Audit Exposes Thousands of Irregular Arms Licences in Pakistan

A government audit has uncovered major irregularities in the computerization of arms licenses in Pakistan, revealing that thousands of suspected licenses were added to official records beyond those originally issued by the Ministry of Interior. This finding has prompted calls for a comprehensive investigation into the licensing process.

According to the audit report, authorities detected 9,291 additional suspected arms licenses during the computerization process. Specifically, 44,250 prohibited-bore arms licenses were computerized, despite official records showing only 36,497 such licenses had actually been issued, marking an excess of 7,753. In total, more than 186,000 arms licenses were computerized, of which 10,464 were later declared fake after verification.

These findings indicate significant weaknesses in the computerization process and suggest that unauthorized or fraudulent records may have been incorporated into the national database. Officials reviewing the audit findings acknowledged the seriousness of these discrepancies, and the relevant authorities have accepted the audit objection concerning the irregularities.

The audit has recommended a thorough investigation to determine how the discrepancies occurred and to identify officials responsible for any negligence or misconduct. It also called for measures to strengthen verification procedures and improve oversight to prevent similar issues in the future. These revelations have raised concerns about the credibility of Pakistan’s arms licensing system and the need for greater transparency and accountability in managing sensitive public records.

Pakistan News will update this story as more confirmed details become available.