LAHORE: The Punjab government will launch a dedicated Tourism Police to protect visitors and upgrade services at the province’s busiest attractions, officials said Friday.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered the force to be in place “as soon as possible.” In the first phase it will patrol Lahore, Murree, Nankana Sahib, Bahawalpur and the Kartarpur Corridor. The force will report to the provincial Inspector‑General of Police, while local RPOs and DPOs will handle day‑to‑day administration.
Modern kit, clear mission
Patrol vehicles will carry GPS trackers and software that records basic visitor data, allowing quick response to emergencies and crowd‑management problems. “Our goal is simple—safe tourists and secure heritage sites,” a senior Home Department official told Dawn.
Why it matters
Punjab is Pakistan’s top tourist draw, home to Mughal landmarks, Sikh and Hindu shrines, hill resorts and archaeological treasures:
| Area | Flagship sites |
|---|---|
| Lahore | Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens |
| Murree | Mall Road, Pindi Point, snow and summer trails |
| Kartarpur–Nankana Sahib | Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace temples |
| Bahawalpur | Noor Mahal, Derawar Fort, Cholistan Desert Rally |
| Taxila & Rohtas | UNESCO‑listed Gandhara ruins, 16th‑century fortress |
According to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, domestic trips topped 50 million in 2023, and Punjab captures roughly half of that flow. About 2 million foreigners visited Pakistan last year; more than 100,000 crossed the Kartarpur Corridor alone.
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Tourism Police planners say their presence—backed by CCTV, helplines and multilingual info desks—should reassure visitors and help revive numbers before the summer rush.
Bigger tourism toolkit
The province is already pushing heritage‑route apps, festival calendars and new rest areas. Road projects under CPEC have shortened drives to northern hill stations, while private operators in Lahore and Murree are bundling cultural and adventure packages for overseas groups.
Officials argue the new force knits these efforts together. “Promotion is pointless if people don’t feel safe,” a Tourism Department spokesperson said. “The Tourism Police will be our front line to keep Punjab open, welcoming and worry‑free.”
