LAHORE: The Punjab Government has taken two important steps for the improvement of law and order in the province and effective implementation of the National Action Plan: the “Safe Punjab Act 2025” has been drafted, and the Provincial Implementation Coordination Committee has been formed.
The Safe Punjab Act, 2025
According to a spokesperson of the Punjab Home Department, under this act, any person can be kept in protective custody for 90 days to establish law and order. If the custody period exceeds 3 months, it must be approved by the Provincial Review Board. The board will be formed by the chief justice of the Lahore High Court, which will include current or former judges.
Provincial Implementation Coordination Committee:
The Punjab Home Department has constituted a Provincial Implementation Coordination Committee for the establishment of law and order and implementation of the National Action Plan. The Home Secretary of Punjab will be the chairman of the committee. The committee will review the monthly performance and reports of all the District Coordination Committees and identify the deficiencies at the district level to address the challenges in a timely manner.
The members of the committee include the Additional IG Operations Punjab, the Additional IG Special Branch and Counter Terrorism Department, the Joint Director General Intelligence Bureau, the MD Safe Cities Authority, the Special Secretary Local Government Department, the Special Secretary School Education Department, the Director General Industries Punjab, the FIA, the Anti-Narcotics Force, Customs, and officers of sensitive institutions.
According to the notification of the Punjab Home Department, the meeting of the Provincial Implementation Coordination Committee will be held every month. Earlier, the Punjab Home Department had constituted District Coordination Committees, whose TORs included prevention of smuggling, drugs, and power theft; stopping illegal petrol pumps; and delivery of non-custom-paid vehicles and goods.
