Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday ordered a strict crackdown against 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.
Chairing the fourth meeting of the PERA force, the chief minister directed authorities to install body cameras on PERA personnel by June 30 and ordered scrutiny of 4,000 officers and officials. She also directed authorities to upgrade PERA’s internal intelligence and whistleblower systems.
Maryam Nawaz said the record of every official would be examined thoroughly, adding that personnel with clean records should remain confident while those involved in wrongdoing should prepare for action. She also ordered exemplary punishment against elements defaming the force.
During the meeting, officials briefed the chief minister that PERA had secured ISO certification and that the force’s sanctioned strength stood at 8,000, of which 4,711 positions had already been filled. Recruitment had been carried out through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).
The meeting was informed that training for SDOs of PERA under the Punjab Administrative Service (PAS) would commence from June 1, while enforcement and investigation officers would receive training at Rescue 1122 and PTC Chung.
Officials said recruitment of 7,000 personnel would be completed by the end of June. Out of 155 Enforcement Stations (ES), 133 had become operational, while the remaining stations would be functional by June.
The briefing stated that PERA was currently providing services in 15 special initiatives, including inspection of marriage halls, checking petrol pumps, market closing operations and other regulatory assignments.
Authorities informed the meeting that strict action against hoarding and profiteering had resulted in registration of 11 FIRs, imposition of fines exceeding Rs20 million and arrest of 6,557 individuals. In anti-encroachment operations, 9,036 kanals of land had been retrieved, while over 262,000 raids had been conducted.
The meeting was further informed that, in line with the chief minister’s policy, emphasis had been placed on corrective measures instead of registration of FIRs, with only 439 FIRs lodged. 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.
Maryam Nawaz directed strict monitoring of personnel through a centralised 360 dashboard and ordered that PERA be turned into a dedicated regulatory force.
A proposal to establish PERA’s own training academy in either Kallar Kahar or Murree/Kotli Sattian was also discussed during the meeting. The chief minister ordered completion of the academy within one year.
Raising serious concerns 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 being dismissed from service.
The chief minister further directed that officers with questionable reputations should immediately be sent back to their parent departments, adding that no compromise would be made on public service.