Maryam Nawaz issues stern warning on terrorism, corruption

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has described terrorism as a major threat to the province, saying Punjab faces a greater security challenge from terrorism originating in neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries.

Addressing the launch ceremony of an Artificial Intelligence Hub in Lahore, the chief minister said the government would not compromise on the province’s law and order and security.

She said the people of Punjab were looking towards the provincial government for protection and added that billions of rupees were being spent on security measures in response to emerging threats.

Maryam Nawaz said the province faced security challenges along its borders and that joint check posts had been strengthened to prevent threats from entering Punjab.

She also highlighted the security situation in the riverine areas, commonly known as the Katcha region, which she said had remained a centre of criminal activity for decades.

According to the chief minister, the situation in the Katcha areas had improved with the assistance of the Pakistan Army and the Sindh government. She said intelligence and security agencies were being brought closer together through the newly established AI Hub, which would serve as an important platform for coordination.

Maryam Nawaz said controlling crime and tackling organised criminal networks had been among the government’s major challenges.

She recalled that Punjab had previously witnessed multiple killings in broad daylight and said incidents involving violence against children remained particularly distressing.

The chief minister also defended the government’s enforcement of helmet rules for motorcyclists, describing the decision as difficult but necessary. She said authorities were now taking action against riders found travelling without helmets.

Turning to corruption, Maryam Nawaz warned that action would be taken against corruption without discrimination. She claimed that corruption levels in Punjab were lower than in other provinces but said the problem remained deeply rooted in society.

She expressed concern that corruption was increasingly being treated as a normal part of everyday life rather than as wrongdoing.