Rs. 245M in Arms Vanish from Punjab Police Stores
Rs. 245 Million Worth of Weapons Missing from Punjab Police Stores, Audit Reveals
A startling audit report for the fiscal year 2023-24 has exposed the disappearance of arms and ammunition valued at over Rs. 245.5 million from police stores across Punjab, prompting an official investigation, according to Dawn News.
Presented to the Punjab Assembly, the report details significant thefts and missing inventory from police offices in 12 districts. Shockingly, none of the missing items have been recovered to date.
The most substantial loss was reported by the DPO Muzaffargarh office, with weapons worth over Rs. 83.4 million unaccounted for between 2021 and 2023. In Lahore, the DIG Operations office recorded missing arms valued at Rs. 47.1 million, while Rs. 46.8 million worth of weapons disappeared from the Police Office.
Other districts also reported losses: Multan (Rs. 7.4m), Sialkot (Rs. 5.6m), Sahiwal (Rs. 4.3m), Okara (Rs. 3.8m), Gujrat (Rs. 3.5m), and Faisalabad (Rs. 2.6m).
In response, Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal has launched an inquiry. A committee, led by the Additional IG Special Branch and supported by the DG Monitoring and Additional Secretary Judicial (Home), has been tasked with investigating the matter and submitting a detailed report within 10 days, including departmental responses to the audit discrepancies.