Arms dealers from across Punjab on Monday urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to lift the ban on new arms licences, saying the prolonged suspension had severely depressed business and left licensed dealers struggling. The demand was raised at a province-wide training programme organised by the Punjab Home Department to familiarise dealers with the Punjab Arms Licence (PAL) portal, which will digitally record dealer registration, existing stock and subsequent sale and purchase transactions. Around 350 dealers participated, including 150 physically in Lahore and others online from deputy commissioners' offices across the province. The dealers said reopening licensing under strict regulatory controls would revive legitimate business while allowing the government greater oversight through the new digital system. They also urged the department to simplify licensing and administrative procedures.
The training covered dealer registration and verification, entry of existing weapons and ammunition into the digital inventory, recording of sales and purchases, and resolution of dealers' queries. Under the PAL system, only validated dealers can register. They must provide personal and dealership details matching their records with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), verify their email address and enter their dealership information. Dealers must digitally record existing weapons with details including type, manufacturer, condition, calibre or bore and weapon number, while ammunition entries require weapon type and quantity. The system allows bulk entry of weapons with identical specifications. The portal will also record sales and purchases, including details of individual, institutional, security-company and government purchasers or sellers.
Officials stressed that accurate entry of existing stock would establish the digital baseline for subsequent transactions. The dealers said digitisation would have limited commercial benefit unless the government also addressed the difficulties caused by the suspension of new licences. They called for a user-friendly, transparent and predictable system while retaining strict verification and documentation requirements. Home Department officials acknowledged their suggestions and assured them that positive and practicable recommendations would be considered.