AI being used to secure Ashura: Marriyum

LAHORE:Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb visited the control room established at Home Department to review security arrangements for Ashura here on Tuesday. She monitored the measures in place through CCTV cameras, focusing on the processions, adjacent buildings and routes within the province, particularly in the inner city of Lahore.

She also issued necessary directives to ensure law and order. The minister highlighted that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is committed to maintaining peace and safeguarding the lives and properties of the general public. She emphasised that the chief minister is personally overseeing the security arrangements across the province. The minister noted that 3,957 processions and 1,721 gatherings are being monitored using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. She directed the administration and police to remain vigilant to ensure foolproof security Muharram 10. She also mentioned that 7,600 CCTV cameras are being used to monitor the processions throughout Punjab. Additionally, the control room is equipped with mechanisms to manage water drainage on the routes.

Meanwhile, health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on law and order Khawaja Salman Rafique visited the central control room of the Home Department here on Tuesday. During his visit, he supervised the live monitoring of central processions across the province. Punjab Home Secretary Noor-ul-Amin Mengal provided a detailed briefing on the current situation throughout Punjab.

According to Mengal, 6,596 Majalis and 4,779 processions are scheduled to take place in Punjab. These events are being monitored and categorised into three categories: A, B, and C for better management and security. To ensure comprehensive coverage and security, all gatherings and processions have been geo-tagged on a map. The control room is equipped with modern cameras, allowing real-time surveillance of all locations. In an effort to maintain peace, the authorities have issued orders restricting 1,297 fiery speakers from entering districts and restraining 801 from speaking. Khawaja Salman Rafique, after visiting various locations in Punjab, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "By the grace of God and excellent arrangements, we are having a peaceful Ashura." He also mentioned that Punjab Cabinet Ministers are actively visiting all districts to supervise the arrangements. Rafique emphasised the importance of ensuring compliance with the code of conduct issued by the Home Department. The visit was attended by the Special Secretary of Home Punjab, the Additional Secretary of Internal Security, the Additional Secretary of Home, and other relevant officials.

Meanwhile, provincial Minister for Communication and Works/Law Sohaib Ahmad Bharth, on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, visited different districts of Sargodha division, including Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha and Bhakkar to review security and civic arrangements on 10th Muharram. During his visit to Sargodha, the provincial minister had detailed briefings from Commissioner and Regional Police Officer about security and other arrangements on procession routes.

He also met with members of divisional peace committee and licence holders of processions. He thoroughly inspected Ashura procession routes of all four districts. The provincial minister requested licence holders to cooperate with local administrations and to follow procession routes and stipulated time of the processions. He said that a total 5,457 Majalis, 1,220 processions will be taken out in Sargodha division for which as many as 7,683 police personnel along with 3,500 volunteers will perform security duty.