CM launches S4 project with advanced surveillance at 40 toll plazas

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has launched the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) project, which aims to provide a comprehensive and integrated municipal security solution across major entry and exit points connecting with other cities in the province.

The S4 project will enable effective monitoring through advanced technologies, including facial and number plate recognition, at 40 toll plazas, 18 of which are in Karachi.

During the inauguration on Thursday, the Chief Minister highlighted that the S4 project will significantly enhance security responses and integrate seamlessly with the existing Command & Control Centre at the Central Police Office (CPO). Additionally, Chief Minister Shah announced that 127,482 policemen will be provided health insurance with an outlay of Rs4.9 billion, ensuring their well-being and support in their duties.

The inauguration ceremony of S4 was held at the Chief Police Office (CPO) on Thursday morning. Provincial ministers, Saeed Ghani and Zulfiqar Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, provincial secretaries, senior officers of Pakistan Rangers and NRTC, and members of Civil Society also attended the ceremony. Murad Shah mentioned that the S4 Project aims to facilitate the arrest of over 80,000 absconding criminals and reduce vehicular crime.

The system is designed to have the capabilities for crime prevention and deterrence. He also stated that the system will assist the police in identifying suspects and criminals, locating stolen vehicles, and conducting surveillance and investigations. This will enhance public safety, and improve traffic management, and overall efficiency. Additionally, it will help the police in analysing crime patterns.

Murad Shah said he approved Rs. 1.567 billion in 2022-23 to procure the ANPR Camera System by direct contract with M/s NRTC. “I am ready to provide funds to the police on the condition of providing him the best results,” he said.

The CM said his government was duty-bound to establish a crime-free society in the province. He recalled that in the early 1980s, people used to travel in police squads but when the PPP government came into power it improved overall law & order in the province and made the highways safe and secure.

Mr Shah vowed that the crime rate had increased during the caretaker government which his government has started controlling. “The Sindh police have started a well-coordinated targeted operation against the dacoits in the Kutcha area,” he said.

He added that the dacoits who had killed five policemen in the Ghotki district had been killed in the encounter.

Murad Ali Shah criticised the `social mafia brigade’ involved in spreading fake news to misguide the people. “A fake news of the killing of the injured camel’s owner was deliberately made viral but its rebuttal was not given the same space when the IG Police released it,” he lamented. Mr Shah said the social fabric was being torn apart through fake news.

Talking about the attitude of the mainstream media, the chief minister said that the killing of 62 people by criminals in the city hit the headlines but the arrest of the killers failed to make headlines. “We will have to change our attitudes and have to behave like responsible citizens, media and as members of the society”.

Just after the inauguration, the CM visited the Command & Control Centre where he was given a detailed briefing by the Inspector General of Police. The CM was informed about the implementation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and Face Recognition (FR) based smart surveillance on all listed Toll plazas in Sindh with central monitoring at CCC CPO Karachi. This includes all necessary equipment and tools.

The main components of the scope are as follows:

1. Capturing and Recognition of Authorized Number Plates through 9MP ANPR cameras (Night Vision) installed close to toll plazas.
2. Capturing and Recognition of Driver faces and co-drivers through 8MP FR cameras (Night vision) installed at all listed toll payment booths, ideally with driver door window glass lowered and the driver looking into the camera installed at the toll payment booth and to the passengers.
3. Installation of a complete Solar Power solution at each Toll Plaza with eight to 10 hours of battery backup.
4. Installation and configuration of Gensets power at all listed Toll plazas. Gensets for all Toll Plaza sites would be provided by Sindh Police with fuel.
5. Renovation and Establishment of Command & Control Room in CPO on the first floor for central monitoring with all facilities as per international standards.
6. Deployment of the latest AI and analytical tools for actionable intelligence with licenses.
7. Latest and compatible CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch system) for quick response through mobile patrol units deployed on both sides and close to all listed Toll plazas.
8. Ensure uninterrupted and smooth connectivity/communication at each Toll Plaza and its integration and communication with CCC, CAD, and Central Data Centre for five years from the date of acceptance.
9. Ensure required bandwidth at each site as per BOQ to ensure smooth and uninterrupted operations of the project till timely results – a maximum of 25 to 35 seconds is received at CAD system and smooth live streaming at CDC and CCC. Under smooth weather situations.

Behbood-e-Jawan Health Insurance:

The Chief Minister announced that 127,482 police employees and jawans are now covered by a comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, with a total outlay of Rs4.9 billion.

Under the scheme, each family will have a basic hospitalisation limit of Rs1 million and a room limit of Rs10,000. Additionally, a major medical extension pool of Rs1 billion has been established to be used in case the initial IPD limit is exhausted. The Insurance plan covers pre-hospitalization charges (30 days before admission), post-hospitalization charges (30 days after discharge), normal and C-Section delivery charges, and includes spouses, sons/daughters, and parents as dependents.

This Behbood-e-Jawan Health Insurance plan offers equal coverage to employees of all grades and includes all treatments, medications, and investigations during hospitalization, as well as coverage for emergency room treatment.

Special investigations are covered across Pakistan without any restriction on the number of family members. The Inspector General of Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, stated that each employee will receive a health insurance card, and only 5 per cent of admin charges will be applied to the utilized amount. Any unutilized amount will be reimbursed after deduction of applicable tax.

Earlier, Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar thanked the chief minister for providing funds for the installation of the S4 system. He hoped that the Thana Culture would be changed for which he was working hard. The IG Police Ghulam Nabi also spoke on the occasion.