Punjab Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique promised comprehensive security measures, from cattle markets to Eid prayers, during a meeting on Friday.
A Cabinet Committee on Law and Order meeting was called to finalise Eidul Azha security plan. The minister emphasised that banned organisations would face stringent legal action if they attempted to collect hides or violate the law. “The Home Departments control room will oversee reports from across Punjab throughout the Eid holidays,” he noted. Instructions have been given to the police and district administration to enforce government orders strictly. The meeting reviewed the provinces overall law and order situation and specific Eidul-Azha security arrangements. Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rahman and Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan, along with senior officials, including Home Secretary Punjab Noorul Amin Mengal and CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana, participated in the meeting. Commissioners and Regional Police Officers (RPOs) from across Punjab joined via video link. On the instructions of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar, the Punjab police have completed their security arrangements for Eid-ul-Azha prayers at mosques, Imambargahs, and open places across the province. The IGP said that over 40,000 officers and officials would be deployed to secure more than 26,500 mosques and Imambargahs, and 900 open places across the province, including Lahore. In Lahore alone, security for more than 5,000 Eid prayer gatherings would be managed by over 8,000 officers and personnel. Additionally, 498 special police units and 260 Quick Response Force (QRF) teams will be deployed for security across the province.
