LAHORE: In a major step toward digital governance, the Punjab government has issued final directives requiring all government offices across the province to become completely paperless from July 1, marking one of the most significant administrative reforms in recent years.
The decision was announced during an important conference of provincial secretaries held at the Civil Secretariat Lahore under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of Punjab. Senior officials reviewed progress on e-governance initiatives and approved final implementation measures for the province-wide transition.
Under the new policy, all government departments and field offices will be connected to the Electronic Filing and Office Automation System (eFOAS). Beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1, official correspondence, file movement, and administrative processes will be conducted exclusively through the digital platform.
Addressing the conference, the Chief Secretary described the replacement of traditional paper files with a digital workflow as a major achievement in Punjab’s information technology reforms. He said the transition is already helping reduce government expenditures by saving billions of rupees annually through lower spending on paper, stationery, printing, and record management.
Officials also emphasized that the paperless system is expected to improve transparency, accelerate decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency in public administration.
The Chief Secretary instructed all departments to complete employee training, strengthen digital infrastructure, and ensure full operational readiness before the July 1 implementation deadline.
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