LAHORE: The Punjab government is rolling out a Rs5 billion Safe Jail project aimed at overhauling security across the province’s prisons through modern surveillance, artificial intelligence and advanced monitoring technology, officials said on Wednesday.
The initiative will see more than 12,000 modern surveillance cameras installed at prisons across Punjab, making it one of the province’s largest security-infrastructure upgrades in the correctional system in recent years.
First Phase to Cover Central Jails and Lahore
The project is being implemented in phases. Officials said the first phase covers all 10 central jails in Punjab, District Jail Lahore, and 10 command and control centres that will serve as monitoring hubs for the new system.
Progress on the project was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Punjab Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi. Officials informed the meeting that 80 percent of the equipment required for the project had already been procured and inspected, indicating that implementation is at an advanced stage even as the province-wide rollout continues.
Equipment Being Installed
Beyond the headline camera count, the project includes a wide range of security and communication equipment. According to details shared at the review meeting, the installation will include:
| Equipment | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Surveillance cameras | 12,000+ |
| Facial-recognition access devices | 787 |
| Public address systems | 1,525 |
| Panic buttons | 615 |
| Walkie-talkie systems | 615 |
| Body cameras | 369 |
| X-ray body scanners | 41 |
| Under-vehicle surveillance systems | 82 |
| Software systems | 133 |
| Video-conferencing systems | 51 |
AI-Enabled Monitoring Features
Officials said the cameras being installed will carry facial and vehicle recognition capabilities, night vision, anti-shake technology and artificial intelligence-based monitoring. A visitor management system is also expected to be introduced as part of the upgrade.
The surveillance network will monitor the attendance and movement of both prisoners and prison staff, officials said, and any violations of prison regulations are expected to trigger automatic alerts to control rooms.
Areas to Be Brought Under Surveillance
Officials said camera coverage under the project would extend to multiple sensitive zones within prison compounds, including:
- Entry and exit points
- Administrative offices
- Barracks
- Security walls
- Jammer areas
- Kitchens
- Hospitals
- Libraries
Officials Involved in the Project
The review meeting was attended by Inspector General of Prisons Mian Salik Jalal, National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) Managing Director Brigadier Azmat Shabbir, senior prison officials, project directors, and representatives of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) Managing Director Ahsan Younas participated through video link.
NRTC has been engaged as the implementing agency for the Safe Jail project, while the Punjab Safe Cities Authority is serving as its consultant. The project contract also includes a five-year operations and maintenance arrangement following completion, officials said.
Timeline for Completion
Dr Qazi directed officials to accelerate work on the project and ensure daily monitoring of progress. “Prison reforms are among the Punjab government’s top priorities,” he told the meeting, calling on all stakeholders to work as a team to ensure timely completion.
Central Jail Lahore and its command and control centre are scheduled for completion this month, officials said, while the province-wide project is expected to be completed by March 2027.
Once operational, control rooms will be established at all prisons, at regional Deputy Inspector General (DIG) offices, at the office of the Inspector General of Prisons, and at the Home Department, to allow centralised monitoring of the surveillance network.
Background
Prison security has drawn increased attention in Punjab in recent years, with periodic reports of unauthorised mobile phone use, security lapses and calls for tighter monitoring of correctional facilities across the province. The Safe Jail project builds on the province’s broader push to expand technology-driven surveillance, following similar investments by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority in camera networks for public spaces and, previously, for polling stations during election periods.
The involvement of NRTC, a federal government-owned engineering and technology organisation, alongside PSCA as consultant, reflects the scale of coordination the project has required between provincial and federal agencies.
What Happens Next
With 80 percent of the required equipment already procured, attention is now on translating that procurement into on-ground installation. The completion of Lahore’s central jail and its command and control centre this month is expected to serve as an early indicator of the pace at which the rest of the province-wide project can proceed toward its March 2027 deadline.
Officials have not indicated whether the project’s second phase, covering the remaining district jails beyond Lahore, will involve any changes to the current equipment allocation or additional funding beyond the announced Rs5 billion outlay.
Leave a Reply