Punjab CM announces long-troubled Katcha areas cleared of dacoits following successful operation

• CM Maryam Nawaz says writ of state restored in Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan after coordinated multi-agency operation

• Announces massive development package for Katcha belt development to ensure lasting peace

• Pens letter to PM, urging steps to boost potato exports, seeks freight cut and new global markets

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced that the long-troubled Katcha areas had been completely cleared of dacoits following a successful, coordinated multi-agency operation, restoring the writ of the state in the island-like riverine regions of Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan.

According to official details, more than 500 outlaws surrendered during the operation — 342 in Rajanpur and 200 in Rahim Yar Khan — including several high-profile gang leaders. The chief minister congratulated the Pakistan Army, Rangers, Punjab and Sindh police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Special Branch for completing the six-week operation without any loss of life among security personnel.

I am deeply grateful to Allah that within just six weeks of launching the operation in December, we have achieved a major milestone. A full-scale operation has been successfully completed in the Kacha areas of Rahim Yar Khan and Rajanpur, which are now 100% cleared. pic.twitter.com/JVCrSl3zmS

— PMLN (@pmln_org) February 14, 2026

She said a large cache of heavy weapons — including rocket launchers, machine guns, pistols, ammunition and hand grenades — was recovered during the crackdown. She added that no incidents of kidnapping for ransom or honey-trap crimes had been reported from the area over the past 45 days, terming it a major indicator of restored peace.

Announcing a comprehensive development package for the Katcha belt, Maryam Nawaz said schools, colleges, hospitals, technical institutes and transport facilities would be established to ensure sustainable development. She added that farmers would be supported through land provision and targeted agricultural schemes, while special incentives would be offered to doctors and teachers posted in the region. Employment opportunities, she said, would be expanded through technical education centres to address long-standing socio-economic deprivation.

The chief minister further said that a three-member high-level committee, headed by Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, had been constituted to oversee the Katcha Area Development Programme. She reiterated the government’s commitment to lasting peace, fair trials for surrendered criminals, and long-term socio-economic uplift of the region.

Punjab CM writes to PM seeking urgent steps to boost potato exports

In a related development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging immediate steps to enhance potato exports and provide relief to farmers facing market pressures.

In her letter, the chief minister emphasised the need to accelerate exports through the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and called for the removal of bottlenecks hindering the export process. She also sought a special 25 per cent reduction in freight charges to improve the competitiveness of Pakistani potatoes in international markets.

She further called for facilitation in export documentation and requested federal support to expand market access, particularly in the European Union, Africa and the United States. The proposed measures, she said, would help stabilise prices, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural exports.

CM announces start of ATM card delivery for Ramazan Nigehban Package

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced that the delivery of ATM cards for the Ramazan Nigehban Package has commenced across the province.

In a message posted on her X account, she expressed gratitude over the launch of the initiative, stating that Rs40 billion in financial assistance would be distributed to four million households through a fully digital and transparent system, ensuring beneficiaries receive support without long queues or hardship.

She said a dedicated helpline (08000-2345) and 160 special centres in every tehsil have been established to facilitate applicants, while branchless banking agents and outlets have also been designated across the province for card activation and cash withdrawals.

The chief minister reiterated that no family should feel alone during Ramazan, adding that delivering the blessings of the holy month to every household remains the government’s top priority. She said daily iftar arrangements for fasting people would be organised through Nigehban dastarkhwans in every tehsil, while essential commodities would be provided at subsidised rates through Ramazan bazaars.