Digital filing platform: Public offices directed to transition entirely by July 1

LAHORE Public offices across the province have been directed by the Punjab government to transition entirely to a digital filing platform by July 1, marking a government-led structural overhaul intended to eliminate physical paperwork and reduce administrative spending.

The expansion of the E-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS)—which is already active across central provincial departments and attached bodies—means all regional and district field offices will be legally barred from using manual paper correspondence starting next month. Official estimates suggest the phase-out of traditional files will prevent billions of rupees in annual administrative overhead.

The directive was issued by the Punjab Chief Secretary Punjab during a Secretaries Conference at the Civil Secretariat here on Monday. The high-level session was attended in person by the Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, and provincial administrative secretaries, while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners participated via video link.

According to the Chief Secretary, the digital system is being deployed to standardize transparency, decrease processing delays, and accelerate the resolution of public grievances. The Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) was credited with managing the technical transition away from manual record-keeping.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary also acknowledged the performance of administrative officers, local government institutions, and field teams during Eid-ul-Azha, noting that solid waste management targets were met despite extreme summer temperatures.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026