CM Maryam orders stronger public oversight, digital reforms in PERA

LAHORE, Jun 29 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) to further strengthen its ‘PERA Ask’ public complaints portal for the prompt resolution of citizens’ grievances and instructed the PERA Director General to enhance direct public engagement and outreach.

Chairing a special meeting to review PERA’s performance, digitalisation, legal framework and future roadmap, here, the CM ordered that digital requisition be made mandatory for PERA operations to ensure transparency and effective monitoring.

She directed that anti-encroachment operations must be preceded by due notice and warning to the public, while, except for anti-encroachment and price control operations, all enforcement actions should only be carried out after prior digital requisition.

CM Maryam Nawaz said there was no place in PERA for officials who intimidated citizens or misused their authority, adding that corruption and abuse of powers would not be tolerated under any circumstances. She directed strict compliance with PERA requisition rules and ordered that investigating officers should not be transferred on anyone’s recommendation.

The CM said PERA’s 99 per cent conviction rate reflected its professional performance but stressed that the authority’s goodwill must not be compromised. “Every action of PERA must be people-friendly,” she said, adding that resistance to lawful action would not be tolerated and the rule of law must prevail.

During the briefing, officials informed the meeting that PERA had won 99 per cent of 136 writ petitions filed against it and achieved a 98 per cent success rate in cases before judicial magistrates and hearing officers.

The meeting was further informed that PERA’s challan system was being fully digitalised, with digital evidence and all records preserved electronically after trial force requisition. So far, the authority had acted on more than 62,000 digital requisitions.

Officials said PERA had carried out 1,527,028 inspections across Punjab, sealing 3,509 shops for legal violations. Under its anti-encroachment campaign, more than 21,000 kanals of state land had been retrieved, while around 1,700 people had been arrested over illegal price hikes and encroachments. Complete digital records of all enforcement actions were being maintained.

The meeting was told that PERA’s challan completion rate had reached a record 97 per cent. The first FIR under the PERA Act had been registered over a manual challan, while 700 departmental punishments had been awarded and 20 employees dismissed from service on charges of negligence.

Officials also informed the chief minister that work had commenced on a PERA Training Academy at Kallar Kahar to enhance the professionalism and discipline of the force. PERA aimed to complete its permanent recruitment process by June 2027, while an Internal Affairs Unit was also being established to further strengthen transparency and accountability.

CM Maryam Nawaz also appreciated PERA’s overall performance and directed the authority to further improve its public communication and engagement with citizens.