Punjab to enforce new arms laws, recheck one million licences

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Friday chaired the fourth extraordinary meeting on law and order, during which key decisions were made to make Punjab a weapon-free province.

The Punjab government decided to eliminate the culture of arms and smuggling by introducing new laws on drone policing, integrated security, and arms regulation. It was decided to re-examine and strictly scrutinise one million licenced weapons across the province under the proposed Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025.

The Act will be implemented in three phases: surrender of weapons, their destruction, and strict enforcement of arms laws. Holders of illegal arms in Punjab have been directed to surrender their weapons within 15 days. A comprehensive verification of all licenced weapons, their owners, and issuing authorities will also be conducted. The meeting further decided that arms licences issued by the federal government within Punjab will also be verified in coordination with federal authorities.

The Punjab government also decided that only police personnel and registered security guards will be allowed to possess firearms. Private security companies will be registered under strict regulations, and their guards will be linked with the Punjab Police Helpline 15. A dedicated section will be established within the Punjab Police for instant policing response.

A pilot project on drone policing will be launched in Lahore to ensure rapid access to crime scenes. The meeting was informed that drone policing would enable quick, organised, and digital responses to crimes and emergencies. Upon receiving a report of any crime, police drones will immediately reach the scene to track the suspects. The drone policing system will later be expanded across the province.

The government also decided to install modern weapon scanners at 14 major entry and exit points of Punjab. It was further resolved that arms smuggling would be dealt with an iron hand and made punishable by up to 14 years’ imprisonment. Additionally, the annual arms licence fee will be increased by 100 percent to discourage the proliferation of weapons.

In her message on World Polio Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that achieving the government’s target of complete

eradication of polio is a collective mission. She emphasised that children’s health can only be secured through the total elimination of the disease.

The chief minister said public cooperation is essential to achieve a polio-free society, adding that refusal of polio vaccination is, in fact, a denial of a better future for children. She paid tribute to polio workers, calling them the nation’s heroes, and lauded their dedicated services. She reiterated that the anti-polio vaccine is safe, effective, and vital for protecting children from the crippling disease.

In her special message on the Foundation Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that the courageous people of Jammu and Kashmir laid the foundation of their freedom movement by rising against the occupying Indian forces. She said that October 24 marks the historic day when the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was established, adding that the Kashmir freedom struggle is a saga of sacrifice, passion, and dignity.

The chief minister stressed that the United Nations resolution guaranteeing the right to self-determination for the Kashmiri people remains a heavy burden on the conscience of the international community. She reaffirmed her firm belief that freedom for Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is destined for the brave Kashmiri people.