KEY POINTS
- First-ever anti-drone unit approved to detect, track and neutralise hostile aerial threats
- Advanced digital scanners at all entry points and centralised dashboard for deputy commissioners to enable real-time district-level monitoring
- AI hub to be established within PIFTAC; whistleblower system strengthened for public participation in counter-terrorism
LAHORE, Pakistan: Pakistan’s Punjab province has achieved a milestone by becoming the first province in the country to establish the Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre (PIFTAC), a comprehensive intelligence coordination hub aimed at revolutionising the province’s security apparatus.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, during her visit to the facility on Tuesday, also gave the green light for the province’s first-ever anti-drone unit and ordered the immediate establishment of a dedicated cybercrime cell.
The Chief Minister received a comprehensive briefing from relevant authorities regarding PIFTAC’s operational framework and the prevailing law and order situation across Punjab.
The centre has been designed to enhance intelligence coordination and threat assessment capabilities throughout the province, consolidating multiple security agencies onto a unified platform for real-time information exchange and analysis.
Pioneering Anti-Drone Capabilities
In a forward-looking move to address emerging aerial threats, CM Maryam Nawaz sanctioned the creation of an anti-drone unit, the inaugural initiative of its kind in any Pakistani province.
وزیراعلیٰ @MaryamNSharif کی پراونشنل انٹیلی جنس فیوژن اسسمنٹ سینٹر آمد، وزیراعلیٰ مریم نواز شریف نے اینٹی ڈرون یونٹ کی منظوری دے دی!
پنجاب پیف ٹیک(PIFTAC) قائم کرنے والا پہلا صوبہ بن گیا۔
پنجاب میں پہلی مرتبہ اینٹی ڈرون یونٹ قائم کرنے کا فیصلہ۔ pic.twitter.com/5ClZ6lM0Y8— Maryam Nawaz Updates (@MNS_Updates) February 24, 2026
This specialised unit will bolster surveillance capabilities and equip authorities with the means to detect, track, and neutralise hostile drone activity, tackling a growing security challenge in contemporary warfare and terrorist methodologies.
Digital modernisation at entry points
The Chief Minister instructed authorities to promptly install advanced digital scanners at all entry and exit points across the province. This measure aims to fortify monitoring capabilities and impede the movement of suspicious individuals across Punjab’s borders.
Furthermore, a centralised digital dashboard has been established for deputy commissioners in all districts to facilitate effective monitoring and safeguard citizens’ lives and property.
This technological platform will enhance coordination and enable real-time oversight of security matters at the district level.
Proactive security strategy
Highlighting the importance of a forward-looking security approach, CM Maryam Nawaz directed authorities to prioritise pre-emptive action over reactive measures following terrorist incidents. She mandated continuous combing operations throughout the province to ensure the protection of public life and property.
“Instead of reacting to terrorist incidents, authorities must adopt a policy of pre-emptive action,” she emphasised during the briefing. “The government aims to make Punjab the safest province in the country and will utilise all available resources to ensure protection of the public.”
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif visited the Provincial Intelligence Fusion & Assessment Center.
The Chief Minister was briefed on PIFTAC and other matters related to law and order. pic.twitter.com/OZrqnkNnBl
— PMLN (@pmln_org) February 24, 2026
Strengthening intelligence infrastructure
The Chief Minister called for strengthening the whistleblower system to combat terrorism and criminal activities, encouraging public involvement in maintaining law and order. She also revealed plans to establish an Artificial Intelligence hub within PIFTAC to enhance cyber security, data analysis, and operational response capabilities.
Commitment to public safety
CM Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s resolve to transform Punjab into Pakistan’s safest province. She assured that all available resources would be deployed to ensure public safety and uphold law and order throughout the province.
The establishment of PIFTAC, together with the anti-drone unit and cybercrime cell, signifies a comprehensive transformation of Punjab’s security infrastructure, positioning the province at the forefront of technological innovation in counter-terrorism and law enforcement.
These initiatives underscore the government’s dedication to implementing modern solutions for contemporary security challenges, ensuring Punjab remains at the leading edge of public safety measures.
