The Punjab Home Department has made it mandatory for all arms dealers across the province to maintain a digital inventory of their stock, with a compliance deadline of August 26, 2026.
Under the new requirement, every holder of a Business Arms Licence (BAL) must record complete details of firearms and ammunition, along with all related purchases and sales, on the Punjab Arms Licence (PAL) online portal. The Home Department said the move forms part of a wider provincial effort to build a Punjab free of illegal weapons.
Dealers have been directed to upload existing stock details before the deadline and ensure their records remain complete and updated. The department has shared lists of registered arms dealers with deputy commissioners in each district, who have been tasked with overseeing compliance and submitting reports once the process is complete.
Officials cautioned that dealers who fail to update their inventory within the given timeframe could face legal consequences, including suspension of licences, sealing of businesses and financial penalties.
To support the transition, the Home Department is holding a training workshop on the Punjab Arms Licence Inventory Module at the Punjab Forensic Science Authority Auditorium on Monday, August 24, at 10:30am. Dealers unable to attend in person can join online through their respective deputy commissioner offices.
The session will walk dealers through the portal and give them a chance to raise queries or flag technical issues encountered during the upload process. The Home Department said the initiative is meant to strengthen oversight of arms dealers, improve record-keeping and enhance monitoring of the legal arms trade across the province.
