Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) to strengthen its public complaint portal and accelerate digital reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and citizen engagement. The directives were issued during a high-level meeting reviewing PERA’s performance, digitalization efforts, legal framework and future roadmap. A major focus of the meeting was the enhancement of the “PERA Ask” public complaint portal to ensure faster resolution of citizens’ grievances. The chief minister instructed PERA’s leadership to improve direct public engagement and make the authority more accessible, emphasizing that technology should be used to deliver responsive and people-centric public service.
To improve transparency, the government has made digital requisition mandatory for most PERA operations. Except for anti-encroachment and price control activities, enforcement actions will now require prior digital authorization, allowing authorities to maintain better records and strengthen oversight of field operations. The move is expected to reduce misuse of authority while improving monitoring and accountability. The chief minister also instructed that anti-encroachment drives should only be conducted after proper notices and warnings are issued to the public. Stressing a citizen-friendly approach, she warned that corruption, abuse of authority and harassment of the public would not be tolerated, adding that officials found violating regulations would face strict disciplinary action.
Officials informed the meeting that PERA has already processed more than 62,000 digital requisitions and is fully digitizing its challan management system. Digital evidence and enforcement records are now being preserved electronically to improve efficiency and ensure greater transparency throughout legal proceedings. Work is also underway to establish a PERA Training Academy at Kallar Kahar, while an Internal Affairs Unit is being created to further strengthen accountability within the organization.
The latest reforms reflect Punjab’s broader push toward digital governance by integrating technology into public administration and regulatory enforcement. Through improved digital systems, enhanced citizen engagement and stronger accountability mechanisms, the provincial government aims to build a more transparent, efficient and service-oriented regulatory framework that delivers better outcomes for the public.
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