LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab, on Wednesday chaired an extraordinary high-level meeting that approved a comprehensive set of measures to curb extremism, enhance security, and reinforce the writ of the state across the province.
The meeting, convened to review the law and order situation, decided to implement strict actions against individuals and groups taking up arms against the state. A key part of the strategy includes rigorous enforcement of the Loudspeaker Act, establishment of whistle-blower cells in every district, and the creation of a special complaint cell within the Punjab Police Helpline 15 for intelligence sharing related to extremist groups and illegal foreign residents.
Citizens have been urged to immediately report suspicious activities through the helpline. The provincial government will intensify crackdowns on illegal weapons, corruption networks, and mafias, while simultaneously strengthening peace committees to promote community participation in counter-extremism efforts.
Mobile police stations will soon be deployed to bring policing closer to citizens, ensuring swift access to law enforcement services. Clarifying the scope of ongoing combing operations, the chief minister stressed that the actions are strictly targeted at extremist elements—not religious groups or sects.
Daily progress reports will be mandatory for district administrations, detailing action against illegal residents, including business operators, individuals brought into the tax net, and those sent to deportation centres. The meeting also approved a ban on extremist propaganda, including posters and advertisements, and warned property owners of legal consequences under the Tenancy and Passport Acts for renting out premises to illegal residents.
The government will also invoke the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) against those spreading hate speech or extremist content online. “A zero-tolerance policy is being enforced across Punjab,” the CM declared.
Youth Skill Development Programme Reaches New Milestones
The meeting also reviewed progress on the Skilled Youth Programme, a flagship initiative of the Punjab government. Over 180,000 young people have received technical and vocational training within months, with 75,000 securing employment across Pakistan and abroad.
Breakdown of employment figures includes:
27,500 graduates from Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA)
45,000 from Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC)
1,428 from Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF)
350 female trainees from the Garment City Project
450 transgender individuals from the “Pehchan” programme
The province has witnessed a 21% increase in technical training compared to the previous five years. Maryam Nawaz also gave in-principle approval to introduce the “Maryam Nawaz Free Travel Card” to help skilled youth access overseas job opportunities.
To modernize technical education, 24 construction labs have been established in cities including Bahawalpur, Multan, Bhakkar, and Mianwali. Training initiatives in the hospitality and garment sectors are also expanding rapidly, with hundreds of trainees either employed or enrolled.
Additionally, 2,158 training labs have been upgraded to serve 28,140 students across Punjab. For 2025–26, the province aims to train over 200,000 youth, with thousands already benefiting from domestic and international programmes.
A special Rs1 billion allocation under the “Main Digital” Programme will train 3,000 rural women in IT skills, with the first phase covering Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lodhran, and Faisalabad.
CM Condemns Kite-Flying Tragedy
Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz expressed profound grief over the death of 21-year-old Nauman, who died after being struck by a kite string in Lahore. She directed immediate action against those responsible, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strictly enforce the ban on kite flying to prevent such tragedies in the future.
