Public offices directed to shift to digital filing

LAHORE:

Public offices across Punjab have been directed to fully transition to a digital filing system by July 1 as part of a government-led administrative reform aimed at eliminating manual paperwork and reducing operational costs.

The expansion of the e-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS)—already functional in provincial departments and attached bodies—will extend to all regional and district offices, which will no longer be permitted to use manual file-based correspondence after the deadline. Officials estimate that the shift will significantly reduce administrative overhead worth billions of rupees annually.

The directive was issued by Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman during a Secretaries Conference held at the Civil Secretariat on Monday. The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, provincial secretaries, while divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners joined via video link.

The Chief Secretary said the digital system is being introduced to improve transparency.