- Ordinance allows fines up to Rs2 million per camera.
- Inciting or encouraging damage will also attracts penalties.
- Unpaid penalties may be recovered as land revenue.
President Asif Ali Zardari has approved an ordinance aimed at protecting Islamabad’s Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure from damage and ensuring compensation for losses, the President’s House said in a statement on Saturday.
The Islamabad Capital Territory Safe City Camera and Surveillance Infrastructure Protection and Damage Compensation Ordinance was approved on the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to the statement.
It said the ordinance seeks to protect Safe City cameras and surveillance systems and ensure compensation in case of damage.
Under the ordinance, financial penalties can be imposed for damaging Safe City cameras or surveillance infrastructure, or for inciting or encouraging such damage.
A penalty of up to Rs2 million for each damaged camera or piece of surveillance infrastructure can be imposed under the ordinance.
Organisers may also be held responsible for damage caused during rallies, processions, sit-ins, protests, strikes or other gatherings.
The statement said an authorised officer will determine the applicable fine and the cost of the damage after giving the person concerned an opportunity to present their case.
The affected person can challenge the determination before the an Islamabad district and sessions judge within 30 days.
Unpaid fines or damage compensation can be recovered as land revenue arrears, while the funds collected will be used to repair or replace Safe City cameras and surveillance infrastructure, the President’s House said.
The ordinance comes as authorities work to expand Islamabad’s Safe City surveillance network.
On August 7, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed officials to complete the expansion by September 30 after reviewing its progress at the Safe City Headquarters.
Officials said 85% of the expansion and new surveillance network had been completed, with 415 kilometres of optical fibre laid for the upgraded system. Work on the data centre, cyber architecture and cybersecurity infrastructure was also around 80% complete, Naqvi was told.
