Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated Pakistan’s first virtual women police station, “Meri Awaz…Maryam Nawaz,” on Monday. During the inauguration at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), she emphasized the significance of this initiative in providing women with a convenient and accessible platform to address their grievances.
The Chief Minister stated that the virtual women police station would streamline the process for women seeking assistance, from registering complaints to investigation and trial procedures. She highlighted various channels through which women can reach out to the police, including the 15 Call service, Women Safety App’s live chat and video call features, Punjab Police App, and the Safe City web portal.
Privacy and confidentiality are prioritized in the virtual women police station, allowing women to share their concerns without disclosing personal details. The introduction of live video calls enables women to articulate their issues effectively, even pinpointing their location if necessary.
To ensure efficient communication, IT graduate women police communication officers have been assigned to the virtual women police station. Additionally, on the Chief Minister’s directive, modern emergency panic buttons have been installed at strategic locations across Lahore, connecting directly to the Safe City for immediate response.
Furthermore, mechanisms for lodging complaints against crimes, as well as police officers and officials, have been activated through helpline 1787 and the Safe City Authority Web Portal, guaranteeing anonymity for complainants.
During her visit to the virtual women police station, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz interacted with women communication police officers and directed the swift completion of facilities such as hostels and daycare centers for women officers. She also launched the “CM Maryam Nawaz Free Wi-Fi” service at over 50 locations in Lahore.
In a briefing, it was highlighted that Lahore is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence to issue challans for 19 traffic violations, a first in South Asia. Senior provincial ministers, including Marriyum Aurangzeb and Azma Zahid Bukhari, along with other officials, attended the inauguration ceremony, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing women’s safety and leveraging technology for public welfare.
