- Advertisement -
LAHORE, Jul 15 (APP):The 33rd meeting of the Punjab Cabinet Committee on Law and Order was held on Tuesday at the Punjab Home Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister and Committee Chairman Khawaja Salman Rafique, where the overall law and order situation in the province was thoroughly reviewed.
Provincial Ministers Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath and Chaudhry Shafay Hussain participated as special guests while Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi and senior representatives from law enforcement agencies briefed the forum in detail.
The committee lauded the performance of the Home Department and security agencies in ensuring peace during first Ashra of Muharram. It approved the deployment of one wing of Pakistan Rangers each in Attock and Dera Ghazi Khan, while extending the deployment in Mianwali for an additional three months.
Proposals concerning the provision of resources to police forces operating in the Kacha areas were also discussed. The committee granted approval for the procurement of new tracked Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) for enhanced operational capability in the region.
In accordance with the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, the committee approved the purchase of modern equipment worth Rs. 1 billion to support ongoing law enforcement efforts in the Kacha belt. The forum also sanctioned the appointment of 90 price control magistrates across various districts to improve market regulation and consumer protection.
Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique reiterated the provincial government’s resolve to safeguard the lives and properties of citizens. “Our brave personnel who sacrifice their lives for the nation are our heroes,” he said.
Referring to a recent tragic incident, the minister said, “Nine innocent citizens from Punjab were brutally martyred while returning from Balochistan—an act of sheer barbarism.”
Chaudhry Shafay Hussain stated that the government remained in close contact with the families of the victims and prayed for the elevation of their ranks in the hereafter. He emphasised the importance of equipping the Punjab Police with modern weapons to maintain peace.
Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath commended the Home Department’s role in countering sectarian content on social media so far during Muharram and announced that police personnel would receive necessary training to operate advanced equipment in the Kacha areas.
Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi assured the committee that all necessary resources were being allocated for effective operations across sensitive regions.
The meeting was attended by Additional IG Police, Special Secretary Home Fazal-ur-Rehman, and senior officials from CTD, Special Branch, and other concerned departments while Additional Chief Secretary South Punjab Fawad Hashim Rabbani and Additional IG South Punjab Muhammad Kamran Khan were also present.
Commissioners, deputy commissioners, regional police officers and district police officers from border divisions and districts joined the meeting via video link.