The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has expanded its use of the digital office automation system, which was introduced by the Punjab government last summer, to include all routine correspondence. Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad made this announcement on Tuesday in Lahore.
Implementation of E-Filing System
In a communique addressed to directorate heads, Mansoor stated that all files and cases shall be initiated, processed, examined, and approved through the E-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS). This digital system was already active across the umbrella organization of district horticultural agencies, which have been using it for official business.
Chief Secretary's Directive
The letter was issued in response to the direction of the provincial chief secretary, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, who emphasized the need to eliminate paperwork and increase administrative efficiency. According to Raja Mansoor, the digital system will standardize transparency, reduce delays, and accelerate the resolution of public grievances.
Digitization of Commercial Services
The PHA has already digitized the process of outdoor commercial advertisements to improve the ease of doing business. In the first phase, applications related to three services — registration of firms, no-objection certificates (NOCs) for commercial installations such as billboards, and temporary campaign permissions — have been moved to e-Biz, an online portal.
Single-Window System
Through e-Biz, the PHA's marketing wing has introduced a single-window system that allows firms to apply, submit documents, and pay fees through one streamlined platform. Raja Mansoor had previously stated that digitization of services was a step toward making PHA a more business-friendly organization as envisioned by the chief secretary. “We want to remove every unnecessary hurdle that businesses face when seeking approvals,” he added.
