AI intelligence hub launched: Threats come from tri-border area, neighbouring provinces: Punjab CM

LAHORE: Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Intelligence Hub, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday. While formally launching the facility at the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) office, the chief minister inaugurated the AI Intelligence Hub through an e-launch and was given a detailed briefing on the project at the PERA headquarters. Speaking at the ceremony, the CM Punjab said the concept of artificial intelligence had been translated into reality within a few months, with the support of the Pakistan Army and other security institutions. She thanked Lahore Corps Commander Lt Gen Fayyaz Hussain Shah for the Army’s cooperation and congratulated Home Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Home Secretary Ahmed Javed Qazi and other officials for establishing the AI hub in record time. “Police, Special Branch and other law-enforcement agencies also deserve appreciation,” she said, adding, “All security institutions had worked as “one unit” to protect the people and maintain law and order despite difficult circumstances and security challenges.” She said Punjab had demonstrated its ability to respond promptly to emergencies, recalling last year’s rains when government agencies worked jointly to deal with the situation. “Despite the poor sewerage and drainage system, rainwater is being drained this year as well,” she said, adding that complete rehabilitation of Punjab’s sewerage and drainage infrastructure would require “billions, rather than trillions” of rupees. READ ALSO: Govt unveils National AI Initiative with seven innovation hubs With the establishment of the AI Intelligence Hub, district coordination committees would receive digital alerts, she said. The chief minister said the security situation in Punjab had improved considerably compared with the past. Crimes against minorities and mistreatment of members of minority communities could no longer be tolerated, she added. She recalled that drugs had once become a threat to the younger generation in neighbourhoods across the province, while the crime situation had also been extremely serious, with several districts witnessing multiple murders every day. The chief minister said some groups had used religion as a cover to spread hatred, forcing the police to divert its attention from other duties to deal with such situations. “By the grace of Allah, Muharram, Eid Miladun Nabi and other religious festivals passed peacefully,” she said, stressing the need to resolve potential problems before they developed into crises. She said enforcement of law without discrimination was essential, regretting that society often treated laws as something merely symbolic. Referring to the anti-encroachment drive, CM Punjab said she had felt distressed when vendors had to be removed from roads and public spaces. “We did not simply remove the vendors; we provided them alternative places for their livelihood,” she said. She said enforcing helmet laws among motorcyclists had initially been a difficult task, but the situation had changed significantly. “Now hardly anyone is seen riding without a helmet,” she said, adding that the issue was particularly important for mothers who sent their children out on motorcycles to earn a livelihood. She said the government was also working to enforce lane discipline in Lahore, while zebra crossings were being successfully introduced across Punjab. Pedestrians, too, needed to be educated about traffic discipline and road safety, she added. Recalling Lahore’s association with Basant, the chief minister said the festival had been banned after kite strings caused deaths and injuries. Holding Basant in Lahore had therefore been a difficult decision, she said, but the government had demonstrated that a safe event could be organised. “By the grace of Allah, a safe Basant was held. After 5pm, when the permitted time ended, not a single kite was seen in the sky,” she said. The chief minster claimed that crime in Punjab had declined by up to 70 per cent, stressing that law enforcement was indispensable alongside development projects. “Roads and projects are being built, but what is the benefit if someone’s animal, motorcycle or car is stolen, or a poor person loses his savings?” she asked. She said protecting citizens was her responsibility and that she was taking decisions despite personal risks. “Threats come from the tri-border area and neighbouring provinces,” she said, adding that billions of rupees had been spent to make Punjab a technology-enabled province. The chief minister said security personnel had previously suffered heavy casualties in attacks on check posts, while militants possessed better weapons and night-vision equipment than the police. “Joint check posts have now been strengthened and equipped with bulletproof protection, thermal imaging and night-vision cameras,” she said, adding that the new arrangements had significantly reduced the risk of casualties even in the event of an attack. She said the reverie (katcha) areas had once become hubs of terrorism and crime, but the writ of the state had now been established there, turning them into crime-free areas. Turning to corruption, the CM Punjab said the government had launched a decisive campaign against corrupt practices. “Wherever there is corruption, it will not be forgiven,” she said, adding that corruption had been detected in the Suthra Punjab programme and those involved had been suspended. She said Punjab had comparatively low levels of corruption, but the government was taking stronger action against it. “Even if corruption involves Rs100, we will pursue it,” she said. A helpline had also been established for citizens to report corruption, while written instructions had been issued to inspectors general, regional police officers and other officials to identify and remove corrupt elements from the system. The chief minister said body cameras had been provided to police personnel to monitor their activities during duty hours. “If the people do not trust the government, we will fall behind,” she said. She expressed the hope that the establishment of the AI Intelligence Hub would substantially improve Punjab’s response time in countering terrorism and help authorities prevent incidents before they occurred. “If we can control incidents before they happen, that will be the real success,” Ms Maryam said, expressing the hope that Pakistan would continue to progress rapidly and that the country’s image in the world would continue to improve. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026