Punjab Police has planned to introduce advanced smart vans across the province to identify vehicles with unpaid e-challans and detect wanted criminals in public places.
Under the initial phase of the project, the police department intends to purchase 50 Police Eye Smart Vans and has requested more than Rs. 500 million from the Punjab government to finance the initiative.
According to police officials, the purchase proposal has been resubmitted to the provincial government after the department addressed objections raised by the Home Department.
The proposed vehicles will use advanced surveillance technology to improve traffic monitoring, assist criminal identification and strengthen police operations across Punjab.
How Police Eye Smart Vans Will Work
The proposed smart vans will feature advanced 360-degree cameras capable of scanning vehicles and individuals on roads and in public spaces.
The surveillance system will be designed to identify vehicles with outstanding traffic fines and detect individuals listed as wanted by law enforcement agencies.
The cameras will reportedly have a detection range of up to 100 metres, allowing the system to continuously monitor vehicles and individuals within its coverage area.
The vans will also be connected to the Safe Cities Authority’s surveillance network. This integration will enable police personnel to receive immediate alerts when the system identifies suspicious vehicles or wanted criminals.
In addition to criminal identification and traffic enforcement, the technology will help detect overloaded vehicles and generate alerts with a single click.
Punjab Police Plans to Use Electric Vehicles
To reduce fuel expenses and operational costs, Punjab Police intends to purchase electric vehicles for the smart van project.
The vehicles will be converted into fully equipped mobile surveillance units under the supervision of Additional Inspector General (IG) Logistics Fawaduddin Qureshi.
According to officials, each smart van is expected to cost approximately Rs. 11 million, including its surveillance equipment and related technology.
With 50 vehicles planned for the first phase, the estimated procurement cost would reach around Rs. 550 million, subject to the final approved specifications and purchase arrangements.
Smart Vans to Be Distributed Across Punjab
Once the provincial government approves the proposal, the Punjab Police plans to distribute the smart vans among districts according to operational requirements.
Each district is expected to receive between one and three vehicles to support monitoring activities and improve the detection of traffic violations and wanted individuals.
The initiative is intended to expand the use of technology in routine policing while helping officers identify traffic violations and respond more quickly to potential security threats.
The project will also extend the role of the Safe Cities Authority’s surveillance infrastructure by connecting mobile monitoring units with existing monitoring systems.
However, the proposal remains subject to government approval and the completion of the procurement process. The department has yet to announce a confirmed purchase or deployment date.
