The Punjab Home Department has taken a significant step toward provincial de-weaponisation by immediately suspending all revalidation and computerisation processes for manual arms licences across Punjab.
Immediate Suspension of Licence Computerisation
The provincial government has withdrawn its February 25 directive that offered citizens and institutions a final opportunity to digitize their old arms licences. This decision effectively cancels the last-chance window provided earlier this year for converting manual licences to computerized formats.
A fresh circular issued to all divisional commissioners and the home department additional secretary (judicial) has instructed authorities to stop accepting new applications and cancel all previous instructions related to the computerisation process. The move represents a complete reversal of the government's position from just months ago.
Preparation for Province-wide De-weaponisation
The home department clarified that this suspension serves as a preparatory measure before launching a comprehensive province-wide campaign aimed at seizing illicit weapons and ammunition. As part of this preparation, authorities have been directed to compile consolidated reports detailing all arms licence-related activities conducted since February 25.
These reports must include specific information about the number of applications received, manual booklets sent for verification, and cases where licences were declared genuine or fake after scrutiny by deputy commissioners. This data will help shape the upcoming de-weaponisation initiative.
Background and Legal Framework
The government's arms licence computerisation project originally began in 2016 with the objective of replacing outdated manual licences with computerized records issued through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). This reform aimed to prevent forgery, ensure accountability, and streamline verification processes.
The initial deadline for computerisation was December 31, 2020, after which all unverified manual licences were automatically cancelled. However, in February this year, the provincial government reopened the process for a limited period, giving citizens, institutions, and private security firms one last opportunity to verify and digitize their licences.
In late October, the provincial administration introduced new legislation under the Punjab Surrender of Illegal Arms Act 2025, offering a 15-day amnesty for voluntary surrender of unlicensed weapons. Under this legal framework, offenders found possessing illegal arms after the amnesty period face imprisonment for up to 14 years and fines ranging from Rs1 million to Rs3 million.
The department stated these measures were designed to "eradicate the circulation of illegal weapons and ensure lasting peace and public safety" across Punjab. Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari had earlier noted that the government, in collaboration with NADRA, had digitized processes related to the issuance, renewal, and verification of weapon licences.
The home department has also directed all district administrations to provide detailed data on seized illegal arms to help finalize the operational phase of the de-weaponisation campaign. This new policy is expected to significantly impact citizens who were still in the process of computerizing their old licences. The government has yet to clarify whether pending applicants will receive another opportunity or if their manual licences will be deemed invalid following this suspension.
