Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's vision of a Safe Punjab envisages effective and transparent policing, and for the first time, body-worn cameras have been introduced for the police field force across the province. On the directions of the CM, training of the police field force for the use of body-worn cameras has been completed. The project is being launched initially in Lahore, while installation of docking points for the cameras at police stations has also begun. The cameras will be connected with Smart Safe City systems established in 43 cities across the province.

Punjab Police, Punjab Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and Traffic Wardens will wear the cameras while performing their duties. The digital facial recognition feature of the body-worn cameras will help identify suspects. The state-of-the-art cameras will also facilitate automated reading of motorcycle and vehicle number plates, while an instant threat alert can be generated in an emergency.

The cameras are equipped with a calling facility for immediate communication. Police personnel will be able to record audio and video and take photographs through the device. During duty, recordings will be stored in the cameras' built-in memory. After completing their duty, police personnel will place the cameras at designated docking points. The recorded data will then be automatically transferred from the cameras and securely stored.

Maryam said the cameras would not only facilitate monitoring but also help curb corruption. 'Ensuring a sense of security among the public, particularly vulnerable segments, is the real measure of success,' she said, adding that protection of life and property of every individual in Punjab was the foremost responsibility of the government. Meanwhile, she emphasized that democracy remains the only way to achieve political, economic and social stability.