By Qudrat Ullah
In a pivotal move aimed at redefining public sector governance in Punjab, the provincial government led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA)—a groundbreaking institutional mechanism designed to tackle inflation, profiteering, hoarding, encroachments, and land grabbing. The creation of PERA is not merely bureaucratic reshuffling, but a bold attempt to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and citizen-focused governance. Launched from Lahore Division recently, the force comprises over 50,000 trained personnel, has its investigation cell, and will ensure transparent inquiry and accountability across Punjab.
Punjab, with its rapidly urbanizing population and economic potential, has long grappled with the challenge of unregulated markets and administrative inertia. For years, the province has been mired in inconsistent price control measures, weak enforcement, and systemic corruption. These shortcomings have not only compromised public welfare but also eroded trust in governance structures. In this context, PERA emerges as a timely intervention—a comprehensive regulatory body with a clear mandate and the tools to enforce it.
Inflation continues to be one of the most pressing economic challenges facing Punjab. Its impact is particularly severe on low and middle-income households, who find their purchasing power diminishing in the face of fluctuating prices of essential commodities. Previous efforts to regulate prices were often short-lived and undermined by collusion between hoarders and corrupt officials. PERA aims to break this cycle through a permanent, digitally empowered framework.
With a dedicated enforcement wing at the district level, PERA is mandated to carry out real-time monitoring of markets, identify anomalies in supply chains, and take swift action against violators. The use of technology in surveillance, data collection, and price analytics is central to its approach. These measures are designed to ensure transparency and consistency in price regulation.
Speaking at PERA’s launch ceremony in Lahore, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unequivocally stated that corruption in market regulation would no longer be tolerated. Her message was clear: the era of ad-hocism is over, and institutional accountability is now a priority. By rooting out middlemen and speculative traders who manipulate supply and demand, PERA hopes to restore stability and fairness to the marketplace.
Another significant area where PERA is expected to bring about transformative change is urban management. Punjab’s cities, particularly Lahore, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, have long suffered under the weight of illegal encroachments. Roads and footpaths, meant for public use, have been seized by unauthorized vendors and structures, leading to traffic bottlenecks, safety hazards, and a degraded urban experience.
PERA has been entrusted with the authority to reclaim these public spaces. Already, initial operations have led to the clearing of several markets and walkways, improving accessibility and pedestrian movement. Women, in particular, have reported feeling safer in commercial areas previously overrun by chaotic and unregulated encroachments. This points to the broader social dividends of improved urban planning: safety, dignity, and inclusiveness.
Moreover, legitimate businesses—often victims of unfair competition from encroachers—are beginning to experience a resurgence. By restoring law and order in commercial zones, PERA is not only improving urban aesthetics but also supporting the formal economy and contributing to job creation.
Land grabbing is one of the most egregious forms of injustice affecting ordinary citizens in Punjab. Land mafias, often operating with political patronage, have preyed upon the vulnerable for decades. Families invest their life savings into property, only to be defrauded or forcibly dispossessed. The legal recourse, when available, is usually slow and prohibitively expensive.
PERA seeks to change this paradigm by taking proactive action against illegal occupation of land. Assistant Commissioners have now been granted special judicial powers to conduct hearings and pass swift verdicts, reducing red tape and accelerating the delivery of justice. This is a crucial step in protecting property rights and creating a legal environment that fosters investment and public confidence.
Under Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s directive, the emphasis is on citizen-centric governance that safeguards the weak rather than enabling the powerful. By targeting land mafias, PERA is sending a clear message: the rule of law will prevail, regardless of status or connections.
What truly sets PERA apart from previous regulatory attempts is its integration of technology and its decentralized operational model. With a presence in all 144 tehsils of Punjab, the authority ensures that its reach is not limited to urban centers. Under the leadership of Director General Farrukh Attique, PERA is being designed as a lean, agile institution capable of delivering timely results across diverse geographies.
Digital dashboards, AI-based monitoring systems, and mobile inspection units are among the tools employed to ensure transparency. Citizens can also lodge complaints and track enforcement actions via mobile apps—ushering in a new level of public participation and oversight.
One of the most powerful symbols of this new governance ethos came when Maryam Nawaz Sharif publicly acknowledged that her own son had been penalized for a traffic violation. This act, symbolic though it may be, reinforces the principle that no one is above the law. Meritocracy and impartiality—values often missing from Pakistan’s governance landscape—are now being institutionalized through PERA.
Beyond its immediate administrative functions, PERA represents something larger: a shift in the governance culture of Pakistan. It signals a move away from crisis-driven, reactive policymaking toward a more strategic, systems-based approach. This is essential if Punjab—and by extension, Pakistan—is to meet the demands of a 21st-century citizenry.
PERA is not without challenges. Sustained political will, inter-agency coordination, and vigilant public oversight will be necessary to ensure its effectiveness. However, if successful, it could serve as a model for other provinces. Its integrated approach—combining enforcement, regulation, and technology—may well become a template for nationwide reform.
The establishment of PERA is a commendable stride toward institutionalizing good governance in Punjab. By targeting systemic issues like inflation, land grabbing, and urban mismanagement, the authority seeks to improve the quality of life for millions. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a responsive, transparent, and tech-driven administrative culture is finally taking shape.
This is not just a new agency—it is about redefining the relationship between the state and its citizens. The people of Punjab have long awaited a government that listens, acts, and delivers. With initiatives like PERA, the promise of progress is beginning to take tangible form. If sustained and supported, this could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan’s democratic and developmental journey.
(The writer is a Lahore-based public information specialist and can be reached at qudratu@gmail.com)
