Arms Licence in Sindh and KP in 2026: Sindh Bans New Licences, KP Still Issues
Sindh banned new computerised arms licences on 16 September 2026. KP still issues them on Dastak for Rs 10,000. Fees, renewal, conversion and carry rules.
Sindh has stopped issuing and processing new computerised arms licences. The Home Department's order is dated 16 September 2026 and took effect immediately. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is still taking applications through its Dastak app, where a fresh licence for the province costs Rs 10,000.
We read the Sindh Home Department's corrigendum, its standing orders and its arms licence FAQ on 27 September 2026. For Khyber Pakhtunkhwa we read the Dastak site, the Home and Tribal Affairs Department's fee schedule and its notices on the provincial portal. This page covers the licensing process only.
Sindh has banned new computerised arms licences
A corrigendum from the Sindh Home Department imposes a complete ban on the issuance and processing of new computerised arms licences across the province, with immediate effect. The only exceptions are those the Chief Minister and Home Minister may allow under Rule 3.1 of the Sindh Arms Rules 2018.
The order is No. SO(Arms)/HD-Misc(4)/2026/1, dated 16 September 2026, and was posted on the department's website on 25 September. It was copied to the police and every district administration in Sindh.
| Sindh order | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Ban on new computerised licences | 16 September 2026 | No new licences issued or processed, except under Rule 3.1 |
| Ban on display of arms (Section 144) | 31 August 2026 | Extended for one month from 1 September 2026 |
| Standing order on carrying | 2 February 2026 | Licensed weapon may be carried concealed, never displayed |
The order does not give an end date. Reports describe it as in force until further orders. The text itself only says "with immediate effect". Watch the Home Department's news page for a lifting order.
What Sindh licence holders can still do
The ban covers new computerised licences. Its text does not mention renewals, duplicates or conversions. The Sindh Arms Section still lists renewal penalty waivers, duplicates, extension to all Pakistan and re-validation of manual licences into computerised ones among its functions.
Most Sindh services are done in person at the Arms Branch of the Home Department in the Sindh Secretariat, Karachi. The department's FAQ sets fixed days:
- Monday and Wednesday, 11am to 3pm: general public
- Tuesday: civil armed forces
- Thursday: civil servants, government officials, Sindh Police and lawyers
- Friday: server maintenance, no requests processed
The FAQ also sets the basic criteria that applied to new licences before the ban: a Sindh domicile, a minimum age of 25, physical and mental fitness, police character verification, and a Rs 5,000 government fee paid by challan at National Bank of Pakistan. Those will matter again if the ban is lifted.
A manual licence matters here. The FAQ says a manual Sindh licence without NADRA registration, and any manual licence from another province, will not be given a carry or journey permit. If you still hold an old book licence, re-validation into a computerised licence is the step to ask about.
Carrying rules in Sindh are strict right now
A Sindh computerised licence lets you carry the weapon it names in a concealed way, with no extra permit, under a standing order of 2 February 2026. Displaying or brandishing it is banned under a Section 144 order the department has renewed every month since October 2025.
The display ban order of 31 August 2026 extends the ban for one month from 1 September. It lets guards of registered private security companies carry at their place of duty, but not display weapons in vehicles or in open spaces. Police station SHOs may register complaints under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code for any breach.
How to apply for an arms licence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa runs arms licensing through Dastak, an app and web service of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department built by the KP Information Technology Board. You apply, pay and track there, then give biometrics through NADRA.
- Download the Dastak app from the Play Store or App Store, or open dastak.kp.gov.pk.
- Register with your CNIC and mobile number, and verify by SMS code.
- Choose the arms licence service, fill the form and upload your documents.
- Pay the fee with the 1Link PSID the app generates.
- Give biometrics at a NADRA office or e-Sahulat centre, or through the Pak ID app.
The Abbottabad district page lists documents that "may include" a CNIC, recent photographs, proof of residence, a police clearance certificate and an affidavit giving the purpose. Police verification then runs through your local station. A Kohat district listing says it is free and should take 15 days.
On 27 September 2026 the Dastak home page showed 365,728 licences issued and 138,589 applications pending. Cards are printed centrally with a QR code, and KP's citizen facilitation centres at divisional headquarters hand them out.
The biometric step changed in late 2025. A notice on the provincial portal says KPITB and NADRA agreed to link the Pak ID platform with Dastak, so you can verify at a NADRA e-Sahulat centre or from your phone.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa arms licence fees
The Home and Tribal Affairs Department's "fees in vogue" schedule lists Rs 10,000 for a fresh KP licence and Rs 15,000 for an all-Pakistan one. Converting an old copy into a computerised card costs Rs 5,000 for KP and Rs 10,000 for all Pakistan.
| Item (KP schedule) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Fresh pistol or revolver licence, KP only | Rs 10,000 |
| Fresh shotgun or rifle (NPB) licence, KP only | Rs 10,000 |
| Fresh licence, all Pakistan, either type | Rs 15,000 |
| Convert old copy to computerised card, KP | Rs 5,000 |
| Convert old copy to computerised card, all Pakistan | Rs 10,000 |
| Weapon change on an NPB licence | Rs 2,000 |
NPB means non-prohibited bore, the category provinces license. The schedule describes each fresh and conversion fee as coming "with 5 years renewal". The same sheet shows a duplicate licence and an all-Pakistan extension in a revised column at Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000, but its layout is hard to read, so confirm those two at the counter.
The schedule carries no date on its face. The department first posted it on 30 September 2024 and last updated the page on 25 July 2026.
Renewal and conversion to a computerised card in KP
Renewal in KP is done through Dastak, which says it has moved all new licences, renewals and copy conversions to its upgraded system. An old paper licence is converted into a computerised card for Rs 5,000, or Rs 10,000 for all Pakistan validity.
Start the conversion before your old licence lapses. Dastak says it has taken in all historical licence data, so your old licence should already be on its records.
Punjab is on a third track. Its Punjab arms licence is getting a digital copy in the Pak ID wallet, and KP's Dastak shares only a name with Punjab's document service.
Common questions
Can I apply for a new arms licence in Sindh now?
No. The Sindh Home Department banned the issuance and processing of new computerised arms licences on 16 September 2026, except where the Chief Minister or Home Minister allows one under Rule 3.1 of the Sindh Arms Rules 2018.
Does the Sindh ban stop renewals?
The order's text covers new computerised licences only. It does not mention renewals. Confirm with the Arms Branch before you visit.
Where do I apply for an arms licence in KP?
Through the Dastak app or dastak.kp.gov.pk, run by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department. Biometrics are done through NADRA.
How much is a KP arms licence?
Rs 10,000 for a fresh licence valid in KP and Rs 15,000 for all Pakistan, on the department's current fee schedule.
How do I pay the KP arms licence fee?
Dastak generates a 1Link PSID for the fee, according to the department's own how-to notice. You pay that PSID through a bank channel that accepts 1Link payments.
Can I carry my licensed weapon openly in Sindh?
No. Display is banned under Section 144. A computerised licence allows concealed carry of the named weapon only.
Last checked and sources
We read the Sindh Home Department corrigendum, display ban order, standing order, FAQ and Arms Section page on home.sindh.gov.pk on 27 September 2026. The orders are scanned images, which we read page by page. For KP we read dastak.kp.gov.pk and the Home and Tribal Affairs Department's fee schedule, notices and district service pages on the provincial portal the same day. We found no KP order suspending new licences. We did not submit an application in either province.
About the author
Author
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
