QUETTA: The Balochistan government has completely digitised the system for issuing arms licences in Quetta and it will soon be replicated in all 35 districts of the province, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said on Thursday.

While talking to reporters after launching the digitised arms licence centre at the Quetta Deputy Com­missioner Office, Mr Bugti said anyone with Baloch­istan’s domicile certificate can obtain a licence to own a weapon, either for protection or sports activities.

He said the government will extend old arms licences for some time to allow them to be digitised. After the deadline, he added that old licences would be cancelled.

According to Mr Bugti, the digital arms licence programme had been pending since 2017.

He added that there have been complaints of people applying for government jobs and availing other benefits across the country on Balochistan’s domicile.

To address this issue, the provincial government is digitising the process of issuing all legal documents, including domicile certificates, the CM added.

The event was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Zahid Saleem, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Imran Zarkoon and Quetta Deputy Commissioner Saad bin Asa.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2024