THE PUNJAB COMPULSORY TEACHING OF THE HOLY QURAN ACT 2018

(Act XVII of 2018)

C O N T E N T S

Section Heading

1. Short title, application and commencement.

2. Definitions.

3. Compulsory teaching of the Holy Quran.

4. Power to make rules.

5. Act not to be derogatory to any other law.

[1]THE PUNJAB COMPULSORY TEACHING OF THE HOLY QURAN ACT 2018

(Act XVII of 2018)

[16 May 2018]

An Act to provide for making compulsory teaching of the Holy Quran to Muslim students in all educational institutions

Whereas it is expedient to provide for making teaching of the Holy Quran compulsory for Muslim students in all educational institutions in the Province of Punjab and for matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto;

Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:

1. Short title, application and commencement.─ (1) This Act may be cited as the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Act 2018.

(2) It shall apply only to Muslim students in all educational institutions in the Province of Punjab.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.─ In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

[2][(a) “compulsory teaching” means teaching of the Holy Quran as a separate compulsory subject;]

[3][(b)] “Educational institution” means any school, college, institute, by whatever name called, established and set up in public or private sector for imparting education to students irrespective of its status whether registered or not registered with the Government or any other body;

[4][(c)] “Government” means the Government of the Punjab;

[5][(d) “Naazrah Quran” means reading and recitation with correct pronunciation by sighting of Arabic text;]

[6][(e)] “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under this Act; and

[7][(f)] “rules” means the rules made under this Act.

3. Compulsory teaching of the Holy Quran.─ (1) There shall be, in all educational institutions, compulsory teaching of -

the Naazrah Quran in classes, grades or, as the case may be, levels I to V in the prescribed manner; and

the translation of the Holy Quran in classes, grades or, as the case may be, levels VI to XII in such prescribed manner so that the entire Holy Quran is completed upto class, grade or, as the case may be, level XII.

(2) The Government shall ensure implementation of the Act in the prescribed manner.

4. Power to make rules.─ The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

5. Act not to be derogatory to any other law.─ The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other law for the time being in force.

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[1]This Act, which was moved by a private member, Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, MPA; was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 4 May 2018; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 16 May 2018; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 16 May 2018, pages 7835-36.

[2]Inserted by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021).

[3]Renumbered by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021).

[4]Renumbered by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021).

[5]Renumbered and substituted by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021), for the following:

“(d) “Naazrah Quran” means recitation by sighting of the Arabic text;”

[6]Renumbered by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021).

[7]Renumbered by the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran (Amendment) Act 2021 (XIV of 2021).