Punjab Safe Cities Becomes Pakistan’s First AI-Certified Public Body
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority has secured a major international certification in artificial intelligence, becoming Pakistan’s first public-sector institution to receive recognition for an Artificial Intelligence Management System. The development was announced in Lahore on Monday under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s Digital Punjab vision, placing the authority in a prominent position within Pakistan’s growing public technology landscape.
According to officials, the authority has obtained the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Artificial Intelligence Management System certification. The standard is linked to governance, risk management and responsible operation of AI systems, making the achievement significant for a public agency that handles large-scale surveillance, policing support and digital monitoring operations.
The authority said it developed its artificial intelligence infrastructure internally rather than depending entirely on outside vendors. Twelve AI systems created within the organisation reportedly met international lifecycle standards, covering areas from development and integration to operational use and compliance review.
Officials said international experts from SGS carried out detailed audits of the Safe Cities headquarters, operational sections and AI infrastructure before granting certification. The review examined whether the authority’s systems, management structure and operational safeguards were aligned with international expectations for artificial intelligence governance.
The certified systems include Smart Vision AI, facial recognition, automatic number plate recognition, intelligent traffic management, crime analytics and AI-based governance monitoring. These technologies are linked with a network of more than 24,000 cameras across Punjab, allowing authorities to support policing, traffic control and public-safety decisions through real-time data.
The Punjab Safe Cities Authority is also now being described as the only public-sector institution in Pakistan holding both ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 certifications. ISO 27001 is associated with information-security management, while the newer AI certification adds another layer of formal recognition for technology governance.
Punjab has increasingly relied on Safe Cities systems for monitoring major roads, urban centres, sensitive locations and traffic violations. The project has gradually expanded from Lahore to other districts, with officials presenting it as a model for technology-assisted policing and faster emergency response.
For Pakistan, the certification could have wider implications beyond Punjab. It may encourage other public departments to formalise AI governance, data protection and accountability practices at a time when artificial intelligence is entering administration, policing, healthcare, education and citizen services.
The next challenge for the authority will be to maintain international compliance while ensuring transparency, privacy safeguards and public trust. As AI-based monitoring expands, officials will be expected to demonstrate that technological gains are matched by clear rules, independent oversight and measurable improvements in public safety.