Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has banned the permanent assignment of police escorts to provincial cabinet members and other individuals without proper authorization.

According to instructions issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on October 22, police escorts cannot be permanently assigned to provincial ministers, members of the Punjab Assembly, government officers or private individuals without valid approval.

The directives also prohibit people who are not legally entitled to do so from displaying official flags or flagstaffs on their vehicles.

The Inspector General of Punjab Police has been directed to ensure immediate implementation of the orders.

Police have also been instructed to withdraw escorts deployed without proper authorization.

The move aims to curb the unauthorized use of official security arrangements and protocol by government officials and other individuals.