Punjab Apex Committee reviews security, AI hub at PIFTAC

LAHORE: The Punjab Apex Committee chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met on Tuesday to review law and order and security arrangements in the province, and expressed satisfaction over coordination among security agencies.

The meeting was informed that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub at the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC) had been established. According to Daily Times, PIFTAC and the AI Hub were launched earlier this month to strengthen coordination, and the hub was termed an important step towards timely information sharing and threat assessment.

Daily Times reported that the meeting paid tribute to Captain Abu Zarr Farooq, Lieutenant Shiras Babar and other personnel martyred during Operation Zarb-i-Labbaik, and offered Fateha. The Lahore Corps Commander, who attended, appreciated the performance of relevant institutions.

The committee was told that 93 projects are being initiated in riverine areas to improve social infrastructure. Smart police stations and police check posts would be established there, along with a steel bridge costing Rs620 million, and skill-development programmes would be launched for local residents. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said a development package of more than Rs30 billion was being implemented in these areas for health, education and security, and welcomed a major cricket tournament there.

The meeting was also informed about measures to ensure the exit of illegally residing foreign nationals from Punjab.

Speaking at the meeting, Maryam Nawaz said all institutions in Punjab were working in coordination and maintaining law and order required putting personal interests aside. She said a decline in street crime had improved the public's sense of security, and there was no room for hooliganism, land grabbing or mafias. She said 718 police personnel had been dismissed for corruption, and strict action would continue against elements undermining public trust.

She said proactive policing had contributed to a continued decline in crime and police were being provided necessary resources and technology, including body-worn cameras, while the Safe City system had been expanded across Punjab. She directed that there should be no gap in security arrangements.

The chief minister said Punjab and its people paid tribute to the armed forces and their leadership. She said all institutions were working together against terrorism, and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos had enhanced Pakistan's image internationally. She added that the regional situation had increased the need to protect people from inflation and economic difficulties, and the government was focusing on this alongside security.