Islamabad Becomes Safer Than London and NYC
News Desk
Islamabad: A historic 20 percent decline in crime has elevated Islamabad to the 93rd position out of 380 cities in Numbeo’s latest World Safety Index—placing the Pakistani capital ahead of major global metropolises such as London, New York, Moscow, and Barcelona.
According to a spokesperson for the Islamabad Police, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, who took charge on April 22, 2024, has implemented sweeping reforms that significantly enhanced public safety and operational efficiency within the force.
The spokesperson said that serious crimes—including robbery, dacoity, murder, and vehicle theft—dropped substantially, with 600 fewer cases reported in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Key reforms included the establishment of a state-of-the-art Command and Control Center at CTD and Safe City, reorganization of the Special Branch, and the creation of specialized units such as the Dolphin Emergency Response Unit and Sherdil Squad. Additionally, elite commandos were deployed in the high-security Red Zone.
Specialized units like the Margalla Trail Patrol, Ababeel Squad, City Watchers, and the K-9 Unit have been deployed to secure recreational, commercial, and sensitive areas. A dedicated Special Protection Unit was also established to ensure the security of Chinese nationals residing in the capital.
To improve public accessibility to police services, innovative initiatives such as the “Police Station on Wheels,” the renovation of all police stations under the SIPS project, and the launch of the Cascade Police Service Center in the Diplomatic Enclave were introduced.
The police also embraced advanced technology for predictive policing through AI-powered tools such as Hunch Lab, the Cyber Security Digital Sophistication Project, and the Virtual Patrolling Officer initiative.
The ongoing anti-narcotics drive, titled “Drugs! Not Anymore,” led to the arrest of 2,896 suspects and the recovery of substantial quantities of narcotics. Over 21,000 cases were registered during the year, with thousands of absconders and repeat offenders apprehended.
Throughout the year, Islamabad Police provided security for 11 international conferences, 12 foreign delegations, 69 VVIP movements, 497 protests, and 756 major events.
To foster public trust and enhance service delivery, several citizen-centric services were launched, including the online Women Police Station, the IGP Complaint Cell (1715), special facilitation services for senior citizens by Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), and a variety of community engagement programs.
