LAHORE: Rule of law plays a leading role in economic development of the country and Punjab Safe Cities Authority is diligently working day in and day out for maintaining law and order.
It was crux of a presentation given by SSP & Chief Operating Officer of Punjab Safe Cities Authority Akbar Nasir Khan to the LCCI members at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Friday. The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid, Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid, Executive Committee member Tahir Manzoor, Nasir Hameed Khan also spoke on the occasion.
Akbar Nasir Khan said that Punjab Safe Cities Project envisions safe, peaceful and prosperous cities of the province. The benefits this project holds include improved services delivery, traffic management, monitoring of law and order, electronic evidence collection, crime reduction, secure communication, and accountability.
It was told that the Safe Cities Project is a concept for returning security and quality of life to today’s complex cities through the use of technology, infrastructure, personnel and processes. The Punjab Safe Cities Authority was established under the Punjab Safe Cities Ordinance 2015 and it is ensuring establishment, development and maintenance of an integrated command, control and communication system for Police in major cities of the province for public safety.
PSCA stats for performance review for August 2018 revealed that 420,428 calls received at 15 helpline; 46,503 cases generated, 31,543, found 4 persons, 3 vehicle, 129 bikes, 7 auto-rickshaws, more than 207 electronic evidence data requests served, more than 83 booked for felonies, 141 suspicious persons & 2,516 vehicles screened, 33 rallies monitored etc and recorded 9,552,778 violations of traffic laws.
The LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said that economy and law & order are linked with each other. Bad law & order situation pressurizes the economy and shatters the confidence of local and foreign investors.
He said that the project of Punjab Safe City was the need of the hour and LCCI truly appreciates that initiative taken by the previous government. He said that business community is aware of the challenges being faced by the Police Department but due commitment and professionalism can surpass any kind of adversities. On introducing Dolphin Force, the vigilance has been improved but street crime has yet to be controlled.
Malik Tahir Javaid said that Punjab is reckoned as much safer and better province in comparison to other provinces of the country due to better performance of Punjab Police but continuation of street crimes is a matter of concern.
He suggested that seminars should be organized in collaboration with Police Department to make the members of business community aware of different kind of security threats and prepare them as to how they may combat with any unforeseen situation.
