The Home Department, encapsulates a commitment to maintaining law and order, ensuring the safety and security of citizens.
The department is dedicated to uphold peace and public order through effective governance, rigorous law enforcement, and takes proactive measures to prevent crime and civil unrest. By fostering an environment where laws are respected and followed, the Home Department acts to create a secure and stable society. This requires strong collaboration with law enforcement agencies, ongoing evaluation and enhancement of public safety strategies, and the adoption of advanced technologies for surveillance and crime prevention.
The home department’s sub units like the Punjab Prisons, Punjab Probation and Parole Service, Punjab Forensic Science Agency, and Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drugs Authority are integral to the Criminal Justice System, ensuring justice for the community. The Child Protection & Welfare Bureau and Directorate of Civil Defence also fulfill their responsibilities in supporting neglected and destitute children and ensuring public safety across the province. The Home Department emphasizes transparency, accountability, and community engagement to build trust between the public and law enforcement agencies. Throughout the year 2024, the Home Department strove to create a safe and orderly environment where the rule of law is upheld, contributing to the overall well-being and prosperity of the public in Punjab.
Maintenance of Law & Order
The year 2024 has been a peaceful year with the blessings of Almighty and the utmost efforts of all the law enforcement agencies. To maintain an overall peace and order in Punjab, 17 Meetings of Standing Committee of Cabinet on Law & Order (SCCLO) were held to discuss policy matters and take immediate decisions. Meetings of Provincial Intelligence Committee (PIC) were held on a regular basis during the whole year. The Home Department strove for peaceful conduct of Moharram and Chehlum events. The Home Secretary himself went to all the 9 Divisional headquarters of the province for ensuring foolproof security arrangements well in time. We conducted International Cricketing events successfully. The department initiated the legal amendment in Section 144 of Cr.PC for delegation of powers to districts for its effective implementation and saving of time. Effective and timely usage of Section 144 helped to ward off untoward incidents. The Home department also ensured foolproof security arrangements during Sikh Yatrees visits during Baba Guru Nanak Birthday Celebrations and around. We ensured effective security arrangements during Ramzan ul Mubarak and Eid e Milad un Nabi celebrations. Peaceful conduct of General Elections 2024 is also a feather in the cap.
Implementation of NAP (National Action Plan)
Implementation of National action Plan through its 14 action points resulted in considerable reduction of terrorist incidents in Punjab. The Home department worked on designing the Provincial Action Plan as an extension of NAP and coordinated with LEAs to submit provincial version of NAP tailor made to Provincial law & order requirements.
Prison Reforms Agenda
The home department under the able leadership of the Chief Minister Punjab tirelessly worked on the Prison Reforms agenda during 2024. Lots of initiatives were taken for the well being of the inmates and their families. The visitor area of all 43 Jails in Punjab. Kitchen area was revamped and now healthy food is served in the Jails as per proper charts. The PFA teams are designated to inspect all the Jail regularly. The home department is working on a project to install more than 12,000 modern cameras in jails across Punjab to ensure security and lawfulness. All Prisons are also being shifted on the Solar Energy phase wise. We are working on the construction of 3 women jails by alteration of existing infrastructure at Central jails Lahore & Rawalpindi and District jail Faisalabad, whereas, a new district jail in Rawalpindi is also about to complete. To resolve the issues of overcrowding of inmates at Punjab Jails, 9 new district jails with 02 High Security Prisons and one Sub Jail Shujabad have been constructed. The projects of additional Multi Storied Barracks and Cells in 8 jails of Punjab have been completed respectively. The construction process of new jails namely Sub jail Pindi Bhattian, Samundri and District Jail, Nankana Saheb are under progress along with additional multi storied barracks in 7 Jails.
Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts
The convicted drug addicts are being treated in prisons now with designated units and qualified medics. The home department has completed the construction work of 20 bedded unit for rehabilitation of drug addicts at 9 jails i.e. Central Jail, Lahore, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, D.G Khan and District Jail, Attock, Multan, Lahore and Layyah. Moreover, construction work is in progress in 8 Jails.
Online Module for all the Arms Licensing Regime
The Home Department is responsible for the registration and modification of all arms licenses in the province. The department also successfully completed the revalidation and computerization of all individual and business arms licenses to ensure accuracy and transparency in records. The department has launched the Personal Arms Licensing (PAL) online web portal (https://pal.nadra. gov.pk/pal), enabling streamlined issuance and renewal of arms licenses. Introduced a paperless, contactless process for the issuance and modification of arms licenses, promoting public convenience and reducing bureaucratic delays. It also strengthened data security measures across licensing platforms to protect citizen information and ensure compliance with privacy standards
Punjab Science Enclave and Expansion of Forensic Science Agency
Government of the Punjab is establishing the Punjab Science Enclave by including PFSA, PAFDA and CFS Training Lab in it. The arms of the state of the art Forensic Science Laboratory are being expanded through establishment of Satellite Station of PFSA at divisional level for timely collection of evidence from crime scene. A state of the art Training Lab has also been established at Lahore for training of forensic scientists and personals of LEAs.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025