QR panic buttons installed on 80,000 public transport vehicles in Lahore

LAHORE: Authorities have installed QR-based panic buttons on around 80,000 vehicles, including rickshaws, ride-hailing cars and public transport vehicles, ARY News reported.

The QR panic buttons are being installed as part of a safety initiative launched on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

According to the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), traffic teams are installing the QR panic buttons at 45 locations across the city.

The CTO said the QR-based system will enable women to seek assistance in case of harassment or other emergencies by using the panic code to contact the relevant authorities.

A dedicated team has been deployed in every traffic sector to facilitate the installation process, while 12 teams have specifically been assigned to rickshaws.

The CTO further said that, following requests from various rickshaw unions, four new licensing centres have also been established in Lahore.

CTO Abdul Rahim Shirazi said efforts were underway to promote smart traffic management and ensure the adoption of modern safety and security features across the city’s transport system.

Read more: Panic buttons installed in 39 women’s colleges, universities in Lahore

Authorities have also decided to take action against online cab services that fail to adopt the required safety and security features.

In the first phase, 39 institutions were equipped with the system, which will later be expanded to more than 450 women’s colleges across Punjab, a PSCA spokesperson said.

The panic buttons are linked to the PSCA’s central control room. Once pressed, an alert is sent to the Virtual Women Police Station, prompting a rapid police response. The system is designed to provide students a quick and reliable way to seek help when mobile phones are not accessible.