The Peshawar Safe City project is in its final phase, with full completion due by January 31 and related systems going live in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat by the end of the month.
Final Phase of Safe City Operations in Peshawar
The Peshawar Safe City project has entered its final phase, with authorities moving quickly to complete surveillance and command-and-control infrastructure across the provincial capital. Officials briefed a high-level meeting that work in Peshawar is on track to reach full completion by January 31.
Chairing the meeting, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reviewed progress on the project and emphasised the importance of delivering a fully functional security and monitoring system for the city. The Safe City network is designed to support law enforcement, traffic management and emergency response through real-time visual monitoring and data sharing.
According to the briefing, teams are installing cameras and related infrastructure along major roads, key intersections and important entry and exit points in Peshawar. These locations have been chosen to help cover sensitive areas, busy commercial zones and high-traffic corridors where incidents are more likely to occur.
Rollout in Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat
The meeting also reviewed progress in three southern districts where Safe City systems are being rolled out in parallel. Officials reported that camera coverage is being expanded to 88 locations in Dera Ismail Khan, 76 locations in Bannu and 47 locations in Lakki Marwat.
Authorities said these districts are expected to become operational by the end of January, bringing live monitoring and integrated command facilities to key urban centres beyond Peshawar. Once active, the systems will help local police and administration monitor public spaces, detect incidents more quickly and coordinate responses across different agencies.
The expansion is intended to create a network of connected Safe Cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with shared standards for technology, data and operations. Over time, this is expected to improve overall situational awareness and strengthen coordination between district-level control rooms and provincial authorities.
Next Phase: Expansion to Karak, Tank and North Waziristan
Officials at the meeting briefed the chief minister on preparatory work for extending the Safe City framework to Karak, Tank and North Waziristan. They noted that PC-I documents have been finalised for these districts and that site identification and security assessments have already been completed.
These steps clear the way for the next phase of implementation once the current batch of projects is completed. By moving in phases, the provincial government aims to expand coverage systematically while ensuring that lessons learned from Peshawar and the first group of southern districts are built into new installations.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi directed relevant departments to prepare plans for expanding the Safe Cities network to additional divisional headquarters after current projects become fully operational. The goal is to gradually build a province-wide grid of integrated monitoring systems that support security, traffic management and emergency services.
Integrating CCTV Networks and Establishing a Safe Cities Authority
During the review, the chief minister also instructed officials to identify existing CCTV cameras already installed at private facilities, including commercial buildings, housing societies and educational institutions. Where technically feasible, these private systems are to be integrated with the Safe City network to extend coverage without duplicating infrastructure.
Officials said this integration will help create a more comprehensive picture of activity in public spaces, especially in busy commercial and residential areas. At the same time, they noted that data sharing and access will need to follow clear rules to protect privacy and ensure that footage is used only for lawful and agreed purposes.
The meeting further decided to move ahead with proposals to establish a dedicated Safe Cities Authority to oversee governance, data use and system operations across the province. Such an authority would be responsible for setting technical standards, managing control centres, coordinating with police and district administrations and ensuring that the system remains secure, updated and properly maintained.
With Peshawar approaching completion and several districts expected to go live by the end of January, the Safe Cities programme is entering a critical stage. How effectively it is integrated, governed and maintained will determine its long-term impact on policing, public safety and urban management in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
