LAHORE: The Punjab Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries has achieved a significant milestone in improving transparency, competition and revenue generation through the introduction of an electronic auction system for the leasing of public water bodies across the province.
Under the leadership of Punjab Secretary Aquaculture and Fisheries Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal, the department has successfully implemented the e-Auction Portal, replacing traditional auction practices with a more transparent and accessible digital mechanism.
The initiative was introduced under the direct supervision of Secretary Aquaculture and Fisheries Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal, with the dedicated efforts of Director Aquaculture Punjab Dr. Muhammad Abid. The digital platform has received a positive response from bidders and members of the public, enabling eligible participants to take part in the auction process remotely.
According to the department, the new system has produced significantly improved results compared with the traditional auction mechanism. Auction results from several districts have exceeded both the department’s prescribed base prices and previous revenue records, generating millions of rupees in additional revenue for the provincial exchequer.
The digital auction mechanism has also helped promote healthy competition among bidders by providing an equal opportunity to participate without the need to physically attend conventional auction proceedings. The system is aimed at ensuring greater transparency while improving the utilization and revenue potential of government-owned water resources.
The department said that, at the current stage, only public water bodies with an officially assessed auction value of more than Rs500,000 are being auctioned through the e-Auction Portal.
The successful implementation of the system marks an important step towards the digital transformation of the Punjab Aquaculture and Fisheries Department. By reducing reliance on conventional procedures and introducing technology-based monitoring and participation, the department aims to strengthen accountability and improve public resource management.
The department further stated that the e-Auction system will gradually be expanded, with the auction of all categories of public water bodies expected to be conducted through the digital portal in the future.
The initiative is expected to provide a more transparent framework for managing Punjab’s public fisheries resources while increasing government revenues and encouraging greater participation in the legal and regulated use of public water bodies.
