The Punjab Home Department has introduced a data-driven framework to digitize the tracking and management of seized unregistered firearms, marking a key step toward modernizing public safety and law enforcement operations across the province. The department has instructed all deputy commissioners, district police officers (DPOs), city police officers (CPOs), and the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore to submit detailed digital reports of confiscated firearms within three days. The initiative aims to build a centralized arms monitoring database that enhances accountability, transparency, and traceability through digital record-keeping.
According to an official circular issued by Section Officer (Judicial-I) M Qasim Sandhu, the initiative forms part of Punjab’s broader digital policing strategy. The directive requires district authorities to compile detailed digital inventories of all seized firearms, covering information such as type, make, model, calibre, serial number, case reference, and current custody status. This data will be submitted in both hard and electronic formats to the Home Department and the Crime Control Department (CCD), serving as the foundation of an integrated, province-wide arms control system. The department stated that the initiative aims to reduce the presence of unregistered firearms, which continue to pose risks to community safety and law enforcement operations.
A spokesperson for the Home Department said that the digitization effort underscores the provincial government’s commitment to maintaining peace and public security through a transparent, technology-driven approach. Punjab has already completed a comprehensive verification and digitization of all arms licenses and dealerships in collaboration with NADRA, ensuring that each license—individual or institutional—can be digitally traced and verified. The integration with NADRA allows for real-time monitoring of licensed firearms, improving oversight and minimizing the potential for misuse or unauthorized possession.
Officials explained that this digital tracking initiative also complements the implementation of the Punjab Surrender of Arms Act 2025, which recently provided a 15-day amnesty for citizens to voluntarily declare or hand over unregistered firearms. Following the amnesty, individuals found in possession of unregistered weapons face penalties ranging from four to fourteen years in prison and fines between Rs1 million and Rs3 million. The Home Department aims to transition from reactive enforcement to proactive, intelligence-based arms management through data analytics and coordinated information sharing between provincial and district authorities.
Law enforcement agencies have been directed to enhance digital coordination between border surveillance and provincial security units, ensuring efficient documentation and secure storage of seized firearms. The new measures include electronic recordkeeping, digital submission of reports, and integration of firearm data into centralized monitoring dashboards. Additionally, the government is introducing a digital registry for private security companies that will be linked with the Punjab Police Helpline 15, enabling real-time verification of registered security personnel and firearm holders. Only authorized guards and licensed entities will be permitted to operate under these updated regulations.
Officials reaffirmed that Punjab’s move toward a digitized arms control framework reflects its commitment to strengthening law enforcement through technology and data transparency. The combination of NADRA integration, CCD coordination, and centralized digital reporting will enable smarter, more accountable policing practices, improving citizen safety and supporting the province’s long-term peace and governance objectives.
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