Punjab govt suspends manual weapon license computerization process

Lahore (Web Desk): The Punjab government has made a significant decision to suspend the computerization and verification process for manual weapon licenses. According to a spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department, the process of computerizing old manual weapon licenses has now been postponed.

Previously, the government had provided a final opportunity for citizens and institutions holding manual weapon licenses to complete the computerization process. However, under the new decision, the revalidation and computerization of individual, institutional, and security company manual weapon licenses has been immediately halted. The Home Department has issued a new directive regarding this change.

The Home Department has declared all previous orders null and void and has instructed divisional commissioners and the additional secretary judicial to submit a report on the computerization of licenses completed between March and November. Additionally, reports have also been requested regarding the collection of illegal weapons and the ongoing de-weaponization campaign in the province.

It is noteworthy that the Home Department had initiated the computerization of manual weapon licenses in 2016, setting the final deadline for completion as December 31, 2020. After this date, any licenses that had not been computerized were to be canceled.

Under the new guidelines, all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners have been sent a circular, with instructions to submit their reports by the evening of November 13.