LAHORE: Punjab is expanding the use of body cameras and panic buttons as part of a wider police reform drive aimed at improving transparency, accountability and emergency response across the province.

The provincial government has set September 30, 2026 as the deadline for equipping Punjab Police personnel with body cameras, according to a recent review of the province’s law and order measures.

Body cameras are intended to provide a digital record of police operations, particularly during raids, while helping improve oversight of officers and interactions with citizens. Earlier implementation of the project had faced delays, with a plan for 14,000 body cameras remaining incomplete in several areas.

The province is also expanding its panic button system, designed to allow citizens or personnel to alert authorities quickly during emergencies.

Punjab has already deployed QR-based panic buttons in several security and public-safety initiatives. The system allows users to connect with emergency services through calls, video calls or live chat, while sharing relevant location and vehicle information with control rooms.

The expansion is part of Punjab’s broader move towards technology-driven policing. The province has also expanded its Safe Cities surveillance network, with thousands of cameras integrated into a central monitoring system across its districts.

Officials say the combination of body-worn cameras, digital surveillance and panic buttons could improve police response times while creating greater transparency in law-enforcement operations.