CM Maryam orders PERA crackdown, warns ‘corrupt officials’ of jail

• Punjab CM orders strict action against officials involved in illegal activities, with body cameras for PERA personnel to be installed by June 30

• Directs scrutiny of 4,000 officers under centralised PERA 360 dashboard, saying recruitment of 7,000 personnel to be completed by end of June

• Rs20m fines imposed, 6,557 arrested in anti-hoarding operations: Briefing

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered a strict crackdown on officials involved in “illegal activities” and “bringing a bad name” to the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA), warning that such personnel could face imprisonment instead of brief detention, according to a Punjab DGPR handout.

Chairing the fourth performance review meeting of the PERA force, the chief minister directed authorities to ensure strict monitoring of personnel through a centralised PERA 360 dashboard and stressed that the authority must be transformed into a dedicated and disciplined regulatory force, said a statement issued from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

"وزیر اعلی مریم نواز شریف کی زیر صدارت پیرا فورس کا چوتھا اجلاس، سخت فیصلے"

🔺غیر قانونی کارروائی سے عوام کو تنگ کرنے اور پیرا فورس کا نام بدنام کرنے والے اہلکاروں کے خلاف گھیرا تنگ

🔺غیر قانونی کارروائی میں ملوث پیرا کے اہلکاروں و افسران کو تین دن کی ڈیٹنسن نہیں تین سال جیل… pic.twitter.com/IgBCUwA9oL

— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 7, 2026

She directed that body cameras be installed on PERA personnel by June 30 and ordered scrutiny of 4,000 officers and officials, alongside upgrading the authority’s internal intelligence and whistleblower systems.

Maryam Nawaz said the service record of every official would be examined thoroughly, adding that personnel with clean records had nothing to fear, while those involved in wrongdoing should prepare for strict action, the CMO said.

She also ordered exemplary punishment for elements involved in defaming the force.

Meeting on the PERA Force chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

🔹The Chief Minister was briefed on the PERA Force’s operations and other ongoing actions.

🔹A deadline of June 30 has been set for the installation of body cameras on personnel. pic.twitter.com/NrxlRQ7qa4

— PMLN (@pmln_org) May 7, 2026

During the meeting, officials briefed the chief minister that PERA had secured ISO certification and that its sanctioned strength stood at 8,000, of which 4,711 positions had already been filled through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

The meeting was informed that training for Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) of PERA under the Punjab Administrative Service (PAS) would begin from June 1, while enforcement and investigation officers would undergo training at Rescue 1122 and Police Training College Chung.

Officials said recruitment of 7,000 personnel would be completed by the end of June. Out of 155 Enforcement Stations (ES), 133 had already become operational, while the remaining stations would be made functional by the end of the month.

The briefing noted that PERA was currently providing services in 15 special initiatives, including inspection of marriage halls, checking petrol pumps, market closure operations and other regulatory assignments.

Authorities informed the meeting that strict action against hoarding and profiteering had led to the registration of 11 FIRs, fines exceeding Rs20 million and the arrest of 6,557 individuals.

In anti-encroachment operations, 9,036 kanals of land had been retrieved, while more than 262,000 raids had been conducted.

The meeting was further told that, in line with the chief minister’s policy, greater emphasis had been placed on corrective measures instead of FIR registration, with only 439 FIRs lodged so far.

Officials said 15 to 16 different software systems were being integrated into the PERA 360 dashboard, all challans would be digitised and the conviction rate currently stood at 97 per cent.

A proposal to establish PERA’s own training academy in either Kallar Kahar or Murree/Kotli Sattian was also discussed, with the chief minister directing its completion within one year.

Expressing serious concern over the force’s discipline and reputation, Maryam Nawaz said any official found involved in corruption or misuse of authority should be made an example.

She was informed that 1,356 inquiries had been initiated over disciplinary violations, 304 officials had been penalised and seven personnel were in the process of being dismissed from service.

The chief minister further directed that officers with questionable reputations should immediately be sent back to their parent departments, reiterating that no compromise would be made on public service.

CM expresses grief over students’ deaths in DG Khan school roof collapse

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow and grief over the deaths of students in a school roof collapse incident in Dera Ghazi Khan.

She directed the deputy commissioner and other concerned administrative officers to immediately reach the site and ordered that rescue activities be accelerated.

The chief minister also directed the imposition of an emergency at the district hospital and sought a detailed report on the roof collapse incident.