Sindh govt signs accords to make Karachi a smart city

Karachi
The Sindh government has signed memoranda of understanding with three investment companies from the United Arab Emirates, United States and China for the installation of solar-powered streetlights, surveillance cameras and free internet service on major roads of the city at an estimated cost of 200 million dollars.
The project envisages the installation of solar-powered streetlights equipped with surveillance cameras having special night vision and capturing mode, and also routers for free Wi-Fi service for commuters.
According to a handout issued on Saturday, the first phase of the project would be completed by December under which solar street lights, security cameras and free Wi-Fi service would be provided on the road from Do Talwar in Clifton till Sharea Faisal at a cost of $20 million.
The ceremony for the signing of the agreement was held at a hotel in Dubai, where representatives of the three companies were presented along with Sindh Local Government Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
Talking to the media after the ceremony, Memon said the memoranda signed envisaged gradual conversion of all operational streetlights on major thoroughfares of the city to solar power.
He said making provisions for closed-circuit cameras in the new solar street lights would be a step towards electronic surveillance of streets and major roads of Karachi for keeping a strict check on law and order and crime by law-enforcement agencies.
The surveillance feed from these new cameras can be easily relayed through internet owing to the Wi-Fi device installed in the solar-powered streetlights.
Memon said Wi-Fi routers installed in streetlights would also be useful for everyday commuters who would be able to use internet services for free. He said this project was part of the vision of making Karachi a smart and modern city.