Authorities have installed QR-based panic buttons on around 80,000 vehicles in Lahore, including rickshaws, ride-hailing cars and public transport vehicles, as part of a new initiative aimed at improving women’s safety.
The programme was launched on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with traffic teams currently installing the QR-based system at 45 locations across the city.
According to the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), the system is designed to allow women facing harassment or other emergencies to use a panic code to quickly contact the relevant authorities and seek assistance.
Dedicated teams have been deployed in every traffic sector to facilitate installation, while 12 teams have been assigned specifically to rickshaws.
CTO Abdul Rahim Shirazi said authorities were working to introduce smarter traffic management and modern safety and security features throughout Lahore’s transport system.
Following requests from rickshaw unions, authorities have also established four new licensing centres in Lahore.
Officials have warned that online ride-hailing services that fail to adopt the required safety and security measures could face action.
The vehicle initiative follows the introduction of panic buttons at 39 women’s colleges and universities in Lahore. Authorities plan to eventually expand that system to more than 450 women’s colleges across Punjab.
According to the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA), the institutional panic buttons are connected directly to its central control room. When activated, an alert is transmitted to the Virtual Women Police Station, allowing police to respond rapidly.
The system is intended to provide women and students with an additional way to summon assistance during an emergency, particularly in situations where they may be unable to access or use a mobile phone.