THE URDU
LANGUAGE ACT 2022
(Act XXXVI of 2022)
C O N T E N T S
Section Heading
1. Short title, extent, and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Establishment of Urdu language Board.
4. Composition of the Board.
5. Resignation and Vacancy.
6. Meeting of the Board.
7. Powers and function of the Board.
8. Rules.
9. Regulations.
10. Prohibitions.
11. Removal of difficulty.
[1]THE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022
(ACT XXXVI OF 2022)
[16th November 2022]
An Act to provide for strict
compliance of Urdu script in the public and private sectors.
It is necessary to
preserve Urdu as an official language having the status of National Language of
Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan and provide for matters ancillary thereto.
Be it enacted by the
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab;
1. Short
title, extent, and commencement.− (1) This Act may be cited as the Urdu language Act,
2022.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the
Punjab.
(3) It shall come into force at Once.
2. Definitions.− In this Act;
(a) “Act” means the Urdu Language Act, 2022;
(b) “Board” means Urdu Language Board
established under this Act;
(c) “Government” means Government of The
Punjab;
(d) “Prescribe” means regulations framed
under this Act; and
(e) “Rules” means the rules made under this
Act; and
(f) “Treasury” means any Treasury of the
Province and includes a Sub-Treasury
3. Establishment of Urdu language Board.− (1) The Government Shall by notification in the
official gazette establish Urdu Language Board, the Board shall be a body
corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with powers, subject to
the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property and shall,
by the said name, may sue or be sued.
(2) The
Headquarters of the Board shall be in Lahore and it may set up its sub-offices
at such place or places as it may deem fit with the prior approval of the
Government.
4. Composition of the Board.− The Board shall consist of the following;
a) Minister for
Parliamentary Affairs |
Chairperson |
b) Minister for Higher
Education |
Member |
c) Minister of the School
Education Punjab |
Member |
d) Minister of the
Literacy & Non-Formal Basic Education |
Member |
e) Chief Secretary
Government of the Punjab |
Member |
f) Secretary to the
Government of the Punjab Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department Punjab g) Secretary to the Government
of the Punjab Higher education Department Punjab |
Member Member |
h) Secretary to the
Government of the Punjab School Education Department Punjab |
Member/Secretary |
i) Chairman Punjab
Higher Education Commission |
Member |
j) Chairman Punjab
Public Service Commission |
Member |
k) Chairman Punjab Text
Book Board |
Member |
l) Three persons having
at least 15 years of experience in Teaching and researching of Urdu language,
appointed by the Chief Minister on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed |
Members |
5. Resignation and Vacancy.− (1) A member of the
Board other than ex-officio may, by writing under his hand and address to the
Chief Minister, resign from his office.
(2) Any
vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board owing to death, removal, or
resignation shall be filled by the provision of this Act.
6. Meeting of the Board.− (1) Meeting of the Board shall be held at least four
times in a calendar year, at such time and place as the Chairperson of the
Board may determine.
(2) The
Chairperson of the Board may delegate his power to any other member of the
Board.
7. Powers and function of the Board.− For the purpose to provide the exact Urdu script for
usage in the public and private sectors as having the status of National Language
of Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic
of Pakistan, 1973 and for development, promotion and facilitating its
expansion, access and use of Urdu in the province the Board shall;
a) administer and coordinate all Government
departments for the promotion of the Urdu language;
b) take measures to secure and for the
usage of the exact script of the Urdu language in the Province of Punjab;
c) take measures for ensuring the usage of
the exact script of the Urdu language in the Province of Punjab;
d) advice or issue instructions to all departments
of the Government to carry out the purpose of this Act;
e) advise the Government on policy
relating to the promotion of Pakistani languages, literature, and the welfare
of the writers' community in the province;
f) Made recommendations for the carrying
out the purpose of this Act;
g) formulate the policy to promote the Urdu
language, its expansion, and advanced language programming in the public and
private sectors;
h) encourage, support, and facilitate,
training programs, workshops, and symposia at provincial and regional levels in
public and private educational institutions;
i) establish a language laboratory, a
language library, and a documentation Centre to facilitate work on the exact
script of the national language; and
j) take measures including allocation of
funds, for the award of scholarships and research grants
8. Rules.− The Government may
make rules to fulfill the requirement of this Act.
9. Regulations.− The Board may frame
regulations to fulfill the requirement of this Act.
10. Prohibitions.− (1) There shall be a
complete ban on the use of Roman or any other language words for expressing the
script of Urdu in print media or any indoor or outdoor media commercial
messages or campaigns in the province.
(2) The Board shall ban using Roman or any
other language words to express Urdu’s script.
(3) The Board shall make an order for the
removal of writing for the expression of Urdu transcripts mentioned in
subsection (1).
(4) Deliberately using Roman or any other
language words, for expressing the script of Urdu or violating any provision of
this section, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to two hundred
thousand Rupees to the delinquents, to be deposited in Government Treasury, and
impounding of such transcripts exhibitions material, billboard, etc.
11. Removal of difficulty.− If any difficulty arises
as to give effect to the provisions of this Act the Chief Minister may pass
such orders as may be necessary for the removal of such difficulty.
[1]This Act was originally passed by the Punjab
Assembly on 18 October 2022; The Governor returned the Bill for reconsideration
by the Assembly. The Assembly again passed on 1st day of November 2022;
Since the Governor has not assented within the stipulated period of ten days,
the same is deemed to have been assented to in terms of clause (3) of Article
116 of the Constitution, and is published as an Act of the Provincial Assembly
of the Punjab on 16 November 2022,; pages 2215-17.