LAHORE (MNN); Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the province faces greater security threats from its borders with neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries, claiming that terrorism enters Punjab through inter-provincial routes.
Speaking at an AI technology event in Lahore on Saturday, Maryam Nawaz said Punjab remained under constant security pressure from threats emerging along its provincial boundaries.
She said that despite the challenges, Punjab had remained comparatively safe and that her government had significantly improved the province’s law and order situation since taking office in 2024.
The chief minister identified organised crime and religious intolerance among the major challenges facing Punjab.
In an apparent reference to the now-banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), she said some groups used religion as a cover to spread hatred while operating as political organisations.
Maryam said the situation had improved considerably and that religious events were now being held peacefully compared to the period of heightened religious polarisation witnessed a few years ago.
She said Punjab had become Pakistan’s “most AI-enabled province”, with billions of rupees invested in modern technology and security systems.
According to the chief minister, her government discovered after taking office that terrorist groups were using more advanced technology than the government, including night-vision equipment and carefully planned operational strategies.
She said the provincial government had since developed a comprehensive security system supported by modern technology.
Bulletproof cameras have been installed after militants previously targeted surveillance equipment, while thermal cameras and drones have also been deployed at checkpoints and joint checkpoints.
Maryam said attacks on security checkpoints had previously caused significant loss of life, with some incidents resulting in the deaths of five to 10 people.
Although attacks still occur, she said casualties have declined considerably due to improved fortifications and greater use of technology.
Referring to the katcha areas, the chief minister said the region had previously been a major centre for organised crime and terrorism, including kidnappings for ransom and other criminal activities.
She said the situation had improved through the combined efforts of the military, Punjab government and Sindh government, claiming that state authority had now largely been restored in the area.
Maryam Nawaz also announced her intention to take action against corruption, saying the problem had become deeply embedded in society.
She clarified that her remarks were not directed solely at government officials or the police but concerned the broader national attitude towards corruption.
“We have become so accustomed to corruption that it has become part of our daily routine,” she said.
The chief minister said her government had established a mechanism to ensure immediate action against corrupt elements.
She stressed that public trust in state institutions was essential for national progress.
“If people do not trust their state, that country can never move forward,” she said.