underway in Lahore and Gwadar. Once completed, the expanded system will cover all major roads, government buildings, religious sites, and entry and exit points, providing comprehensive security for the capital.
All this for the utterly useless and incompetent Islamabad Police to say that they can not help with robberies. Fantastic initiative.