Lahore:
The Punjab government has allocated RS300 billion to law and order in its budget for the financial year 2025–26.
The message marks one of the largest investments ever in internal security in the provincial history with emphasis on technology -driven police work, prison reform and the creation of specialized crime control institutions.
More than RS200 billion of the total allocation has been reserved for non-development expenses, which primarily covers operating costs and wages for police across Punjab.
Meanwhile, over RS10 billion will be spent on police development schemes, prisons and rescue of 1122 sectors.
A highlight of this year’s budget is the creation of the Crime Control Department (CCD), which is tasked with investigating abominable and organized crimes throughout the province. The CCD is headquartered in Lahore and will receive a total RS6.54 billion. This includes RS3.24 billion under the annual development program (ADP) for the construction of its advanced headquarters and investigative facilities, while another RS3.3 billion is earmarked for staff, logistics and operations.
The government has rolled a plan to upgrade the police infrastructure with RS600 million awarded for renovating and modernizing police stations in all districts. In addition, the RS734.7 million has been awarded to strengthen the police training school in Rawalpindi, while the specialized protection unit (SPU) headquarters in Lahore will receive RS797.2 million.
To improve crowd control and tactical response features, RS382 million is approved for the creation of an Antiriot headquarters in Lahore. Meanwhile, the construction of new administrative facilities and housing is underway, including the RS450 million for the DPO office and the residence in Murree, RS350 million for investigative offices in Mandi Bahauddin and RS280 million for officers’ homes in Lahore.
Emergency Services under Rescue 1122 are ready for expansion with RS508 million awarded to current and new initiatives. Emergency Services Academy in Lahore will undergo an upgrade of RS352 million to improve training capacity, while two new rescue stations will be developed in Gujrat’s Mangowali and Kathala Chowk areas at a price of RS291.8 million.
Furthermore, the RS50 million will support Community Emergency Response Teams (Certs) in rural areas aimed at bridging the fact that there are emergency holes in under -serving regions of Punjab.
The government is planning to invest in surveillance and command and control systems significantly through its smart secure cities and the Tehsil project. The Lahore Safe City initiative will be renewed with RS1.2 billion to install high-resolution cameras and AI-based threat detection tools.
To end smart safe cities in 19 additional districts, RS2.54 billion has been earmarked, while RS5.8 billion will finance CM’s Tehsil project, which brings surveillance infrastructure to high crime divisions throughout the province.
The flagship Lahore Pricons Complex will receive RS6 billion for the construction of a modern criminal care with vocational education, rehabilitation programs and high security zones. Another RS4.8 billion will go towards building a new district prison in Sialkot with a capacity of 1,500 inmates.
For continuous improvements to the prison infrastructure, RS674.5 million has been awarded for staff stays and inmate reintegrations initiatives.
Additional funds include RS65.6 million to expand child protection units in eight districts and RS1,17 billion to establish intermediate province joint control points in central places such as Attock and Bhakkar to counter crime and smuggling across the provincial border.
