Punjab goes paperless: Civil secretariat fully digitized under e-FOAS

LAHORE: The provincial government of Punjab has completely digitized all official paperwork in the Civil Secretariat and its affiliated offices, officially ending the era of paper files.

The Chief Secretary’s spokesperson confirmed that the transformation is complete: every file and document is now processed digitally under the revolutionary e-Filing and Office Automation System (e-FOAS).

Difficult files have been cleared from the secretariat and are being prepared for disposal, closing a decades-long chapter of paper-based administration. Officials say the historic move is part of the government’s wider good governance drive, designed to supercharge efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The fiscal impact of eliminating manual paperwork is staggering, cutting more than 80 percent of the government’s stationery budget, saving millions annually.

The new e-FOAS system also promises lightning-fast file movement between departments, replacing slow, cumbersome manual transfers. For the first time, documents can be tracked digitally in real time, giving administrators unprecedented oversight and ushering in a new era of government accountability.

This initiative by the Punjab government is eco-friendly as it helps save trees, reduce water and energy usage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By eliminating the need for paper production, governments reduce chemical pollution and reduce waste sent to landfills. Digital records are reusable, and take up no physical space, making paperless governance efficient and environmentally responsible.