The 49th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order was held at the Home Department on Monday, chaired by Provincial Minister and Chairman Khawaja Salman Rafique, with Provincial Minister and Co-Chairman Bilal Yaseen in special attendance. Provincial Ministers Chaudhry Shafay Hussain and Malik Sohaib Ahmad Bherth also attended the meeting, while Secretary Home Punjab Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi briefed the participants on the latest law and order situation across the province. The committee paid tribute to Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the administration and police for persuading dacoits in the Katcha areas to surrender their weapons in efforts to establish peace. It also approved the establishment of new police stations and police posts to maintain law and order in the riverine belt. The cabinet committee further approved the deployment of price control magistrates in various districts and directed that strict security arrangements be continued during Sehri, Iftar, Taraweeh and Friday prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. Speaking on the occasion, Salman Rafique said that a detailed review of the overall law and order situation in the province was conducted, adding that extraordinary security measures were being ensured during Ramazan. He termed bringing the Katcha area back into the mainstream from a no-go zone a major achievement and said the use of drones, thermal cameras and modern equipment had played a key role in successful operations. He reiterated that protection of life and property of citizens remained the state’s top priority. Bilal Yaseen directed all districts to ensure strict implementation of security guidelines issued by the Home Department and ordered special security cover for Ramazan bazaars and Ramazan dastarkhwans. He added that cabinet members were also present in the field alongside law enforcement agencies. Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said peace committees across Punjab would remain fully active during Ramazan and urged officials to perform their duties with dedication and missionary zeal. Sohaib Ahmad Bherth emphasised the need to closely monitor price control along with security arrangements during Ramazan and stressed ensuring that dacoits in the katcha areas do not regroup. Secretary Home Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi informed the meeting that SOP-based deployment had been ensured at 80,000 mosques and imambargahs across Punjab. He added that Ramazan dastarkhwans across the province were being linked with Safe City through the Public Safety Application. During the briefing, it was informed that price control magistrates had imposed fines amounting to Rs 57.7 million so far in February and registered 288 cases. Secretary Home Punjab, Secretary Food Safety and Consumer Protection Dr Kiran Khurshid, Additional IG Operations Muhammad Ali Nekokara, DIG Special Branch and CTD, Additional Secretary Internal Security, Additional Secretary Police, Additional Secretary Judicial and other relevant officials attended the meeting, while commissioners, RPOs, deputy commissioners and DPOs from across Punjab participated via video link.
Punjab cabinet committee reviews Ramazan security
Published on: February 24, 2026 1:19 AM