LAHORE: The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has launched a transformative public safety feature. It turns every citizen’s smartphone into a live-streaming camera for the Safe City network. This initiative, driven by the Government of Punjab’s vision, aims to enhance emergency response and strengthen community-wide protection. By enabling real-time video from incident scenes, authorities can act faster and with greater accuracy.
A New Tool for Emergencies
With the latest update to the official PSCA Public Safety App, users can now broadcast live video directly to the Safe City Command & Control Center. This direct visual link allows operators to see an emergency as it unfolds. Consequently, they can dispatch the most appropriate resources without delay. This innovation addresses a critical gap, as verbal descriptions during 15 calls can often be unclear or incomplete. Visual evidence removes this uncertainty, leading to more precise and effective interventions.
How to Use the Feature
The PSCA has designed two simple, inclusive methods to access this service, ensuring everyone can use it regardless of technical familiarity.
Method 1: Via the PSCA Public Safety App
Residents can download the app, register, and use a dedicated “Live Video” button during any crisis. With one tap, their phone’s camera activates and streams footage directly to the control room. The app’s interface is intentionally straightforward, allowing anyone to navigate it quickly during high-stress situations.
Method 2: Through the Emergency 15 Helpline
Individuals who haven’t downloaded the app can still use the feature. When calling the emergency number 15, the operator can send an immediate, secure SMS link. Clicking this link instantly launches a live video stream from the caller’s phone to the authorities. This ensures that help is accessible to all citizens, promoting equitable access to emergency services.
Advancing Public Safety Technology
This development represents a significant technological leap. It moves Punjab beyond traditional voice-based emergency systems, integrating the public directly into the security infrastructure. By merging crowd-sourced video with the existing network of static Safe City cameras, officials gain a dynamic, multi-angle view of incidents. This integration dramatically improves situational awareness. Therefore, police, rescue services, and disaster response teams can make better-informed decisions and deploy with superior coordination.
A Shared Responsibility
The PSCA emphasizes that this powerful tool must be used responsibly. It is strictly intended for genuine emergencies, such as crimes in progress, accidents, or medical crises. Misuse for non-urgent matters can overwhelm the system and divert resources from true emergencies. The authority encourages citizens to enable location services on their phones when using the feature. This allows responders to pinpoint the exact location of an incident, speeding up arrival times and potentially saving lives.
Building a Collaborative Security Model
The upgrade has been widely praised for making public safety a shared community effort. It empowers citizens by giving them a direct and impactful way to contribute to neighborhood security. The benefits are clear: emergency teams arrive better prepared, evidence collection is stronger, and overall transparency in response operations increases. This fosters greater public trust in law enforcement and emergency services.
The Future of Community Safety
This initiative is a cornerstone of Punjab’s strategy to create smarter, more resilient communities. It exemplifies how digital innovation and active citizen participation can combine to build a safer society. The PSCA continues to explore new technologies, with this feature marking a pivotal shift toward interactive and collaborative security. Ultimately, it redefines the smartphone—transforming it from a personal communication device into a vital node in a province-wide safety network. This collective approach promises a safer, more responsive Punjab for all its residents.
