Maryam orders stronger public oversight, digital reforms in PERA

Says 99pc conviction rate in courts shows PERA’s performance Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority 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. She chaired a special meeting to review PERA’s performance, digitalisation, legal framework and future roadmap. The meeting was informed that digital requisition would now be mandatory for PERA operations to ensure transparency and effective monitoring. The chief minister ordered that anti-encroachment operations must be preceded by due notice and warning to the public. She further directed that, except for anti-encroachment and price control operations, all enforcement actions must be carried out only after prior digital requisition. Maryam Nawaz said there was no place in PERA for officials who intimidated the public or misused their authority. “Corruption and abuse of powers will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” she said, directing strict compliance with PERA requisition rules. She observed that PERA’s 99 per cent conviction rate reflected its performance but stressed that the authority’s goodwill should not be compromised. “Every action of PERA must be people-friendly,” she said, adding that resistance to lawful action must end and the rule of law would prevail. She also directed that investigating officers would no longer be transferred on anyone’s recommendation. The meeting was briefed that PERA had won 99 per cent of 136 writ petitions filed against it, while it had achieved 98 per cent success in cases before judicial magistrates and hearing officers. Officials informed the meeting that PERA’s challan system was being fully digitalised, with digital evidence and all records after trial force requisition being preserved electronically. The authority has so far acted on more than 62,