KARACHI: Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Chief Minister of Sindh, inaugurated the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4), enabling facial and number plate recognition at 40 toll plazas across the province, with 18 situated in Karachi.
The Sindh Chief Minister further revealed plans to extend health insurance to 127,482 policemen, allocating Rs4.9 billion for this purpose.
The S4 project inauguration took place at the Central Police Office (CPO). Provincial ministers Saeed Ghani and Zulfiqar Shah, along with Agha Wasif, Principal Secretary to the CM, Pakistan Rangers officers, and representatives from civil society, were also present at the event.
According to the report, the objective of the S4 project is to deliver a holistic and unified security solution for major entry and exit points linking with other cities across the province.
The system will facilitate efficient monitoring of entry and exit points to ensure robust security by integrating advanced technologies for facial and number plate recognition at 40 toll plazas, with 18 located in Karachi.
The Chief Minister of Sindh stated that the S4 project is expected to assist law enforcement in apprehending more than 80,000 fugitive criminals and curbing vehicular crime. He emphasized that the system is equipped with features aimed at preventing and deterring crime.
Murad Ali Shah also highlighted that the system would aid the police in identifying suspects and criminals, recovering stolen vehicles, and conducting surveillance and investigations. This would bolster public safety, enhance traffic management, and enable analysis of crime patterns by the police.
He announced the approval of Rs1.567 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23 to procure the camera system for the project through a direct contract with the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation.
“I am prepared to allocate funds to the police contingent upon achieving optimal outcomes,” stated the CM. Murad Ali Shah emphasized that his government is committed to creating a province free from crime.
“The Sindh police have initiated a well-coordinated targeted operation against dacoits in the Kutcha area,” stated the CM, noting that those responsible for killing five policemen in Ghotki had been eliminated in an encounter.