Following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday, the Punjab government has directed law enforcement agencies to continue operations against illegally residing Afghans and to implement necessary measures for the digital monitoring of individuals on the Fourth Schedule.

During the briefing, the Chief Minister directed officials to continue combing operations in sensitive areas across the province to ensure security.

It was also decided to introduce legislation for stricter penalties against individuals damaging public property, with special mention of the Safe City camera network.

In a separate major initiative, the provincial administration approved the “Chief Minister Punjab Honorarium Card for Imams,” setting a final issuance date of February 2026.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif ordered that initial honorarium payments begin from January 1 through pay orders. The payment system is planned to transition to the new honorarium cards from February 1.

The registration process for religious scholars will continue, with the government having already received 62,994 applications from Imams across Punjab. The verification process for these applicants is currently underway.

The government clarified that if an Imam is found involved in activities against national interests or engaged in moral or financial crimes, their honorarium will be discontinued.

To improve local administration, Mosque Administration Committees and Tehsil Administration Committees have been established across the province.

The Chief Minister also instructed all Assistant Commissioners to hold monthly meetings with local Imams to foster communication.