The Sindh Home Department has imposed a complete ban on the issuance of new arms licences across the province with immediate effect. The decision will remain in place until further orders.
According to a spokesperson for the Sindh Home Minister, the directive applies to all licensing authorities across Sindh. They have been instructed not to issue any new arms licences under the latest order.
The ban also covers new arms dealership licences. This means applications for fresh licences to operate as arms dealers will also not be approved while the restriction remains in force.
However, the Home Department has allowed exceptions in special or exceptional cases. Arms licences may still be issued where the case meets the required criteria and receives prior approval from the competent authority.
The spokesperson said such exceptional cases will require approval under the applicable rules and regulations. Approval from the Sindh chief minister and home minister will be required before a licence can be issued in such circumstances.
All relevant licensing authorities have been directed to strictly implement the decision. Officials responsible for processing arms licence applications will therefore be required to follow the new instructions and refrain from issuing new licences unless the necessary exceptional approval has been obtained.
The move affects the issuance of new licences rather than existing licences. The directive, as described by the Home Department, does not state that previously issued arms licences have been cancelled or suspended.
The department’s Arms Section is responsible for matters related to arms licensing in the province. Its official functions include the issuance of arms licences as well as licences for arms dealerships.
The latest decision places the normal issuance process on hold across Sindh. People seeking new arms licences will therefore have to wait until the ban is lifted or until their case qualifies for an approved exception.
The Home Department has not specified a date for reviewing or ending the restriction. The ban will continue until further orders, meaning licensing authorities will remain bound by the directive unless new instructions are issued.
The decision comes under the provincial government’s administrative control over arms licensing and dealership permissions. The requirement for senior-level approval in exceptional cases also puts an additional review process in place for applications that may qualify for consideration.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that the ban is implemented uniformly across the province. Any future changes to the policy are expected to be communicated through further orders from the relevant authorities.
For now, the routine issuance of new arms licences and new arms dealership licences remains suspended across Sindh, with only specially approved cases eligible for consideration.
Also read: Shahid Afridi Appointed Sindh Police Sports Ambassador
