Pakistan's army chief, General Raheel Sharif, also convened an emergency meeting of the country's intelligence agencies to begin to track down those responsible for the attacks.

On 28 March, Prime Minister Sharif directed law enforcement agencies to step up counter-terror operations against terrorists and their abettors in southern Punjab.

[24] The chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, Imran Khan, visited the victims of the blast in Jinnah Hospital.

He later told the media that the current government needs to implement a National Action Plan and develop a consensus to go after terrorists in whichever province they are seeking refuge.

"[24] On 28 March, in Punjab, several suspected terrorists were arrested, along with firearms with full ammo recovered in different parts of Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan.

[24] Al Jazeera noted that the bombing "underscored" both the "precarious position" of Pakistan's minorities, and the fact that the fighters from armed groups "are still capable of staging wide-scale assaults despite the months-long military offensive targeting their hideouts and safe havens in remote tribal areas".

[26] Anonymous government and security sources told Reuters that a decision has been made to launch a full-scale crackdown on Islamist militants in Punjab, which may involve the paramilitary Rangers, who have been operating in Karachi for the last two years.

[5] Business leaders announced that all shopping malls, bazaars, and markets in Lahore would be closed on 28 March, the day following the bombing.

[30][28] The Pakistan Army said it would begin military operations across Punjab in response to the bombings; targeting militants, their facilitators, and their hideouts.

[31] United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and called for Islamabad to protect religious minorities.

[34][35] The British Pakistan Christian Association, chaired by Wilson Chowdhry, condemned the 2016 Lahore suicide bombing, and appealed to the Government of India to "open its doors and provide safe heaven [sic] to Christians of Pakistan before they themselves start migrating in distress towards India for safety".