Lahore, 5 September 2026 – Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif warned on Saturday that security threats emanating from Pakistan’s bordering provinces now outweigh those posed by foreign nations, and she linked the warning to a reported 70 percent drop in criminal incidents across Punjab after the rollout of new joint‑province checkposts equipped with thermal‑imaging technology.

The CM said the newly‑installed checkpoints, which operate under a coordinated Punjab‑Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab‑Sindh framework, are designed to detect and deter cross‑border smuggling, illegal movement and organized crime. Thermal‑imaging cameras enable authorities to monitor activity even in low‑visibility conditions, allowing rapid response to potential breaches along the province’s extensive frontier.

According to provincial police data released this week, recorded crimes in Punjab have fallen sharply since the joint‑checkpost system became operational two months ago, with some districts registering reductions of up to seventy per cent. The trend is most pronounced in the historically volatile “Katcha” belt—riverine border zones that previously served as conduits for illicit trade and armed gangs. The CM noted that these areas are now fully under state control, marking a reversal of a decade‑long security challenge.

Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the decline in crime not only improves public safety but also restores confidence among investors and residents in the province’s agrarian heartland. She called for continued inter‑provincial cooperation, urging neighboring administrations to adopt similar surveillance infrastructure and share intelligence to pre‑empt threats that cross administrative lines.

Analysts point out that the shift in focus from external to intra‑national security concerns reflects Punjab’s evolving risk profile, where porous internal borders can facilitate the movement of weapons, narcotics and human traffickers. By tightening these internal frontiers, the provincial government aims to safeguard its densely populated cities and rural communities alike, while also reducing the burden on federal law‑enforcement agencies.

The CM concluded by reaffirming her administration’s commitment to modernising Punjab’s security apparatus, stating that the success of the thermal‑imaging checkposts will serve as a blueprint for expanding high‑tech policing measures across other vulnerable corridors in the province.