Authorities in Karachi on Monday launched a modern command and control room aimed at tackling vehicle-related crime, equipped with advanced surveillance technology capable of identifying suspect vehicles within seconds.

The facility, established at the Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) office in collaboration with Community Policing Karachi (CPK), was inaugurated by Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar.

Addressing the ceremony, Lanjar said coordination between community policing and Safe City project officials would be strengthened to ensure swift resolution of law enforcement challenges. He also announced that the government would bear the cost of repairing surveillance cameras across the city.

Community Police Chief Murad Sohni said the command centre is equipped with high-tech Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

He stated that the system can identify vehicles involved in criminal activity within 30 seconds, significantly improving crime prevention, monitoring of suspicious movement, and response times.

Sohni added that the technology would enhance overall urban safety. He noted that CPK, established four years ago, now operates 18 centres across the city, playing a key role in promoting community policing.

Inspector General Sindh Javed Alam Odho said authorities plan to install cameras at 40 police stations, expressing confidence that the initiative would help reduce crime rates.

He claimed that the use of modern surveillance technology has already improved crime detection by up to 60 per cent.