The Punjab government has announced a major decision to suspend the verification and computerization of old manual arms licenses. According to the Home Department Punjab, the process of revalidation and digitization of individual, institutional, and security company firearm licenses has been stopped with immediate effect.

The department stated that citizens and organizations holding manual arms licenses were earlier given a final opportunity to have their licenses computerized. However, all previous directives related to the computerization process have now been declared null and void.

A new notification has been issued for manual arms licenses held by individuals and security companies, and all divisional commissioners and additional secretaries (judicial) have been directed to submit detailed reports on licenses computerized between March and November.

The Home Department has also sought comprehensive reports from commissioners and deputy commissioners across Punjab regarding the ongoing de-weaponization campaign and the collection of illegal firearms. District administrations have been instructed to submit data by the evening of November 13, covering all applications and notifications issued from March to November.

The process of computerizing manual arms licenses was originally initiated in 2016, with December 31, 2020, set as the final deadline. All licenses that were not converted to computerized form by that date had been canceled.

A formal circular has been issued to all divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure compliance with the latest directive, the spokesperson for the Punjab Home Department confirmed.