Punjab Safe Cities Authority has announced a major expansion of its digital panic button system across the province, with Managing Director Muhammad Ahsan Younus describing the initiative as a transformative public safety upgrade under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. The digital panic button system is a central feature of the initiative, allowing citizens to instantly connect with the emergency helpline 15, share live locations, and receive immediate assistance in emergency situations. Punjab Safe Cities Authority has highlighted multilingual key features to ensure that citizens from all backgrounds can easily access and understand the system, with the platform designed with user-friendly interfaces so that help is available to everyone without any communication barrier.
The newly expanded system integrates smart applications that provide real-time video support and enable authorities to assess situations more effectively. As part of the expansion, educational institutions are being integrated into the system to strengthen safety measures and emergency preparedness across campuses, with authorities saying the broader network aims to create a more responsive and efficient emergency management framework across the province. The integration of schools and colleges into the panic button network builds on earlier directives from the Punjab School Education Department, which in March 2026 made installation of the Punjab Safe Cities Authority Public Safety App mandatory across all public and private schools in the province, requiring 100 percent operational readiness of the panic button functionality in every institution.
The expansion builds on earlier efforts by Punjab Safe Cities Authority to improve safety in women’s educational institutions. Punjab Safe Cities Authority initiated the installation of emergency panic buttons in girls’ colleges across Lahore, covering between 39 and 41 institutions in the initial phase, with these panic buttons connected to the virtual women’s police station, allowing students to report emergencies instantly even without access to mobile phones. Officials indicated that the programme will be expanded to more than 450 women’s colleges across Punjab, and alongside the emergency system, the provision of free Wi-Fi for educational purposes is also being introduced to create a safer and more supportive learning environment.
The Pink Button system has been connected directly to the Punjab Police emergency helpline 15 and the Safe Cities central command and control centre, with an automatic alert generated and transmitted to the control room upon activation, after which the nearest police and rescue teams are dispatched to the location. The facility is being installed at public places, major highways, and sensitive locations in Rawalpindi and other districts of Punjab, designed to ensure a quick response in incidents involving harassment, robbery, theft, missing persons, and medical emergencies. The system is designed to provide an alternative way for people to contact emergency services in situations where they may not be able to use a mobile phone. Punjab Safe Cities Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younus stressed the importance of public awareness, urging citizens to familiarise themselves with the digital safety tools so they can seek timely help in emergencies and fully benefit from the system.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
