Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Center (PIFTAC) and e-launched the AI Hub Punjab, introducing new technology-driven initiatives aimed at improving security, coordination and governance across the province.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Lahore on Saturday, Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had become the first province in Pakistan to establish an Artificial Intelligence Hub. She described the initiative as a major achievement, saying the government had transformed the idea of using artificial intelligence into a practical system within only a few months.
AI System to Provide Early Alerts
The AI Hub Punjab is designed to support authorities in identifying potential security and governance challenges at an earlier stage.
Maryam Nawaz said the AI-enabled system would issue digital alerts to district coordination committees, allowing officials to identify emerging problems before they developed into major incidents.
She stressed that preventing an incident before it occurs should be considered the real measure of success. The system is therefore intended to help government departments move from a reactive approach toward earlier identification and prevention of potential threats.
PIFTAC will also contribute to faster responses against terrorism and other security challenges, particularly those emerging from the tri-border region and areas bordering neighbouring provinces.
Agencies to Work as One Unit
The chief minister praised the Pakistan Army for its cooperation in strengthening Punjab’s security arrangements and expressed appreciation for Lahore Corps Commander Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah.
She also congratulated Home Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Home Secretary Ahmad Javed Qazi and other officials involved in establishing the AI Hub Punjab within a short period.
Maryam Nawaz said police, the Special Branch and other law-enforcement agencies were working together as one unit to protect citizens.
Security arrangements at vulnerable locations have also been strengthened. According to the chief minister, joint checkposts have been equipped with bulletproof protection, thermal imaging technology and night-vision cameras.
She said security personnel had previously faced attacks in which dozens lost their lives, while militants sometimes possessed better weapons and night-vision equipment than police officers.
Focus on Crime Prevention
The chief minister said the government had shifted its approach from responding to crime after it happened toward preventing criminal activity wherever possible.
She claimed that crime in Punjab had declined by as much as 70% and said the state had re-established its authority in riverine areas where criminal activity had previously remained a major challenge.
For Maryam Nawaz, the importance of technology extends beyond counterterrorism. She argued that law and order is equally important to development because infrastructure projects have limited value if citizens remain concerned about theft, violence or the safety of their property.
The AI Hub Punjab is part of this broader effort to use modern technology to improve the government’s ability to identify problems and respond to them.
Zero Tolerance for Corruption
Maryam Nawaz also reiterated her government’s zero-tolerance policy toward corruption.
She said officials would pursue corruption cases even when the amount involved was as little as Rs100. A public helpline has been established to allow citizens to report suspected corruption, while arrests would be made when sufficient evidence is available.
Written instructions have also been issued to senior police officials and other authorities to identify and remove corrupt personnel from their departments.
The government has additionally provided body cameras to police officers. The technology is intended to improve accountability and allow authorities to monitor police conduct while officers are performing their duties.
Technology and Public Safety
The chief minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve public safety through stronger enforcement and better awareness.
She referred to improvements in helmet use, lane discipline and zebra-crossing compliance while noting that pedestrians also need greater education about road safety.
Maryam Nawaz said the government had taken difficult decisions in several areas, including allowing Basant in Lahore after introducing comprehensive safety measures. She said the festival concluded safely and that kite flying stopped after the official closing time.
She also highlighted the government’s responsibility to protect women and children, describing crimes against vulnerable citizens as particularly disturbing.
Building a Technology-Enabled Punjab
The launch of the AI Hub Punjab represents an effort to bring artificial intelligence into provincial governance and security operations.
By combining AI-based alerts with intelligence assessment and coordination between agencies, the government aims to improve its ability to identify emerging risks and respond more quickly.
Maryam Nawaz said citizens expect the government to protect their lives and property and described public safety as her personal responsibility, regardless of the risks associated with difficult decisions.
The AI Hub Punjab initiative is therefore being presented not simply as a technology project but as part of a wider strategy to create a safer and better-governed province.
The chief minister expressed hope that Pakistan would continue progressing rapidly while improving its international image and perception. With artificial intelligence increasingly becoming part of public administration, Punjab’s new initiative could mark an important step toward using technology for security, accountability and more responsive governance.
