Punjab CM tells Pera to strengthen public complaint portal

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday directed the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) to improve its public complaints portal to ensure quicker handling of citizens’ grievances, while also instructing the authority’s head to increase direct engagement with the public.

The directives were issued during a meeting in Lahore that reviewed Pera’s performance, digitisation, legal structure and future course. The chief minister also ordered that digital requisition would now be mandatory for Pera operations in order to improve transparency and monitoring.

Review follows complaints against authority officials

The move comes after complaints of corruption involving Pera officials. Earlier, Maryam Nawaz had ordered action against personnel accused of illegal conduct and harassment of the public. She had also set June 30 as the deadline for field officials to begin wearing body cameras as part of measures aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability, though that target was not met.

The chief minister had additionally ordered scrutiny of 4,000 Pera personnel. Referring to accountability for unlawful conduct, she had said officials found involved in illegal operations could face detention as well as prison terms under the law.

"The Pera personnel and officers found involved in unlawful operations may face not only three days of detention, but up to three years in prison also. The record of every individual in Pera will be scrutinised. Their past conduct will also be reviewed. Those with clean record should remain fearless, but the corrupt must be prepared [for accountability]," she said.

Pera was established in the middle of last year to carry out anti-encroachment and price control operations across Punjab. In recent weeks, however, complaints had been mounting that some of its officials were taking bribes from vendors and shopkeepers.

Instructions on anti-encroachment and requisition rules

During Monday’s meeting, the chief minister ordered that anti-encroachment drives must be preceded by proper notices and warnings to the public. She further directed that, apart from anti-encroachment and price control operations, all other enforcement measures should only be undertaken after prior digital requisition.

Maryam Nawaz said there was no room in Pera for officials who intimidated citizens or misused their powers.

"Corruption and abuse of powers will not be tolerated under any circumstances," the CM said, stressing compliance with the authority’s requisition rules.