Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly claimed a dramatic drop in crime across the province. However, official statistics tell a very different story.
The Chief Minister has made bold assertions about crime reduction in 2025, claiming that the overall crime rate fell by 70% to 80% compared to 2024. Official data, however, does not support these figures.
The Claims
On December 6, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed a crowd in Gujranwala. She credited CCTV cameras for the alleged drop in crime.
“Because of this system, there has been an 80% reduction in crime in Punjab,” she stated. She also added that many districts now report no cases for several days.
She made similar claims on November 19, attributing the crime reduction to the Crime Control Department (CCD). She said this unit had reduced crime by 70%.
What the Data Actually Shows
Geo Fact Check analyzed official Punjab Police statistics for the periods January 1 to December 31, 2024, and January 1 to December 29, 2025. The findings show a very different picture. Overall reported crime in Punjab declined by only 2%, far below the 70-80% drop claimed by the Chief Minister.
Some categories did see notable reductions. Gang rape cases decreased by 44% compared to 2024. Dacoity robbery with murder fell by 42%.
However, other crime categories increased. Crimes against persons rose, along with violations of local laws and miscellaneous offenses. Cases of kidnapped or missing women also increased, and narcotic-related crimes registered an uptick as well.
The Crime Control Department’s Record
Chief Minister Sharif specifically credited the CCD for the alleged crime reduction. The unit was established in April 2025 and handles serious organized crimes, including dacoity, robbery, murder, rape, kidnapping, ransom cases, and extortion.
Official data shows none of these categories recorded a 70% or 80% reduction. Gang rape showed the highest drop at 44%, while dacoity robbery with murder decreased by 42%. These are notable declines but still fall well short of the figures claimed by the Chief Minister.
The Verdict
The claim of a 70-80% crime drop in Punjab is false. Official Punjab Police data confirms only a 2% decrease in overall reported crime in 2025 compared to 2024.
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While certain crime categories did decline significantly, others increased. The overall data does not support the dramatic crime reduction repeatedly claimed by Punjab’s Chief Minister.
