LAHORE: The Punjab government has opened online applications for eligible Pakistani citizens to obtain personal, institutional, security companies, and business arms licences for non-prohibited bore weapons.

It has increased the non-prohibited bore (NPB) arms licenses fee from Rs20,000 to Rs50,000 with a 150pc increase. The change in application mode and fee structure has been revised in the Punjab Arms Rules 2023 gazette notified by the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department on Friday. The extensive new 34-page rules have come into force at once.

The rules say the NPB personal arms licence may be issued to a person for the purpose of protection or sports, subject to the fulfillment of eligibility criteria. The rules say no permit will be required for a valid personal arms licence holder for carrying the weapon in a concealed manner.

Among several conditions to express eligibility to obtain NPB arms licence, the person should be a Pakistani citizen having a valid CNIC, Punjab domicile, over 20 years of age, filer on active taxpayer’s list, no previous criminal record, not a fugitive from law and not convicted by any court of law. The applicant should also not be a member of a proscribed organisation or suspected to be involved in any anti-state activity and not physically, mentally or psychologically infirm to an extent where his carrying of arms shall be inadvisable for his own safety or life.

The rules also say no personal arms licence shall be required for acquisition of a non-operational, non-functional and obsolete weapon for decorative purposes, subject to such verification by authorised arms dealers connected with repair of weapons and by the Punjab Fire Arms Bureau on the recommendations of the home department.

The Punjab Arms Rules 2023 explain that the NPB licence shall be issued to an institution of security company that is lawfully registered with Punjab or carries out substantial operations in the province. The company’s previous licence should not have been cancelled and other legal and procedural formalities be completed.

Similarly, the business arms licence shall be issued to a person or legal entity subject to the fulfillment of eligibility criteria. The business arms licence shall specify all categories of manufacturing, repairing and dealership for sale, purchase or storage of arms, ammunition or military stores. The eligibility conditions remain the same as for personal, institutional and security companies.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2023