Capital to get AI-powered crime watch
Figurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words 'Artificial Intelligence AI' in this illustration taken, February 19, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERS
No criminal entering the federal capital will be able to escape the eyes of the Safe City cameras. An additional 3,200 state-of-the-art cameras equipped with facial recognition and traffic violation detection features will soon be installed, significantly enhancing the Safe City project in Islamabad.
The Director General of Islamabad Safe City, Shakir Hussain Dawar, shared this during a media briefing on Thursday with senior crime reporters. He said that a PC-1 worth Rs17.4 billion has been prepared and submitted to modernize the Safe City initiative.
DG Dawar highlighted that in light of the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI), Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Islamabad IG Ali Nasir Rizvi are giving special attention to upgrading the Safe City infrastructure. Currently, 2,758 cameras are installed across the city, out of which 700 are AI-enabled. The planned addition of 3,200 advanced AI cameras will bring nearly 100% of Islamabad under camera surveillance, enabling authorities to maintain a comprehensive record of every individual entering the city.
In addition to new cameras, seven high-powered servers are also being integrated into the system. These servers will enhance the capabilities of both new and existing cameras, enabling facial recognition, license plate detection, and other critical features.
DG Dawar revealed that, thanks to the current surveillance system, 77 criminal gangs have been identified, and 32 have already been apprehended. The authorities are actively pursuing the remaining 45 gangs. Real-time monitoring is conducted at the Safe City headquarters, and any suspicious activity or individuals are immediately reported to field police units, often leading to swift arrests.
He also mentioned that when the Safe City project was initially launched, only a few cameras had facial recognition capabilities. However, more advanced AI-enabled cameras have since been procured. With upcoming upgrades, cameras mounted on rooftops will be capable of capturing clear images of individuals inside moving vehicles, enabling precise identification.
E-post checkpoints are also being utilized to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. Over the past year, these systems have led to the arrest of 1,000 individuals wanted in various cases and the recovery of over 1,000 stolen vehicles.
DG Dawar noted that vehicle thefts are more common in urban areas of Islamabad. Currently, the entire camera system is running on just two servers. Plans are underway to install 14 new, powerful, and expensive servers, which will allow even older, non-AI cameras to function with AI capabilities.
Furthermore, new fiber optic cables are being laid throughout the city to support this expanded infrastructure. These efforts are aimed at enhancing public safety and enabling faster apprehension of criminals.
He added that suspects involved in several recent high-profile crimes have been arrested through the help of AI technology and surveillance footage. The system automatically generates alerts if any known criminal enters the camera range.
"About 60-70% of criminals in Islamabad come from outside the city, which is why we are focusing more on the entry and exit points of the capital," he said.
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