In a transformative leap towards digitization and data-driven governance, the Punjab Government has quietly but significantly transformed its monitoring and evaluation (M&E) mechanisms through a newly introduced GIS-based Real-Time Monitoring and Evaluation System (RTMES).
Between January and April 2025, the number of completed M&E reports in Punjab surged from 150 to over 400 compared to the same period in 2024. This threefold increase is attributed to the system’s transition from a manual to a fully digital mode-introducing not just speed, but also a new level of accountability and real-time accessibility.
Implemented under the reform-oriented vision of the Chairman Planning & Development Board, Mr. Nabeel Ahmad Awan, and the strategic leadership of Director General Monitoring & Evaluation, Dr. Kiran Khurshid, the RTMES system enables end-to-end digitization of monitoring processes. At the core of this transformation lies not only technology, but also a strong governance mindset to promote transparency, data integrity, and evidence-based policy feedback.
At present, senior policymakers-including Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Chairman P&D Board, and line departments-have real-time access to monitoring data via integrated dashboards. These dashboards provide spatial, graphical, and progress-based insights on projects across Punjab, bringing a new dimension of visibility to public sector performance.
The RTMES mobile application and dashboard suite combine Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, mobile attendance, vehicle and officer tracking, biometric reporting, and document digitization. Officers conducting field visits now log real-time updates with geo-tagged photos and drone video evidence. In a step further, artificial intelligence is being deployed to analyze these images and generate automated observations and recommendations-enabling quicker analysis and red-flag identification.
What sets this system apart is not only its technological depth but its systemic alignment. RTMES is fully integrated with the Smart Monitoring of Development Projects (SMDP) portal, ensuring that project progress is instantly visible to all tiers of governance. This alignment allows the government to spot lags, intervene where necessary, and validate third-party evaluations (TPVs) with on-ground reality.
Moreover, the benefits go beyond just governance. Improved planning, efficient transport and officer deployment, and better asset tracking contribute to both economic and environmental efficiency. At a time when public scrutiny is high and development budgets are under pressure, such mechanisms rebuild citizen trust.
The new system is also socially enabling, with increased transparency and digital reporting bringing a noticeable shift in how monitoring teams engage with communities.-fostering trust, responsiveness, and participatory oversight. Public feedback, visual audits, and data transparency are pushing Punjab’s development machinery toward more citizen-centric service delivery.
While the system is still evolving-with upcoming modules and predictive analytics features on the horizon-it has already set a strong precedent for other provinces and departments to follow. The Directorate General Monitoring & Evaluation, under the leadership of Dr. Kiran Khurshid, has thus laid down a replicable, scalable model of institutional innovation.
The real story here is not just about a software launch or technical deployment. It is a story of political will, administrative reform, and digital transformation coalescing into a system that could redefine how governments measure performance. At a time when many public programs struggle with visibility and verification, Punjab’s RTMES stands out as a model of real-time governance.
If success is measured by increased efficiency, transparency, and alignment-then this quiet transformation deserves loud applause.
