The Punjab government today issued a strict 15-day deadline for the surrender of all illegal firearms, initiating a sweeping campaign to eliminate the province’s pervasive arms and smuggling culture. This decisive action, part of a broader strategy announced by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, will also involve the rigorous re-examination of one million licensed weapons.
During the fourth extraordinary meeting on law and order, it was resolved to introduce the Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025. This legislation will be rolled out in three phases, beginning with the voluntary return of illicit weapons, followed by their destruction, and culminating in the strict enforcement of new arms regulations.
The government mandated a comprehensive verification process for all provincially issued arms licenses, confirming the identities of both the owner and the issuing authority. In a move to ensure complete oversight, Punjab will also coordinate with the federal government to check and verify all federal arms license holders residing within the province.
In a significant policy shift, the possession of firearms will be restricted to police personnel and registered security guards only. The administration will introduce effective regulations for the registration of private security companies, whose guards will be linked directly to the Punjab Police Helpline 15 to ensure coordinated and rapid response.
To enhance law enforcement”s technological capabilities, a pilot project for drone policing will be launched in Lahore. Officials highlighted that this system will provide a quick, organized, and digital response to emergencies. Upon reporting a crime, a police drone will be immediately dispatched to the scene to track criminals, with plans to later expand the initiative across the entire province.
Further measures to combat the flow of illegal arms include the installation of modern weapon scanners at 14 key entry and exit points of Punjab. The government is also taking a hard-line stance on smuggling, with new legislation making the offense punishable by 14 years of imprisonment. To discourage the widespread possession of firearms, the annual arms license fee will be increased by 100%.