Irregularities in Prohibited Bore (PB) Arms Licensing in Pakistan

In a recent communication with the NADRA chairman referencing F.NO.15/13/2023-ARMS (PB), the Ministry of Interior (MoI) has taken a stance on the issue they term "IRREGULARITIES IN ISSUANCE OF LICENCES OF PROHIBITED BORE" The letter sheds light on cases in which dealers of prohibited bore weapons bypass the import process, register weapons with them, and issue fake receipts without actually importing the specified weapons or genuinely selling/transferring them to the recipient.

A Shift in Policy

The Ministry of Interior has drawn attention to a common practice among prohibited bore weapon dealers. These dealers have been registering and providing receipts for the weapons, charging fees ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000. It is crucial to note that this practice is not a recent development. The Ministry of Interior has been aware from the beginning that dealers are issuing fake receipts because the import of prohibited bore weapons is banned by the Government itself.

The Issue at Hand

To address this, the Ministry has decided that, henceforth, only weapons from the Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) in Wah will be eligible for licensing by NADRA. The challenge, however, lies in the fact that POF doesn't directly sell PB weapons to civilians. Even if they did, the choices would be rather limited, with options such as MP5, G3, and their own BW20 and BW21.

Implications for Dealers and Licensees

The sudden shift in policy has had substantial consequences. Arms dealers now face heightened scrutiny, and the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore has already started an inquiry into this issue. Individuals seeking a Prohibited Bore (PB) license find themselves in a challenging position due to the abrupt policy change by the Ministry of Interior.

A Positive Step Forward

While the recent changes to PB arms licensing in Pakistan may have stirred things up a bit, but allowing the import of weapons by prohibited bore dealers is the only way forward in the current context. This is much needed because licensees currently have very few options when it comes to prohibited bore weapons.

Looking Ahead

The Ministry of Interior once again wrote a new letter on November 24, 2023, addressed to the chairman of NADRA. In the letter, they stated that, considering the difficulties encountered by the citizens, the ministry has decided to allow NADRA to continue processing approved arms licenses until the deadline of December 31, 2023. However, the issue of obtaining weapons after receiving the demand note from NADRA for PB weapons remains uncertain. Only time will reveal how this process unfolds for the public.