Breaking News; Punjab Government Bans Wall-Chalking Across the Province
LAHORE | November 2, 2025 — The provincial government of Punjab has issued a sweeping directive to impose a complete ban on wall-chalking on both government and private buildings, as part of a large-scale beautification initiative under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz instructed the relevant authorities to launch a province-wide clean-up of walls. Removing all existing chalking, graffiti, and unauthorized writings. The measure is linked with a broader plan to execute 132 beautification schemes in 39 districts at a cost of Rs 16.5 billion. With work already underway on 122 of those schemes. (Daily Times)
According to the government, targeted completion deadlines have been set. Major cities including Lahore, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Gujrat, Faisalabad. And Rawalpindi are expected to meet deadlines by June 2026. For example, works in Multan are expected to complete by November 2025. Gujranwala by December 2025, and Sahiwal by March 2026.
🛠 Implementation & Enforcement
In tandem with the cleanup, law-enforcement agencies have been instructed to enforce existing laws related to wall-chalking and defacement. For instance, the provincial legal framework already includes the Punjab Prohibition of Expressing Matters on Walls Act, 1995, under which writing, painting, or affixing notices on walls without authorization is prohibited and punishable. (Punjab Laws)
Furthermore, in Rawalpindi, police have already registered multiple arrests under the ban: seven persons were arrested for violating orders on wall-chalking and loud-speaker misuse in the past few days, as part of a crackdown to enforce Section 144 across the district.
🎯 Purpose & Expected Impact
The policy aims to achieve multiple objectives:
- Improve the visual appeal of urban environments and curb property defacement.
- Reduce unauthorised political graffiti and slogans, which often lead to public disorder or law-and-order issues.
- Support the wider “beautification” agenda, facilitating cleaner, more orderly public spaces across Punjab.
Officials argue the move will bolster the image of cities, encourage tourism, and attract further investment by creating more visually appealing and well-regulated urban settings.
📝 What Citizens Should Know
- No person or organisation (political or commercial) is permitted to engage in wall-chalking, unauthorized posters, or spray-painting slogans on walls.
- Building owners (private or public) are required to clear existing chalking or signage at their expense, per deadlines established by local authorities.
- Violations may lead to legal action under the 1995 Act, including fines and possible imprisonment. Especially when material promotes public disorder or illicit messaging.
