Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said the province faces a greater security threat from neighbouring provinces than from neighbouring countries.
She made the remarks while addressing the launch ceremony of the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Center (PIFTAC) and the Artificial Intelligence Hub in Lahore.
Maryam said terrorism enters Punjab through areas along its provincial borders. She stressed that Punjab would not compromise on law and order.
AI Hub to Improve Security Coordination
The chief minister said the new AI-based intelligence system would improve coordination between security and intelligence agencies.
The center will help authorities combine intelligence, assess threats and share information in real time. It will also support the early identification of potential security risks.
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Maryam said the goal was to move from reacting to incidents to preventing them before they occur.
She said Punjab had invested heavily in modern security technology. The measures include thermal cameras, drones and fortified check posts.
According to the chief minister, joint check posts in vulnerable border areas have also been strengthened to protect security personnel.
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Punjab Strengthens Counterterrorism Measures
Maryam said her government had taken difficult decisions to improve security across the province.
She said areas where the writ of the state had been challenged were targeted through security operations. She also referred to the Katcha riverine areas, which she described as having been major centers of crime and kidnapping.
The chief minister said the situation in those areas had improved significantly and that the writ of the state had been restored.
She also claimed that crime in Punjab had fallen by up to 70 percent since her government took office.
Focus on Terrorism and Organized Crime
Maryam said Punjab faces several security challenges beyond terrorism.
She cited organized crime, religious and ethnic tensions, drug-related activities and other threats to public safety.
She said intelligence agencies, police and other law-enforcement departments must work together to respond to these challenges.
The new AI hub is expected to support this coordination by helping authorities identify emerging patterns and respond more quickly.
Political Controversy Over Remarks
Maryam’s comments about threats from neighbouring provinces also triggered criticism from opposition figures.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other political opponents accused the chief minister of making divisive remarks about other provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They called for greater political unity and criticized the suggestion that terrorism was entering Punjab from neighbouring provinces.
Maryam, however, maintained that the provincial government was focused on protecting citizens and strengthening Punjab’s security system.
The launch of the AI hub marks a new step in Punjab’s use of artificial intelligence and digital technology for intelligence coordination, threat assessment and law enforcement.
