Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have connected surveillance drones and anti-drone systems deployed across the province to the Safe City Peshawar Command and Control Centre, creating a central monitoring network for police and Counter-Terrorism Department operations. The integration is intended to improve the flow of live information from field units and strengthen the response to hostile unmanned aircraft.
Dawn reported that video feeds from police drones operating anywhere in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can now be monitored at the Peshawar centre, including during operations carried out by the police and the Counter-Terrorism Department against terrorists. The system combines the province’s Safe City camera network with anti-drone equipment and surveillance platforms.
Centralised monitoring for field operations
Safe Cities Project Director and Deputy Inspector General of Police Ijaz Ahmad said the linked systems would allow hostile quadcopters and drones to be detected promptly and neutralised. He was speaking at a news conference at the Command and Control Centre, according to Dawn.
“Now, during a police operation in any area, live video footage captured by drones will be transmitted to the central Command and Control Centre. This will keep senior police officers directly informed about the ground situation and help them support field operations effectively,” Ijaz Ahmad said.
The arrangement is also intended to give senior police officers a live view of operations conducted by units in different parts of the province. According to Ahmad, the central facility will support the timely sharing of information and improve coordination between police formations and teams involved in counter-terrorism operations.
Anti-drone coverage across five districts
Modern anti-drone systems have been installed in Peshawar and four other districts. Police personnel in remote and sensitive areas have also received dedicated anti-drone guns, Ahmad said.
| Capability or equipment | Locations or role |
|---|---|
| Anti-drone systems | Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Tank and Bannu |
| Anti-drone guns | Issued to police personnel in remote and sensitive areas |
| Police surveillance drones | Live feeds transmitted to the Peshawar Command and Control Centre |
The police have also incorporated monitoring and control of surveillance drones into the central system. This means footage from drones deployed during an operation can be sent to the command centre for review by senior officers while teams remain engaged in the field. The stated objective is to provide commanders with faster information about developments on the ground and assist their support to operational units.
Connectivity remains a constraint
Ahmad acknowledged that inadequate internet connectivity in some areas remains a challenge to extending the system across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police are working with the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) to improve internet and communication facilities in remote locations.
The development places surveillance drones, counter-drone equipment and command-and-control infrastructure within a single provincial security network. Its effectiveness will depend on the availability of communications links in the areas where police operations take place, an issue the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police have identified as requiring further work.
