Punjab Enforcement and Regulation Act, 2024 (PERA) — Bare Act
The Complete Statutory Text Establishing Punjab's New Enforcement Authority
Punjab now has a dedicated province-wide enforcement body operating alongside the police — the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority (PERA). The Punjab Enforcement and Regulation Act, 2024 (Bare Act) provides the complete statutory text establishing this authority and its powers, published by Mansoor Law Book House.
Why This Bare Act is Essential
Passed by the Punjab Assembly in October 2024, PERA was created to improve coordination and enforcement of Punjab's special laws — particularly around price control, hoarding, and illegal encroachments — through a dedicated body operating in parallel to the police. The Act spans 18 chapters and 82 sections, establishing enforcement stations across divisions and tehsils, staffed by officers empowered to inspect, search, seize property, arrest for non-compliance, and even conduct electronic surveillance. Offences under PERA are cognizable and non-bailable, and the Act has an overriding effect over other laws where inconsistencies arise — making it one of the most consequential pieces of Punjab legislation in recent years, and essential reading for anyone navigating its enforcement powers.
Key Features & Statutory Coverage
- Establishment of PERA: Provisions creating the Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority and its multi-tiered structure — provincial, divisional, district, and tehsil level.
- Enforcement Officer Powers: Statutory authority to inspect, search and seize property, remove encroachments, arrest, and levy fines.
- Enforcement Stations: Provisions establishing enforcement stations led by Sub-Divisional Enforcement Officers, distinct from traditional police stations.
- Digital Evidence Provisions: Explicit authorization for digital forensics and audio-video recordings as evidence in enforcement proceedings.
- Appeals Process: A defined appeal pathway — from Hearing Officer to Commissioner to Court — within prescribed 30-day windows.
- Overriding Effect: Provisions establishing PERA's precedence over other laws in case of inconsistency.
- Compact, Practical Edition: A lightweight paperback format for quick statutory reference.
Ideal For:
- Advocates & Legal Practitioners: Essential for lawyers handling cases involving PERA enforcement actions, appeals, or challenges.
- Business Owners & Traders: Directly relevant given PERA's enforcement role in price control and market regulation.
- Government Officials & Enforcement Officers: A core reference for those operating under or interacting with the new Authority.
- Judiciary: Useful for adjudicating appeals arising from PERA proceedings.
- Law Students & Researchers: Important for understanding one of Punjab's most significant recent institutional reforms.
About the Publisher
Published by Mansoor Law Book House, a well-established Lahore-based publisher known for getting newly enacted Pakistani statutes into readers' hands quickly and reliably. This edition features a distinctive dark cover with official PERA imagery.
