The National Database and Registration Authority has officially simplified the process for acquiring firearms licenses in Punjab, making it possible for citizens to complete their biometric verification directly through the Pak ID mobile application as of April 17, 2026. The move represents a significant shift in how arms licensing is handled in the province, replacing a previously cumbersome procedure with a streamlined digital workflow that removes the need for in-person visits to government offices.
Under the new system, citizens can submit their firearm applications entirely online through the official Punjab Arms License website at pal.nadra.gov.pk. Once the application is submitted, biometric verification can be completed instantly through the Pak ID app, with the digital integration designed to eliminate the procedural difficulties that applicants previously faced. The end-to-end online process marks a meaningful step toward reducing bureaucratic friction in a licensing domain that has historically involved multiple manual touchpoints and considerable delays.
The digital transition follows a strict notification issued by the Punjab Home Department in November 2025, which immediately halted all manual and institutional firearms licensing processes, stopped manual renewals and older computerization procedures, and rescinded all prior instructions regarding these operations. Existing holders of older manual licenses were given a final opportunity to transition to the new computerized licensing system, with the Home Department making clear that the shift to digital processing was a firm and non-negotiable policy direction rather than a phased or optional reform.
Alongside the licensing digitisation, the Punjab Home Department has also demanded strict accountability on the province’s broader security agenda. Divisional commissioners and judicial additional secretaries have been required to submit detailed progress reports covering all licenses computerized between March and November 2025, as well as comprehensive updates on the ongoing collection of illegal firearms and the overall progress of the province-wide de-weaponization campaign. The pairing of digital licensing reform with active de-weaponization reporting reflects a coordinated effort to not only modernize administrative processes but also tighten oversight of the weapons ecosystem across Punjab at the same time.
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