Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday claimed that the province’s crime rate had declined by 70 per cent, attributing the decrease to measures taken by her government to improve law and order and enforce the law.
Speaking in Lahore, the chief minister said her government had taken difficult decisions to ensure that the law was applied across all segments of society.
She observed that while people generally welcomed enforcement of laws on others, they often found it difficult to comply with the same rules themselves.
Referring to the enforcement of helmet regulations, Maryam said making motorcyclists accustomed to wearing helmets had been a difficult decision but was necessary in view of the risks posed by road accidents.
The chief minister said she had also faced criticism over action against criminal elements, adding that avoiding difficult decisions simply to escape criticism was not an option.
Expressing concern over incidents involving the harassment of children, she said such cases were deeply distressing and raised serious concerns about the safety of vulnerable sections of society.
CM Maryam said ensuring a safe environment was a challenging task and required difficult decisions. She added that billions of rupees had been spent on improving law and order in Punjab.
She said police had been provided with night-vision equipment after authorities found that terrorists were using similar technology. Checkpoints had also been established to strengthen security along the province’s borders, she added.
Referring to the riverine areas, the chief minister said robberies and other crimes had previously been frequently reported from the belt. She claimed the area was now crime-free and that the writ of the state had been established there.
