Maryam Nawaz orders crackdown on corruption in Punjab

Maryam Nawaz orders crackdown on corruption in Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered a province-wide crackdown on corruption, directing authorities to adopt a “zero tolerance, no compromise” policy against corrupt officers and officials.

Chief minister wants the provincial administration to take action against officers involved in corruption, negligence, incompetence and misconduct. She has also made it clear that officials who fail to perform their duties responsibly could face removal from Punjab.

The chief minister has directed the Chief Secretary Punjab, IG Punjab, Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment and Special Branch to identify corrupt elements across government departments and prepare comprehensive lists for further action.

Sources said the government has also sought assistance from a federal civilian intelligence agency to collect information about allegedly corrupt officers and officials working in different departments.

During a high-level meeting, Maryam Nawaz reportedly stressed that Punjab’s bureaucracy should provide space only to honest, competent, responsible and public-friendly officers.

She directed senior officials to ensure that government employees complete their assigned duties on time and follow transparent procedures while dealing with citizens.

IG Punjab Abdul Karim confirmed that the police would strictly implement the chief minister’s anti-corruption policy.

“We are strengthening our internal accountability mechanism,” the IG said while speaking to Minute Mirror.

He said senior police officers, including CPOs, RPOs, DIGs and DPOs, had received instructions to establish stronger accountability systems at the local level and take action against corrupt practices.

The IG said the policy would apply across all ranks and would not target only lower-level officials. He specifically mentioned SHOs, DSPs, SPs and DPOs, saying district-level operations were already underway against corruption and misuse of authority.

According to IG Punjab, the police have expanded their internal accountability mechanism beyond the Central Police Office to CCPO, CPO, RPO, DIG and DPO offices.

He said the department had also strengthened scrutiny of officers seeking promotions. As part of the process, the promotion board for around 200 sub-inspectors was recently deferred.

Meanwhile, sources said authorities have prepared lists of officers suspected of corruption, while the final compilation is underway. The lists will be submitted to the chief minister before the government takes formal action.

DG Anti-Corruption Establishment Punjab Sohail Zafar Chatha, who also heads CCD Punjab, has received a special assignment to intensify the fight against corruption.

The chief minister reportedly praised CCD’s performance in tackling crime and asked the DG to apply the same approach to eliminating corruption and corrupt practices across the province.

Sources said the chief minister remains determined to make Punjab a corruption-free province and that several bureaucrats have already begun reviewing their conduct amid the government’s latest directives.

The government has also moved to reduce opportunities for corruption by directing departments to shift rent and service payments to e-Pay Punjab. Officials have further been instructed to follow transparent, merit-based procedures for recruitment and promotions.

The measures form part of the provincial government’s broader effort to strengthen accountability, improve public service delivery and curb corruption across Punjab’s administrative and law-enforcement departments.