Safe City projects in Balochistan are set to receive institutional and technical support from Punjab after Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and his Punjab counterpart, Maryam Nawaz, agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two provinces. The arrangement is intended to make the initiatives more effective, operational and aligned with modern security requirements, according to a report from Quetta.
Punjab Responds to a Request from Quetta
Following a request from Mr Bugti, the Punjab chief minister issued directives to the relevant authorities to provide institutional support and assistance to the Balochistan Safe City Authority. The understanding envisages a proposed joint venture between the Safe City authorities of the two provinces, under which both sides would work together on several fronts.
These include improving security monitoring systems, providing technical assistance, building staff capacity and facilitating the exchange of expertise and experience. The proposal reflects an effort to draw on the operational knowledge that Punjab has accumulated in running its own urban surveillance and security infrastructure, and to apply it to the very different conditions found in Balochistan.
Meeting of the Balochistan Safe City Authority
The development was discussed at a meeting of the Balochistan Safe City Authority chaired by Mr Bugti. Additional Chief Secretary Home Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat briefed participants on ongoing projects and their progress. He informed the meeting that work on Safe City projects in Balochistan was under way in nine cities across the province.
Representing the Punjab side, Ahsan Younas, Director General of the Punjab Safe City Authority, said his organisation would extend technical assistance to Balochistan. This would cover staff training, capacity building and the transfer of modern expertise, with the aim of ensuring that the projects operate effectively once they are in place. The emphasis on training is notable, since advanced surveillance equipment delivers limited value unless trained personnel are available to manage, maintain and act on the information it produces.
A Broader View of Safe City Infrastructure
Addressing the meeting, Mr Bugti said Safe City projects were not merely surveillance systems but the foundation of modern security infrastructure aimed at protecting the lives and property of citizens. He stressed that advanced technology and effective security monitoring systems were essential to maintaining law and order, preventing crime and providing a safe environment for the people of Balochistan.
The chief minister said modern surveillance systems would help monitor the movement of criminal elements, identify suspicious activities in a timely manner and improve the response of law enforcement agencies. In his framing, the technology is meant to support policing rather than replace it, strengthening the ability of officers to detect threats early and respond with greater speed and accuracy.
Gratitude for Inter-Provincial Cooperation
Mr Bugti thanked the Punjab chief minister and the Punjab Safe City Authority for extending cooperation and support to Balochistan. He said institutional collaboration and the exchange of experience between provinces would help achieve shared public safety objectives. The remark underscores a view that security challenges are not confined by provincial boundaries and that lessons learned in one province can be usefully adapted in another.
Who Attended the Meeting
The meeting drew a wide cross-section of the provincial administration. Those present included Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, Additional Chief Secretary Hamza Shafqaat, Inspector General of Police Muhammad Tahir Khan and Balochistan Safe City Authority Director General Muhammad Ashfaq. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Imran Zarkoon, Finance Secretary Jahangir Khan, IT Secretary Ayaz Khan Mandokhail and other senior officials also attended. The participation of the finance and information technology secretaries alongside security officials points to the cross-departmental nature of such projects, which depend on funding, technical systems and policing capacity working together.
What the Agreement Means for the Province
The report does not specify a timeline, budget or detailed work plan for the proposed joint venture, and those details are likely to emerge as the two authorities begin to coordinate. For now, the agreement signals a clear intent on both sides. Balochistan will gain access to Punjab’s technical know-how and training, while Punjab has committed its institutional support to the Balochistan Safe City Authority.
With work already under way in nine cities, the practical test will be how quickly the promised assistance translates into stronger operations on the ground. If implemented as described, the cooperation could help ensure that Safe City projects in Balochistan are not only installed but also run effectively and kept up to date with modern security requirements.
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