Lahore: The Punjab Home Department has imposed a 30-day ban on outdoor drone flying across the province under Section 144. According to Punjab Home Department spokesperson, the Punjab government has imposed the ban on the outdoor use of drones in view of security concerns. The spokesperson clarified that limited use of small drones would be allowed for coverage of events held inside halls and marquees. However, the organisers will be fully responsible for ensuring the safe use of drones during indoor events. According to the notification issued by the Punjab Home Department, intelligence and law enforcement agencies had been exempted from the ban. The spokesperson said the Punjab Home Department had established district-level ‘Safe Drone Usage Committees’ to ensure the safe and regulated use of drones.
Written permission for the use of drones for agricultural, irrigation and research purposes would be granted by the respective district-level Safe Drone Usage Committees. Drone flights undertaken with written permission from the relevant committee would be exempt from the general ban. The Secretary Home has issued the notification imposing the ban on outdoor drone use under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. The Punjab Home Department has directed all district administrations and police across the province to ensure strict and complete implementation of the orders. The spokesperson said that ensuring public safety, maintaining law and order, and protecting public and private property remains the foremost priority of the Punjab government.