President Asif Ali Zardari has approved a new ordinance designed to protect Islamabad’s Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure and recover the cost of any damage. The measure was approved on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the President’s House and Geo News.
The Safe City ordinance allows authorities to impose a financial penalty of up to Rs2 million for each damaged camera or piece of surveillance infrastructure. The rules also cover people who incite, encourage or otherwise contribute to damage to the system.
The ordinance is intended to strengthen protection for Islamabad’s growing surveillance network. It also provides specific provisions for damage linked to public gatherings. Organisers may be held responsible for losses caused during rallies, processions, sit-ins, protests, strikes or other gatherings, according to the reported provisions.
An authorised officer will assess the applicable penalty and the cost of repairing or replacing damaged equipment. The person facing the penalty must first be given an opportunity to present their case. They can challenge the determination before an Islamabad district and sessions judge within 30 days.
If a fine or compensation remains unpaid, the amount may be recovered as land revenue arrears. The funds collected under the ordinance are intended to support the repair or replacement of damaged Safe City cameras and related surveillance equipment.
The new rules come as Islamabad’s authorities continue expanding the city’s surveillance network. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had earlier directed officials to complete the expansion by September 30. Officials subsequently reported that around 85% of the expansion work had been completed, with 415 kilometres of optical fibre installed for the upgraded system.
Work on the data centre, cyber architecture and cybersecurity infrastructure was also reported to be around 80% complete.
The ordinance therefore introduces a specific compensation mechanism while the capital’s surveillance infrastructure is being expanded. Its practical impact will depend on how the penalties, responsibility for damage and appeal process are applied by the relevant authorities.
