LAHORE: The Punjab government has barred cabinet members, advisers, special assistants and other individuals from using official protocol, including permanent police escorts and official flags on vehicles, without proper authorization.
In a statement posted on X on Friday, the Punjab government said that, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, immediate action had been ordered against the unauthorized use of official protocol.
The Chief Minister’s Office has issued a notification titled “Chief Minister’s Priority Instructions,” directing the relevant authorities to ensure immediate compliance.
According to the notification, no police escort shall be permanently assigned to any member of the provincial cabinet, adviser, special assistant to the chief minister, parliamentary secretary, chairperson of a standing committee, member of the Provincial Assembly, government officer or private individual without valid authorization.
The notification also prohibits the use of a flagstaff or the display of an official flag on any vehicle by individuals who are not legally entitled to do so.
وزیرِاعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کی ہدایت پر سرکاری پروٹوکول کے غیر مجاز استعمال کے خلاف اہم اقدام۔ کابینہ اراکین، مشیروں، معاونینِ خصوصی اور دیگر افراد کے لیے بلااجازت مستقل پولیس اسکواڈ کی تعیناتی پر پابندی عائد۔ سرکاری گاڑیوں پر بغیر اجازت فلیگ اسٹاف یا سرکاری پرچم کے استعمال کی ممانعت پر فوری عملدرآمد یقینی بنانے کی ہدایت۔
@MaryamNSharif
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) October 22, 2026
The Provincial Police Officer/Inspector General of Police has been directed to ensure immediate implementation of the instructions and withdraw all police escorts found to be deployed without valid authorization, the notification added.
Read More: CM Punjab gives police four weeks to improve law and order
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz Sharif gave the police four weeks to improve the overall law and order situation, especially regarding action on crimes against children and women. If the situation does not improve, she has warned to dismiss the involved officers.
The CM voiced concern about the law and order situation in Rawalpindi Division and instructed the police to step up their efforts to combat severe crimes, internal corruption, and unlawful gun possession.
During a special meeting on law and order, which was attended by district police officers (DPOs) and regional police officers (RPOs) via video link, she gave these directions.