Punjab Launches AI-Powered ‘Talk to Camera’ Monitoring System After Child’s Tragic Manhole Incident

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has introduced an advanced AI-powered public safety monitoring system aimed at detecting urban hazards in real time. The new technology automatically identifies risks such as open manholes, overflowing garbage bins, roadside smoke, fire outbreaks, and other visible threats, instantly sending alerts to relevant authorities for quick action.

The initiative was launched shortly after a seven-year-old boy tragically died after falling into an uncovered manhole on the Kahror Pacca–Lodhran Highway—an incident that highlighted the urgent need for smarter, preventive monitoring systems across the province.

The system, officially named “Talk to Camera,” has been developed by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA). It allows officers to search the entire CCTV camera network using natural language commands, making it easier for law enforcement and city management teams to locate hazards or analyze incidents without manually scanning footage.

Following successful pilot testing in Lahore and Sheikhupura, the Punjab government has now begun deploying the AI monitoring system across the province. Officials say the technology will significantly improve urban safety, help prevent accidents, and modernize the province’s emergency response capabilities.