Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that the province faces greater security threats from neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries. Speaking at an artificial intelligence technology event in Lahore, she highlighted dangers emanating from the tri-border area and border regions with other provinces. Joint checkposts have been strengthened with new equipment and security measures to counter these threats.
The chief minister noted that security personnel had previously suffered heavy casualties at checkposts and faced militants with superior weapons and night-vision equipment. She said checkposts have now been equipped with bulletproof protection, thermal imaging and night-vision cameras to reduce casualties. She pledged that law and order would be maintained with all available resources dedicated to eliminating terrorism and extremism.
CM Maryam said difficult decisions had been taken to maintain peace, and areas where state authority was challenged had been addressed. She claimed that riverine areas, previously crime hubs for decades, have been cleared and turned into crime-free zones, with crime in Punjab declining by up to 70 percent. She stressed that law enforcement alongside development is essential, asking what benefit development projects bring if people suffer theft or financial loss.
The chief minister announced a decisive campaign against corruption, with a citizen helpline established to report corrupt practices. She said body cameras had been provided to police to monitor their activities, and that religious festivals have recently passed peacefully. She also highlighted efforts to remove encroachments while providing vendors with alternative livelihoods and initiatives to improve traffic discipline and road safety.