The Punjab government is set to revamp the Lahore Safe City Project with a significant upgrade to its software and hardware infrastructure, marking a major shift in the city’s approach to urban surveillance and smart governance. Initially deployed in 2016, the current system has aged considerably, prompting the Lahore Safe City Authority to pursue a comprehensive modernization plan. Officials confirmed that the new upgrade strategy will be implemented in three phases and is expected to cost approximately Rs. 3 billion in total.
For the ongoing fiscal year, Rs. 1 billion has already been earmarked to kick off the first phase. This stage focuses on enhancing city-wide surveillance capabilities with the deployment of upgraded cameras, the integration of a Traffic Intelligence Management System, and the implementation of improved data processing tools. These improvements aim to bring Lahore’s digital infrastructure in line with contemporary urban safety standards and evolving technological requirements.
Safe City officials emphasized that the upgrade will involve a complete shift from the legacy system to an advanced platform capable of supporting AI-enabled monitoring, data analytics, and responsive urban management. This transition includes a full-scale revamp of the underlying software frameworks, network systems, and data centers, all designed to handle increasing data loads while ensuring real-time operational efficiency.
The decision comes as multiple urban centers across the region have already moved forward with smart surveillance and integrated traffic control solutions. In comparison, Lahore’s current infrastructure has been struggling to keep pace with the speed and scale of new challenges in urban safety, traffic congestion, and digital crime monitoring. Officials pointed out that modern surveillance solutions not only enhance public safety but also contribute to proactive traffic enforcement and optimized emergency response times.
By the end of the two-year upgrade timeline, the entire Safe City operation is expected to shift to the new digital platform. Once completed, Lahore’s updated infrastructure will serve as a benchmark for smart city projects across Pakistan. The revamped system is also expected to open avenues for future scalability, including AI-based threat detection, predictive analytics for traffic flow, and integration with other urban governance platforms.
