DID Press: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said the Pakistani province faces a greater security threat from neighboring provinces than from neighboring countries, with militant activity entering Punjab through inter-provincial border areas.
Speaking at an event in Lahore marking the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Hub Punjab and the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre, Maryam said security threats were emerging particularly from areas along provincial and tri-border boundaries.
She said the Punjab government had strengthened joint checkpoints in vulnerable areas and equipped them with additional surveillance and protective technology, including thermal imaging and night-vision cameras. Maryam said security personnel had previously suffered casualties at some checkpoints while militants had access to sophisticated weapons and night-vision equipment.
Maryam said Punjab remained secure but that maintaining law and order required continued investment in modern security technology, intelligence-sharing and coordination among police, the Special Branch and other security agencies.
Her remarks have drawn criticism from opposition figures, particularly over their potential implications for relations between Pakistan’s provinces. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf accused her of undermining provincial unity, while Pakistan Peoples Party leader Jamal Khan Raisani said Punjab should improve border management rather than profile people arriving from other provinces.