Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the fourth extraordinary meeting on law and order, in which important decisions were taken to make Punjab free from weapons. Punjab Government decided to completely eradicate arms and smuggling culture from the province by introducing new laws on drone policing, integrated security and arms regulation. It decided to re-examine and strictly scrutinize 01 million licensed weapons across the province by introducing Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025, which will be implemented in three phases including return of weapons, their destruction and enforcement of arms laws. Illegal arms holders in Punjab were directed to return their weapons within 15 days and a complete check of licensed arms will be conducted across the province very soon. A complete check of arms issued in Punjab will be conducted. The owner and issuer of licensed arms will be verified. It was also decided in the meeting that federal arms license holders in Punjab will also be checked and Punjab government will contact the federal government for their verification.
Punjab Government decided in the meeting that only police personnels and registered security guards will be allowed to possess weapons. Private security companies will be registered in Punjab under effective regulations. It was also decided that private security guards will be linked to Punjab Police Helpline 15, and a standard section will be created in Punjab Police for instant policing. A pilot project of drone policing will be launched in Lahore for early access to crime scenes. It was highlighted in the meeting that drone policing would ensure a quick, organized and digital response to any crime or emergency. As soon as a crime is reported, the police drone will immediately reach the crime scene so that the criminal can be tracked immediately. This drone policing system will later be expanded to the entire province.
Punjab Government decided to install modern weapon scanners at 14 important entry and exit points of Punjab. It was also decided in the meeting that arms smuggling will be dealt with an iron hand and will be punishable by 14 years imprisonment. Moreover, annual arms license fee will be increased by 100% to discourage arms culture.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that achieving the target of 100 per cent eradication of polio set by the government is a collective national mission that requires the full cooperation of every citizen.
In her message on the occasion of World Polio Day on Friday, the Chief Minister emphasized that the health and future of children can only be secured through the complete elimination of this crippling disease.
Separately, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that the courageous people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir laid the foundation of their freedom movement by raising the banner of revolt against the occupied Indian forces. She in her special message on the Foundation Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir said that October 24 marks the historic day when the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was established. She added that the Kashmir freedom struggle is a saga of sacrifice, passion and dignity.