Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has called for a comprehensive reform of the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (PERA), aiming to eradicate the prevalent culture of arrogance and high-handedness among enforcement officers. She emphasized the necessity of implementing digital tracking for all field operations to enhance transparency and accountability.
During a review meeting, Maryam Nawaz criticized the aggressive behavior of some enforcement personnel, making it clear that officials who misuse their authority or intimidate citizens will no longer be tolerated. She firmly stated that the dismissive attitude of “pick up the goods and get out” must end immediately, as it damages the authority’s reputation and undermines public trust.
Despite these concerns, the chief minister acknowledged PERA’s impressive performance, noting a record 99 percent conviction rate in 136 constitutional writ petitions and a 98 percent success rate in cases before judicial magistrates and hearing officers. These figures highlight the authority’s effectiveness in legal proceedings.
To strengthen institutional accountability, Maryam Nawaz ordered the revitalization of the “Ask PERA” public portal to improve grievance redressal and directed the PERA Director General to increase direct engagement with the public. She also mandated that all enforcement and anti-encroachment actions must be preceded by digital requisition orders, which will be logged into a centralized database to ensure proper documentation of operations.
Officials informed the meeting that PERA is transitioning its ticketing and fine system to a fully electronic platform to prevent manual interference. The authority has already processed over 62,000 digital requisitions and conducted more than 1.52 million inspections province-wide, resulting in the sealing of 3,509 shops for legal violations.
In its ongoing anti-encroachment drive, PERA has reclaimed over 21,000 kanals (approximately 2,625 acres) of state land and arrested 1,700 individuals involved in illegal encroachments and artificial price inflation.
The meeting also addressed internal disciplinary measures, revealing that 351 employees seconded from other government departments were returned to their parent organizations due to breaches of discipline. Additionally, 700 staff members faced penalties, and 20 were dismissed for gross negligence.
To institutionalize transparency and discipline, an internal affairs unit is being established, and a dedicated training academy is under construction in Kallar Kahar. This academy aims to foster a more disciplined and public-oriented culture within the force.
The authority plans to complete its transition to a fully permanent and independently recruited staff by June 2027, marking a significant step toward professionalizing the enforcement body.
