Punjab, Chinese company ink Safe Cities Project

CM says project to help curb terrorism and street crime

LAHORE

An agreement was signed between the Punjab government and a Chinese company regarding Punjab Safe Cities Project. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the chief guest at the signing ceremony held at Model Town. 

Chief Operating Officer Punjab Safe Cities Authority Akbar Nasir Khan and Chief Executive Officer of Chinese company in Pakistan Meng Xiaojie signed the document. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the agreement between the Punjab government and Chinese company regarding Safe Cities Project was a milestone in the history of the province. 

He said the project would be state-of-the-art as it aimed at modernising the system of security and protection of life and property of the citizens. The project will also play an important role in dealing with any emergent situation caused due to activities of anti-social elements, thieves, dacoits and terrorists, he said, adding the project was the most important for the protection of citizens as well as meeting the challenges of terrorism, extremism and street crime. He said the first phase of the project would be completed this year whereas the project would be fully functional within a year. He said that after the completion of the third phase its scope would be extended to the whole city. 

Shahbaz Sharif said that under the project latest cameras would be installed while command and control centre was also being established. He said that vehicles equipped with modern equipment were also a part of the project. He said that after Lahore, work would be started simultaneously in four other cities of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Multan. He said that all these projects would be completed before the completion of the constitutional tenure of the present government. He said the project was based on latest technology and equipment for the protection of future generation against crime and would tremendously improve security situation.

He said that saving of Rs4 billion on this project was an example of transparency and honesty. He said that compared to it, corruption and loot was rampant in the past. He said time had come for transparent accountability and elimination of corruption. He said Punjab Safe Cities Project would be an example with regard to transparency, standard and speed and would be completed on time. He said that manpower would be recruited for this project on merit. He said that with the completion of this project, law and order would improve and this project would be a splendid example of Pak-China friendship.