Punjab approves up to 2000pc hike in arms licenses issuance, renewal fees
Business
The said hikes are said to be unprecedented and are being termed as ‘first of its kind’
LAHORE (Dunya News) – After interim cabinet’s approval Punjab has imposed hefty hikes in the issuance and renewal fees of firearms licenses.
Following the amendments in Arms Rules 2023 schedule by Punjab’s interim cabinet, the prices of issuance and renewal of arms licences have been massively increased, ranging up-to 2000pc.
Individuals seeking arms license for personal protection or hunting will now have to pay Rs.50,000 instead of Rs.10,000 to obtain the license. Additionally, the renewal fee for firearms license has been raised to Rs.5,000 from Rs.1,000, and for All-Pakistan weapons license, the fee has been increased from Rs.5,000 to Rs.100,000.
Private institutions and security companies seeking new firearms licenses will now have to pay Rs.50,000 instead of Rs.7,000.
NADRA arms license processing fee has been raised from Rs.1,400 to Rs.2,000, whereas duplicate firearms license will now cost Rs.5,000 instead of Rs.1,000.
The fee for increasing the limit of bullets has been raised from Rs.10 to Rs.12 per bullet, and the fee of altering the weapon type or bore on the firearms license has been increased to Rs.5,000, up from Rs.1,000. Moreover, the fee for transferring the firearms license based on inheritance has been increased from Rs.1,000 to Rs.10,000.
Firearms dealership license fee has also been increased substantially. Now, firearms dealers will have to pay Rs.20,00,000 instead of Rs.1,00,000. Whereas, the renewal fee for the former was hiked from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1,00,000.
Similarly, the fees for obtaining new licenses for firearm manufacturing companies have been raised from Rs.5,00,000 to Rs.1 million, and the renewal fee for their licenses has been increased from Rs.2,00,000 to Rs.5,00,000.
Firearm repairing license will also now be available for Rs.1,00,000 instead of Rs.20,000. For license renewal, they will now have to pay Rs.50,000 instead of Rs.10,000.
It would be worth-while to notice that such massive hikes are termed as ‘first of their kind’ as the hike range up to 2,000%.
