LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the fourth special meeting on law and order, where major decisions were made to make Punjab a weapon-free province.
According to reports, the Punjab government has decided to end the culture of arms and smuggling by introducing new laws on drone policing, integrated security, and arms regulation. Under the proposed Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025, about one million licensed weapons across the province will be re-examined and strictly verified.
The new law will be implemented in three phases — surrender of weapons, their destruction, and strict enforcement of arms laws. Holders of illegal weapons have been directed to surrender them within 15 days.
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A province-wide verification of all licensed weapons, their owners, and issuing authorities will also be carried out. Arms licences issued by the federal government in Punjab will be verified in coordination with federal agencies.
It was also decided that only police officials and registered security guards will be allowed to carry firearms. Private security firms will be registered under strict regulations, and their guards will be linked with the Punjab Police Helpline 15. A special section will be set up within the Punjab Police for quick response to emergencies.
A pilot project for drone policing will soon be launched in Lahore to ensure fast response to crime scenes. The meeting was told that drone policing would allow immediate and organised tracking of suspects. The system will later be expanded to other districts.
The government will also install modern weapon scanners at 14 major entry and exit points of the province. Arms smuggling will be made punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and the annual arms licence fee will be doubled to discourage illegal weapon possession.
Meanwhile, in her message on World Polio Day, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that eradicating polio completely is a shared national mission.
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She stressed that children’s health can only be protected through total elimination of the disease. She urged public cooperation, saying refusal of vaccination denies children a healthier future. She also paid tribute to polio workers, calling them national heroes, and assured that the polio vaccine is safe and essential for every child.
In a separate message marking the Foundation Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said the brave people of Jammu and Kashmir began their freedom struggle by standing up against Indian occupation. She said October 24 is a historic day marking the establishment of the AJK government, adding that the Kashmiri struggle reflects courage, sacrifice, and honour.
Maryam Nawaz said the United Nations’ resolution on the right to self-determination for Kashmiris remains a moral test for the global community. She reaffirmed her belief that freedom for Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is inevitable for its brave people.
