Punjab set to unveil Rs10b katcha package to consolidate gains achieved through operation: CM

• CM Maryam Nawaz chairs Apex Committee meeting, lauds Army, Punjab and Sindh Police for successful operation

• Says Safe City initiative, education and health reforms to be introduced, 1,500 personnel with bulletproof vehicles to be deployed

• Apex Committee reviews law and order, Afghan repatriation progress and pays tribute to martyrs of Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday lauded the Pakistan Army, the Punjab Police and the Sindh Police for the successful katcha operation, announcing a Rs10 billion development package for the region, including Safe City initiatives, education and health reforms.

She revealed that 1,500 personnel would be deployed in the katcha area along with bulletproof vehicles to consolidate the gains achieved through the operation. “No kidnapping-for-ransom case has surfaced in the area for the past three and a half months, which reflects the success of the operation,” the chief minister said while chairing the Provincial Apex Committee meeting to review the overall security situation in the province.

وزیراعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی زیرصدارت صوبائی ایپکس کمیٹی کا اجلاس منعقد ہوا۔ مجموعی سیکیورٹی صورتحال، کچہ آپریشن، غیر قانونی افغان باشندوں کے انخلا اور ڈیجیٹل مانیٹرنگ پر تفصیلی جائزہ لیا گیا۔ pic.twitter.com/3J9KDqrlp3

— Zeeshan Malik (@ZeshanMalick) March 4, 2026

The chief minister directed that the anti-drone unit be made fully operational across Punjab, stressing that anti-drone cells should also be established at the district level.

The meeting expressed gratitude over the success of Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq and paid rich tribute to the Armed Forces. Special homage was paid to Colonel Gul Faraz and other martyrs who laid down their lives in defence of the homeland, and Fateha was offered for their departed souls.

The Corps Commander Lahore and other senior officials also attended the session.

Participants reviewed the law and order situation across the province and expressed satisfaction over effective coordination among institutions. A detailed briefing was given on pre-emptive security measures taken by the Punjab government to ensure public safety. Progress on the repatriation of illegally residing Afghan nationals was also reviewed, while the need for joint measures, coordination and cooperation to eliminate terrorism was emphasised.

The chief minister said she was proud of Pakistan and its leadership, adding that despite multiple challenges, the country continued to be blessed with success by Almighty Allah. Referring to recent protests, she said the Lahore police handled the situation effectively and reiterated that police remained present to protect peaceful protesters. She noted that iftar was also served to demonstrators and appreciated Provincial Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique for maintaining contact with religious scholars.

The chief minister stressed that digital monitoring of anti-social elements was essential and could not be relaxed. She said that for the first time in Pakistan’s history, a respectable monthly honorarium had been fixed for 74,000 mosque imams. She observed that full compliance with the ban on unsafe bike practices during Basant reflected public respect for the law, adding that Lahore was moving towards becoming smog-free without the closure of schools and hotels.

Highlighting relief measures, she said that under the Ramazan Nigehban Package, 4.2 million families had received Rs10,000 each, while deserving individuals left out were being provided assistance within 24 hours. She added that affordable commodities were being made available through Ramazan Sahulat Bazaars in every tehsil.

The meeting was informed that more than 10,500 illegal Afghan nationals had been repatriated and that daily combing operations were continuing. The chief minister directed strict implementation of standard operating procedures for the security of Chinese nationals, warning that no negligence would be tolerated. She said artificial intelligence-based technology, following the Chinese model, would be introduced for traffic management in Lahore, and that Chinese nationals would now move only under police escort.

The meeting observed that law and order in Punjab had been maintained in a commendable manner and appreciated the effective coordination among security institutions.