More than 40,000 QR panic buttons have been installed in rickshaws, ride hailing cabs and other public transport vehicles across Lahore as authorities step up efforts to improve passenger safety across the city. The initiative was launched on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, making QR panic buttons mandatory for public transport vehicles operating within Lahore, with the stated aim of improving emergency response times and strengthening passenger protection across the city’s transit network.
Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi said traffic teams are currently carrying out installations at 45 locations across the city, with dedicated teams deployed across every traffic sector to support the rollout. Twelve teams have been assigned specifically to work with rickshaws, reflecting the scale of the informal transport sector that the initiative is attempting to bring under a more structured safety framework. Beyond passenger protection, the drive is also intended to help bring public transport services more firmly into the legal regulatory framework, combining modern safety and security measures with a broader push toward formalizing how these vehicles operate within the city.
Alongside the panic button installation campaign, Lahore traffic police have established four new driving license centers, a move introduced following requests from rickshaw unions seeking more accessible licensing services for their drivers. Shirazi said authorities are increasingly relying on technology to improve traffic management and strengthen the safety, reliability and efficiency of public transport across Lahore, framing the panic button rollout as part of a broader technology driven approach to urban transit oversight rather than an isolated safety measure.
The Chief Traffic Officer added that modern tracking systems already installed in online ride hailing cabs have improved the ability to monitor both passengers and drivers, allowing authorities and service providers to respond more effectively to emergencies and safety concerns as they arise. Traffic authorities have also indicated they will take action against ride hailing services that fail to adopt the required safety and security features, signaling that operators across the city will be expected to meet a consistent baseline of passenger safety standards going forward as Lahore continues expanding its use of technology based traffic management tools.
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