Drone policing in Lahore approved

Punjab govt to verify all weapon licences

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has decided to introduce new laws on drone policing, integrated security and arms regulation to eradicate weapons smuggling.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired the fourth extraordinary meeting on law and order, in which important decisions were taken to make the province free of weapons.

The government decided to re-examine and strictly scrutinise one million licensed weapons across the province by introducing the Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025, which will be implemented in three phases of return of weapons, their destruction and enforcement of arms laws.

Illegal arms holders were directed to surrender their weapons within 15 days, and a complete check of licensed arms will be conducted across the province soon.

The owners and issuers of licensed arms will be verified.

It was decided in the meeting that federal arms licence holders in Punjab will also be checked and the provincial government will contact the central authorities for their verification.

The Punjab government decided that only police personnel 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 with the Punjab Police Helpline 15, and a section will be created foe related policing activities.

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, organised 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.

The Punjab government decided to install modern weapon scanners at 14 important entry and exit points of the province. It was decided in the meeting that arms smuggling will be dealt with an iron hand and will be punishable with 14-year imprisonment.

Moreover, annual arms licence fee will be doubled to discourage the weapons culture.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said in her message on the Foundation Day of Azad Jammu and Kashmir that the courageous people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir had laid the foundation of their freedom movement by raising the banner of revolt against the occupying Indian forces. She stated 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.

The chief minister emphasised that the United Nations resolutions guaranteeing the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people remain a heavy burden on the conscience of the international community. She reiterated her firm belief that the freedom of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is now written in the destiny of the brave Kashmiri people.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also extended her heartfelt congratulations to Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan on his appointment as the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia.