Punjab issues one million computerised arms licenses

LAHORE: With the computerization of the arms licenses in Punjab, the provincial Home Department has issued at least one million computerized arms licenses in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) during the last few years and collected Rs4.5 billion as the license fee, The News learnt.

According to sources, the department has collected at least Rs one billion by issuing arms licenses from June 2020 to June 2021. The Department has deposited an amount of Rs 4.5 billion in the national exchequer which was collected after the computerization of the licenses.

According to department officials, the government has decided to hand over the powers of issuance and renewal of arms licenses to the Deputy Commissioners instead of the Punjab Home Department. The decision was taken several months ago and the summary was sent to the Punjab Chief Minister for approval which was recently given by the provincial Cabinet in a meeting which discussed the issue in detail.

Sources said the powers to issue and renew arms licenses were delegated to the Deputy Commissioners in view of the hardships people were facing during visit to Home Department from far away. The Deputy Commissioners have been authorized to change the inheritance of arms licences, the bore of the weapons and the number of bullets allowed according to the requirements of the license holders.

Sources further added that arms business dealers are being computerized. The computerized system is being installed at every arms dealer's shop with a server in the Home Department. Under the system, any arms dealer would not sell arms to a person who does not have legal license. The dealers will be required to enter the license number of those who bought even a single bullet or arms.