The Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA) has introduced a new prosecution and electronic challan (e-challan) system.
Under the updated mechanism, suspects taken into custody by PERA will be sent directly to judicial custody.
Investigations will then be carried out inside the prison, instead of through traditional police remand.
Officials say this marks a significant shift in the enforcement process and is aimed at improving transparency and consistency in handling cases.
End of manual challans
PERA has also declared manual challans illegal. Authorities have directed officers to issue penalties only through a digital e-challan system.
Any official found issuing a manual challan may face disciplinary action.
The move is intended to reduce irregularities and ensure better record-keeping.
Enforcement activity across Punjab
The changes come during a large-scale enforcement drive across the province.
According to official figures, hundreds of thousands of inspections have been carried out, leading to thousands of challans and multiple criminal cases.
A total of 304 FIRs have been registered, while 233 challans have been submitted to courts.
Bail has been granted to a large number of accused, and some suspects have confessed during court proceedings.
So far, only one conviction has been recorded in the latest data.
Lahore reported the highest number of cases among enforcement stations, followed by several other districts.
Some areas reported no FIRs during the same period.
Inspections and fines
PERA’s inspection system has expanded in recent months.
More than 371,000 inspections have been conducted, resulting in over 45,000 challans worth Rs165.7 million.
Out of these, a majority have been paid, while a portion remains outstanding.
Separate figures show that price control, encroachment, and hoarding violations have also led to significant fines.
Authorities say these actions are part of wider efforts to regulate markets and control illegal practices.
Action on encroachment and hoarding
Anti-encroachment operations have been a major focus.
Teams carried out more than 219,000 raids and recovered thousands of kanals of government land.
Hundreds of arrests and warnings were also recorded.
In anti-hoarding operations, authorities seized large quantities of stored commodities and auctioned part of the recovered goods.
A small number of arrests and FIRs were also reported in these cases.
Public complaints and fuel monitoring
PERA has also been responding to public complaints related to nuisance and regulatory violations.
Thousands of complaints have been received, with most of them resolved.
Fuel station monitoring is another area of focus.
Inspections of petrol pumps have led to fines, sealing of outlets, and arrests in cases involving overcharging and supply issues.
Officials say there has been progress in criminal prosecution.
The number of FIRs, arrests, and convictions has increased compared to the previous year.
At the same time, several cases have been filed against PERA in courts.
Some have been decided, while others are still pending.
The authority is also working on expanding its infrastructure.
New enforcement stations are being built, and existing ones are being upgraded under development plans.
Efforts are underway to strengthen staffing levels as well.
Thousands of personnel have joined, while many positions are still to be filled.
Internal accountability measures
PERA has initiated disciplinary proceedings within its ranks as well.
Dozens of cases are under review, with penalties including dismissals, fines, and warnings.
Field officers have also taken action in a large number of cases, issuing fines and other penalties where required.
Officials say the new prosecution system, along with the shift to digital challans, is designed to improve accountability and ensure clearer enforcement procedures.
They added that these measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen regulatory control and maintain compliance across Punjab.
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