The Punjab government is set to crack down on disorderly individuals, commonly referred to as goondas, with the introduction of “The Punjab Control of Goondas Act 2025.”
The proposed law, drafted by the Punjab Home Department, aims to curb organized criminal activity across the province through a series of strict measures.
Under the new legislation, District Intelligence Committees will have the authority to officially designate individuals as goondas based on their involvement in crimes such as drug trafficking, extortion, cybercrime, harassment, and other organized offenses. The law will also target those using forged documents or publicly displaying weapons.
Individuals labeled as goondas will face severe penalties, including the blocking of their Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports, freezing of bank accounts, seizure of digital devices, and cancellation of firearms licenses.
Their names may also be added to the no-fly list. Violators of the committee’s directives could face imprisonment ranging from three to five years and fines of up to Rs1.5 million. Repeat offenders may be sentenced to up to seven years in prison and fined as much as Rs2 million.
In a related move to strengthen law enforcement, the Punjab government has also decided to introduce electronic tagging for habitual offenders. According to officials, 1,500 tracking devices will be distributed to security agencies to monitor the real-time movements of individuals under surveillance, including those listed under the Fourth Schedule.
The new measures are part of a broader effort to enhance public safety and maintain law and order throughout Punjab.
Get the latest news and stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.