LAHORE: The Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (Pera) has reported significant progress in its institutional consolidation, unveiling a series of disciplinary measures, financial reforms and prospective jurisdictional expansions that collectively mark a decisive shift in the Authority s operational maturity under the PER Act, 2024.
A senior Pera official told The News that the latest developments demonstrate PERA s broader strategy to strengthen internal governance, reduce financial dependence on the provincial exchequer and respond to increasing demand from provincial bodies seeking a unified enforcement mechanism.
One of the most notable disclosures is the initiation of 574 disciplinary proceedings against police personnel deployed in PERA-led enforcement operations. The actions include 259 warnings, 127 fines, 10 officials confined to quarter guard, one case of withheld promotion, three instances of stoppage of increment, 23 cases of forfeiture of approved service, 23 additional warnings, and 129 inquiries still underway. Officials describe the accountability drive as a deliberate effort to reinforce professional standards and ensure that enforcement remains credible, transparent and internally disciplined.
Alongside the accountability measures, the Pera has introduced a Cost of Enforcement Recovery Formula under Section 64 of the PER Act, 2024, in what is being viewed as a critical step towards financial sustainability. The formula factors in personnel expenditures, equipment and machinery use, labour components, depreciation, administrative overheads, auction and warehouse-related costs, and applies a standardisation multiplier. The Authority will now recover these expenses directly from enforcement operations, reducing its reliance on government
allocations. This marks the beginning of a financially responsible enforcement structure one that can expand its operations without recurring fiscal pressure on the provincial government, an official familiar with the development said.
In a parallel development, several major provincial departments and autonomous bodies have formally requested inclusion under the Schedule of the PER Act, 2024. The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA), Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) have all approached PERA for enforcement support. The Authority has approved these requests in principle, with the final decision now awaiting Cabinet approval.
If endorsed, the move will considerably extend Pera s operational footprint, granting it enforcement jurisdiction spanning urban planning, horticulture, taxation and transport regulation. Analysts say such consolidation could help eliminate duplication, streamline compliance operations and establish clearer lines of accountability across Punjab s regulatory ecosystem.
Pera s trajectory over the past year reflects an institution steadily transitioning from foundational establishment to structured governance. The Authority has recently rolled out digital modules for FIR registration, force requisition and HR management, and is exploring proposals for specialised intelligence units and rapid enforcement squads. Officials say these initiatives indicate PERA s intent to build a modern, technology-enabled enforcement structure capable of meeting the province s expanding regulatory needs.
As Pera awaits Cabinet decisions on expanded mandates and moves forward with newly introduced financial and administrative reforms, its leadership maintains that the ultimate objective remains unchanged: to establish a transparent, efficient and self-sustaining enforcement authority dedicated to public interest and improved governance across Punjab.
