Weapons regulation finally falls under Punjab govt’s radar

Experts believe weak oversight allowed arms to be smuggled, licenses to be issued on political grounds

LAHORE:

Amidst the growing use of illegal weapons in crimes across Punjab, the provincial government has finalized a comprehensive policy aimed at curbing illegal arms and improving law and order. The policy, prepared by the Punjab Home Department, is expected to be presented to the provincial cabinet for approval in the coming weeks.

Under the proposed policy, all weapons licences across Punjab will be re-verified. Licenses of suspicious individuals may be cancelled, and a digital weapons registry will be established to improve monitoring and transparency.

The government is also considering a time-bound amnesty scheme to allow people in illegal possession of weapons to voluntarily surrender them before a province-wide crackdown begins.

Despite these measures still in the initial stages, public anxiety is already evident. A resident from Lahore, speaking on the condition of anonymity, urged the government to avoid an immediate crackdown and instead provide sufficient time and facilitation for compliance.

Experts, on the other hand, maintained that the government's attempt to regulate the circulation of illegal arms was too little, too late. 

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Defense analyst Brigadier (R) Ghazanfar Askari welcomed the policy but believed that action should have been taken much earlier. “Illegal weapons were historically smuggled from Afghanistan into Pakistan through organized networks. Weak oversight allowed weapons to flood Punjab.

Furthermore, in the past, weapons licenses were often issued on political grounds,” said Askari, who urged the government to compile records, take action accordingly, and secure immediate cabinet approval to ensure swift implementation.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has suspended the verification and computerization of old manual weapons licenses. Citizens, institutions, and security companies holding manual licenses had been given a final opportunity in March 2025 to convert them into computerized licenses. However, after nearly ten months, the revalidation and computerization process has now been halted.

The Punjab Home Department revealed that there are one million NADRA-verified weapons licenses in the province, all currently under review. Manual (copy-based) licenses have been permanently abolished and can no longer be computerized. A fresh verification of licenses issued by DC offices is underway.

Once legislation is finalised, the government will resume a strict crackdown, including penalties, while offering a time-bound amnesty for voluntary surrender of illegal weapons.

Licences not renewed within the prescribed period will be cancelled. Authorities are also finalizing designated surrender points and record-keeping procedures. Any illegal license linked to a crime will face strict legal action.

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Once legislation is finalised, the government plans to resume a strict crackdown, including penalties, alongside a time-bound amnesty for voluntary surrender of illegal weapons. Licences not renewed within the prescribed period will be cancelled. Authorities are also finalising designated surrender points and record-keeping procedures. Any illegal licence linked to a crime will face strict legal action.

A Home Department spokesperson said reports have also been sought regarding the surrender of illegal weapons and progress under the de-weaponisation campaign. Commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab have been directed to submit their reports by November 13.

The computerisation of manual weapons licences was first launched in 2016, with December 31, 2020, set as the final deadline. Licences not computerised by that date were cancelled, yet illegal weapons continue to circulate.

Official sources said that in recent months, police, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), and district administrations have conducted joint search-and-combing operations across the province, recovering large quantities of unlicensed weapons and registering hundreds of cases. Officials described these actions as the practical beginning of a zero-tolerance policy against illegal arms.

The proposed policy also includes a complete ban on aerial firing at weddings, public gatherings, and political events, with immediate arrests for violations. Tribal traditions, inherited weapons, and inter-provincial smuggling have been identified as key contributors to the spread of illegal arms.

Districts bordering Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will receive special attention, with plans for stronger check posts and enhanced surveillance.