THE
(Act II of 2005)
C O N T E N T S
Section Heading
Part
I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Act not in derogation of any other law.
Part
II
Liability
arising from Defective Products
4. Liability for defective products.
5. Defective in construction or composition.
6. Defective in design.
7. Defective because of inadequate warning.
8. Defective because of non-conformity to express warranty.
9. Proof of manufacturer’s knowledge.
10. Restriction on grant of damages.
11. Duty of disclosure.
12. Prohibition on exclusions from liability.
Part
III
Liability
arising out of
Defective
and Faulty Services
13. Liability for faulty or defective services.
14. Standard of provision of services.
15. Restriction on grant of damages.
16. Duty of disclosure.
17. Prohibition on exclusions from liability.
Part
IV
Obligations
of Manufacturers
18. Prices to be exhibited at the business place.
19. Receipt to be issued to the purchaser.
20. Return and refund policy.
Part
V
Unfair
Practices
21. False, deceptive or misleading representation.
22. Prohibition on bait advertisement.
Part
VI
The
Powers of the Authority
23. Powers of Authority.
23-A. Powers of Government.
Part
VII
Consumer
Protection Council
24. Consumer Protection Council.
Part
VIII
Disposal
of Claims and
Establishment
of Consumer Courts
25. Filing of Claims.
26. Consumer Courts.
27. Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts.
28. Settlement of Claims.
29. Settlement at pretrial stage.
30. Procedure on receipt of complaint.
31. Order of
32. Penalties.
33. Appeal.
34. Finality of Order.
35. Dismissal of frivolous or vexatious claims.
Part
IX
Miscellaneous
36. Aid to the
37. Immunity.
38. Power to make rules.
39. Power to remove difficulties.
[1]THE
(Act
II of 2005)
[
An Act to provide for
protection and promotion
of the rights and
interests of the consumers.
Preamble.– Whereas, it is expedient to provide for protection and promotion of the
rights and interests of the consumers, speedy redress of consumer complaints
and for matters connected therewith;
It
is hereby enacted as follows:-
Part I
Preliminary
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be called the
Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Province
of the
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Definitions.– In this Act, unless there is
anything repugnant in the subject or context,–
(a) “Act”
means the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005;
[2][(b) “Authority” means the
officer as provided in sub-section (1) of section 23 of the Act;]
(c) “consumer” means a person or entity who–
(i) buys or obtains on lease any product for a consideration and includes any user of such product but does not include a person who obtains any product for resale or for any commercial purpose; or
(ii) hires any services for a
consideration and includes any beneficiary of such services;
[3][Explanation: for the purposes of sub-clauses (i) and (ii):
(a) the expression “buys or obtains on lease any product” and “hires any services” includes offline or online transactions through electronic means or teleshopping or direct selling or multi-level marketing; and
(b) the expression “commercial purpose” does not include use by a consumer of products bought and used by him only for the purpose of his livelihood as a self-employed person;]
(d) “damage” means all damage caused by a product or service including damage to the product itself and economic loss arising from a deficiency in or loss of use of the product or service;
(e) “entity”
means an organization that has a legal identity apart from its members;
(f) “Government”
means the Government of the
(g) “laboratory” means a laboratory established or recognized by the Provincial Consumer Protection Council and includes any such laboratory or organization established by or under any law for the time being in force, which is maintained, financed, aided or recognized by the Government for carrying out analysis or test of any goods with a view to determining whether such goods suffer from any defect;
(h) “manufacturer”
includes a person or entity who–
(i) is in the business of
manufacturing a product for purposes of trade or commerce;
(ii) labels a product as his own or who otherwise
presents himself as the manufacturer of the product;
(iii) as a seller exercises control over the
design, construction or quality of the product that causes damage;
(iv) assembles a product by incorporating into his
product a component or part manufactured by another manufacturer; and
(v) is a seller of a product of a foreign
manufacturer and assumes or administers warranty obligations of the product, or
is affiliated with the foreign manufacturer by way of partial or complete
ownership or control; or modifies or prepares the product for sale or
distribution;
(i) “manufacturing a product” means producing, fabricating, constructing, designing, remanufacturing, reconditioning or refurbishing a product;
(j) “product” has the same meaning as assigned to
the word “goods” in the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, and includes products which
have been subsequently incorporated into another product or an immovable but
does not include animals or plants or natural fruits and other raw products, in
their natural state, that are derived from animals or plants;
(k) “services” includes the provision of any kind of facilities or advice or assistance such as provision of medical, legal or engineering services but does not include–
(i) the rendering of any service
under a contract of personal service;
(ii) the rendering of non-professional services
like astrology or palmistry; or
(iii) a service, the essence of which is to deliver
judgment by a court of law or arbitrator;
(l) “reasonably anticipated alteration or modification” means a change in a product that a product manufacturer should reasonably expect to be made by an ordinary person in the same or similar circumstances and a change arising from ordinary wear or tear, but does not include–
(i) changes to or in a product
because the product does not receive reasonable care and maintenance; or
(ii) alteration, modification or removal of an
otherwise adequate warning; or
(iii) the failure of the seller to provide an
adequate warning to the consumer where the same had been provided by the
manufacturer and he could do no more; and
(m) “reasonably anticipated use” means a use or handling of a product that the product manufacturer should reasonably expect of an ordinary person in the same or similar circumstances.
3. Act not in
derogation of any other law.– The provisions of this Act shall
be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for
the time being in force.
Part II
Liability arising from Defective Products
4. Liability for defective products.–
(1) The
manufacturer of a product shall be liable to a consumer for damages proximately
caused by a characteristic of the product that renders the product defective
when such damage arose from a reasonably anticipated use of the product by a
consumer.
(2) A product shall be defective only if–
(a) it
is defective in construction or composition as provided in section 5;
(b) it
is defective in design as provided in section 6;
(c) it
is defective because an adequate warning has not been given as provided in
section 7; and
(d) it
is defective because it does not conform to an express warranty of the
manufacturer as provided in section 8.
5. Defective in construction or composition.– A product shall be defective in
construction or composition if, at the time the product was manufactured, a
material deviation was made from the manufacturers’ own specifications, whether
known to the consumer or not.
6. Defective in design.–
(1) A product shall be defective in design if, at the time the product left
its manufacturer’s control–
(a) there
existed an alternative design for the product that was capable of preventing
the damage to a consumer; and
(b) the
likelihood and gravity of damage outweighed the burden on the manufacturer of
adopting such alternative design and any adverse effect of such alternative
design on the utility of the product.
(2) When the manufacturer
has used reasonable care to provide adequate warning to the users or handlers
of the product, it shall be considered in evaluating the likelihood of damage
arising from the design of a product.
7. Defective because of inadequate warning.– (1) A product shall be defective if an adequate warning about the
product that it possessed a characteristic that could cause damage, has not
been provided at the time the product left its manufacturer’s control or the
manufacturer has failed to use reasonable care to provide an adequate warning
of such characteristic and its danger to users and handlers of the product:
Provided that a manufacturer shall not be
required to provide an adequate warning about his product when–
(a) the
ordinary user or handler of the product could know, with the ordinary knowledge
common to the community, that the product has dangerous characteristics which
could cause damage; or
(b) the
user or handler of the product already knows or should be reasonably expected
to know that the product has characteristics which were dangerous and could
cause damage.
(2) A manufacturer of a product who, after the
product has left his control, acquires knowledge about the dangerous
characteristics of the product that could cause damage, or who would have
acquired such knowledge had he acted as a reasonably prudent manufacturer,
shall be liable for damage caused by his subsequent failure to use reasonable
care to provide an adequate warning of such characteristic and its danger to
users and handlers of the product.
8. Defective because of non-conformity to
express warranty.– A product shall be
defective when it does not conform to an express warranty made at any time by
the manufacturer about the product if the express warranty has induced the
claimant to use the product and the claimant’s damage was proximately caused
because the express warranty was untrue.
9. Proof of manufacturer’s knowledge.–
(1)
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 6, a manufacturer of a product
shall not be liable for damage proximately caused by a characteristic of
product’s design if the manufacturer proves that at the time the product left
his control–
(a) he
did not know and, in the light of the then existing and reasonably available
scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known the design
characteristic that caused the damage or the danger of such characteristic; or
(b) he
did not know and, in the light of the then existing and reasonably available
scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known of the alternative
design identified by the consumer under section 6 (1); or
(c) the
alternative design identified by the consumer under section 6 (1) was not
feasible in the light of the then existing and reasonably available scientific
and technological knowledge or then existing economic practicality.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in section
7(1) or 7(2), a manufacturer of a product shall not be liable for damage if the
manufacturer proves that, at the time the product left his control, he did not
know and, in the light of the then existing and reasonably available scientific
and technological knowledge, could not have known of the characteristic that
caused the damage or the danger of such characteristic.
10. Restriction on grant of damages.–
Where the
consumer has not suffered any damage from the product except the loss of
utility, the manufacturer shall not be liable for any damages except a return
of the consideration or a part thereof and the costs.
11. Duty of disclosure.–
(1) Where the nature of the product is such that the disclosure of its
component parts, ingredients, quality, or date of manufacture and expiry is
material to the decision of the consumer to enter into a contract for sale, the
manufacturer shall disclose the same.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in
sub-section (1), the Government may, by general or special order, require such
disclosure in any particular case.
12. Prohibition on exclusions from liability.– The liability of a person by virtue of this part to a consumer who has
suffered damage shall not be limited or excluded by the terms of any contract
or by any notice.
Part III
Liability arising out of Defective
and Faulty Services
13. Liability for faulty or defective services.– A provider of services shall be liable to a consumer for damages
proximately caused by the provision of services that have caused damage.
14. Standard of provision of services.–
(1). Where the
standard of provision of a service is regulated by a special law, provincial or
federal, the standard of services shall be deemed to be the standard laid down
by such special law.
(2) Where the standard of a service has not been
provided for in any law or by the professional or trade body concerned, the
standard shall be that which at the time of the provision of the service, a
consumer could reasonably expect to obtain at that time in
15. Restriction on grant of damages.– Where the consumer has not
suffered any damages from the provision of service except lack of benefit, the
service provider shall not be liable for any damages except a return of the
consideration or a part thereof and the costs.
16. Duty of disclosure.– (1) Where
the nature of the service is such that the disclosure of the capabilities or
qualifications of the provider of the service or the quality of the products
that he intends to use for provision of the service is material to the decision
of the consumer to enter into a contract for provision of services, the
provider of services shall disclose the same.
(2) Notwithstanding
anything contained in sub-section (1), the Government may, by general or
special order, require such disclosure in any case.
17. Prohibition on exclusions from liability.– The liability of a person by virtue of this Part to a person who has
suffered damage shall not be limited or excluded by the terms of any contract
or by any notice.
Part IV
Obligations of Manufacturers
18. Prices to be exhibited at the business place.– Unless a price catalogue is available for issue to customer, the
manufacturer or trader shall display prominently in his shop or display-centre
a notice specifying the retail or wholesale price, as the case may be, of every
goods available for sale in that shop or
display-centre.
19. Receipt to be issued to the purchaser.–
Every
manufacturer or trader who sells any goods shall issue to the purchaser a
receipt showing –
(a) the date of sale;
(b) description of goods sold;
(c) the quantity and price of the goods; and
(d) the name and address of the seller.
20. Return and refund policy.–
Return and
refund policy of a seller shall be disclosed to the buyer clearly before the
transaction is completed by means of a sign at the point of purchase.
Part V
Unfair Practices
21. False, deceptive or misleading representation.– No person shall make a false, deceptive or
misleading representation that–
(a) the
products are of a particular kind, standard, quality, grade, quantity,
composition, style or model;
(b) the
products have particular history or particular previous use;
(c) the
services are of a particular kind, standard or quality;
(d) the
services are provided by a person having a requisite skill or qualification or
experience;
(e) the
products were manufactured, produced, processed or reconditioned at a
particular time;
(f) the products or services have any sponsorship, approval,
endorsement, performance, characteristics, accessories, uses or benefits;
(g) the
products are new or reconditioned or have been in use for a particular period
of time only;
(h) the
seller or producer of products or provider of services has any sponsorship,
approval, endorsement or affiliation;
(i) the
products or services are necessary for somebody’s well being;
(j) concerns
the existence, exclusion or effect of any condition, guarantee, right or
remedy; and
(k) concerns
the place of origin of products.
22. Prohibition on bait advertisement.–
(1) No person shall, in trade, advertise or supply at a specified price
products or services which that person–
(a) does
not intend to offer for supply; or
(b) does
not have reasonable grounds for believing that they can be supplied at that
price for a period that is, and in quantities that are, reasonable having
regard to the nature of the market in which the person carries on business and
the nature of the advertisement.
(2) Any person who has advertised products or
services for supply at a specified price shall offer such products or services
for supply at that price for a period that is, and in quantities that are
reasonable having regard to the nature of the market in which the person
carries on business and the nature of the advertisement.
Part VI
The Powers of the Authority
23. Powers of Authority.– [4][(1) The Deputy Commissioner of a concerned district or any other
officer, as may be notified in the official Gazette by the Government, on its
own motion or on a complaint filed to him, in writing, by any person, against
the violation of the provisions of sections 11, 16, 18 and 19 of the Act, may,
after having been satisfied and after affording an opportunity of being heard,
impose a fine on the violator which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees,
but shall not be less than one thousand rupees or equal to hundred percent
value of the product or service, whichever is lesser, which may be recoverable
as arrears of land revenue.]
(2) The Authority may
file a claim for declaring a product defective under sections 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8
or a service as faulty or defective under section 13 without proof of any
damage actually suffered by a consumer but likely to be suffered keeping in
view the general standard of that service.
(3) The Authority may file a claim before the
Consumer Court for declaring any act on the part of any person as being in
contravention to Part IV of this Act without proof of any damage actually
suffered but likely to be suffered due to the said contravention.
(4) The Authority on
receipt of a complaint or a reference from the Consumer Protection Council or
on his own motion, may hold an inquiry as to defects in products or services or
practices which contravene any of the provisions of this Act. No prior notice shall
be required to be given to a manufacturer or provider of services for the
purposes of holding an inquiry.
(5) The Authority, while holding an inquiry, may
direct the police or any other officer or authority of the Government to gather
such evidence as it deems necessary or to perform function in accordance with
law which have an impact on the inquiry.
(6) The Authority may delegate his powers under
this Act through a notification to any officer of the Government with its prior
approval.
(7) Any person aggrieved by the order passed under
sub-section (1) may file an appeal before the Government within thirty days of
such order.
[5][23-A. Powers
of Government.–
(1) The Government may, by general or special order and subject to such
conditions as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the powers conferred
upon the Authority under this Act except the power of imposition of fine under
section 23(1).
(2) The Government may, from time to time, issue
directions to the Authority with regard to the performance of the functions of
the Authority under this Act.
(3) The Government may, at any stage, modify or
set aside any order or action of the Authority subject to such condition or
conditions as it may deem fit.]
Part VII
Consumer Protection Council
24. Consumer Protection Council.– (1) The Government shall set up
a Consumer Protection Council in the Province.
(2) The Government may set up Consumer Protection
Councils in one or more districts which shall report to the Provincial Consumer
Protection Council.
(3) The Consumer Protection Councils shall have
such other functions as may be assigned to them by the Government by
notification in the official Gazette.
(4) The Provincial Consumer Protection Council
shall gather such information and data as may be necessary in order to remove
unreasonably dangerous products and faulty and defective services from trade or
commerce.
(5) Each Consumer Protection Council shall have an
adequate representation of consumers and associations of trade, industry and
services, as the case may be, duly registered under the law for the time being
in force; provided that the representation of consumers on the Council, other
than any ex-officio members, shall not be less than fifty per cent of its total
membership.
Part VIII
Disposal of Claims and Establishment
of Consumer Courts
25. Filing of Claims.– A claim for damages arising out
of contravention of any provisions of this Act shall be filed before a
[6][26. Consumer Courts.– (1) The Lahore High Court shall, by notification, designate a District Judge or an Additional District Judge in each district, having specific area of jurisdiction, as Consumer Court to try cases under the Act:
Provided that the Lahore High Court may notify one or more such Courts in a district and in case of more than one Consumer Courts in a district, the senior judge of such Courts shall act as the administrative judge of the Consumer Courts in that district.
(2) All cases pending in the
defunct Consumer Courts before the commencement of the Punjab Consumer
Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 shall stand transferred to the Consumer Courts
of respective specific areas, designated under sub-section (1), which may continue the proceedings from the point where it were
left or may take additional evidence if so required.
(3) All employees of
the defunct Consumer Courts shall stand transferred to their parent Department.]
27. Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts.–
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the
(a) the
defendant or each of the defendants, where there are more than one, at the time
of filing of the claim, actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business
or personally works for gain; or
(b) any
of the defendants where there are more than one, at the time of the filing of
the claim, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on business, or
personally works for gain; provided that in such a case the permission is
granted by the Consumer Court or the defendants who do not reside, or carry on
business, or personally work for gain, as the case may be, acquiesce in such
institution; or
(c) the
cause of action wholly or in part arises.
28. Settlement of Claims.– (1) A consumer who has suffered
damage, or Authority in other cases, shall, by written notice, call upon a
manufacturer or provider of services that a product or service is defective or
faulty, or the conduct of the manufacturer or service provider is in
contravention of the provisions of this Act and he should remedy the defects or
give damages where the consumer has suffered damage, or cease to contravene the
provisions of this Act.
(2) The manufacturer or service provider shall,
within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice, reply thereto.
(3) No claim shall be entertained by a
(4) A claim by the consumer or the Authority shall
be filed within thirty days of the arising of the cause of action:
Provided
that the Consumer Court, having jurisdiction to hear the claim, may allow a
claim to be filed after thirty days within such time as it may allow if it is
satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing the complaint within
the specified period:
Provided
further that such extension shall not be allowed beyond a period of sixty days
from the expiry of the warranty or guarantee period specified by the
manufacturer or service provider and if no period is specified one year from
the date of purchase of the products or providing of services.
29. Settlement at pretrial stage.–
Any party to the
dispute may, at the pretrial stage, make a firm written offer of settlement
stating the amount offered for settlement and if the offer is accepted by the
opposing party, the
Provided
that notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in
force, the party refusing the offer of settlement shall pay actual costs of
litigation, including lawyer’s fees, in case the final order of the
Provided
further that the court’s approval regarding settlement shall be required in the
following matters–
(i) claims of a minor;
(ii) claims of a legally incapacitated person; and
(iii) claims involving collective rights.
30. Procedure on receipt of complaint.–
(1) The Consumer
Court shall, on receipt of a claim if it relates to any products,–
(a) forward
a copy of the claim to the defendant mentioned in the claim directing him to
file his written statement within a period of fifteen days or such extended
period not exceeding fifteen days;
(b) where
the defendant, on receipt of claim referred to him under clause (a), denies or
disputes the allegations contained in the claim, or omits or fails to present
his case within the time specified, as the case may be, the Consumer Court
shall proceed to settle the consumer dispute in the manner specified hereafter;
(c) where the claim alleges that products are defective and do not
conform to the accepted industry standards, the
(d) where the dispute cannot be determined without proper analysis or
test of products, the Consumer Court shall obtain sample of the products from
the complainant, seal it and authenticate it in the manner prescribed and refer
the sample to a laboratory along with a direction to make analysis or test,
whichever may be necessary, with a view to finding out if such products suffer
from any defect and to report its findings to the Consumer Court within a
period of thirty days of the receipt of the reference or within such period as
may be extended, not exceeding fifteen days by the Consumer Court; and
(e) the Consumer Court may require the claimant to deposit to the
credit of the Consumer Court such fees as may be specified, for payment to the
laboratory for carrying out the necessary analysis or test and the fee so
deposited by the claimant shall be payable by the defendant if the test or
analysis support the version of the claimant.
(2) The
(a) forward
a copy of such claim to the defendant directing him to file his written
statement within a period of fifteen days or such extended period not exceeding
fifteen days as may be granted by the Consumer Court; and
(b) on
receipt of the written statement of the defendant, if any, under clause (a),
proceed to settle the dispute on the basis of evidence produced by both the
parties:
Provided
that if the defendant does not deny or dispute the allegations made in the
complaint or fails to present his case within the specified period, the dispute
shall be settled on the basis of the evidence brought by the claimant.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the Consumer
Court shall have the same powers as are vested in civil court under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act XX of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the
following matters, namely:-
(a) the
summoning and enforcing attendance of any defendant or witness and examining
him on oath;
(b) the
discovery and production of any document or other material object which may be
produced as evidence;
(c) the
receiving of evidence on affidavits;
(d) issuing
of any commission for the examination of any witness; and
(e) any
other matter which may be prescribed.
(4) Every proceeding before the Consumer Court
shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193
and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), and section 195 and
Chapter XXXV of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898):
Provided
that the personal presence of the claimant before the
(5) The
31. Order of Consumer Court.– If, after the proceedings
conducted under this Act, the Consumer Court is satisfied that the products
complained against suffer from any of the defects specified in the claim or
that any or all of the allegations contained in the claim about the services
provided are true, it shall issue an order to the defendant directing him to
take one or more of the following actions, namely:-
(a) to
remove defect from the products in question;
(b) to
replace the products with new products of similar description which shall be
free from any defect;
(c) to
return to the claimant the price or, as the case may be, the charges paid by
the claimant;
(d) to
do such other things as may be necessary for adequate and proper compliance
with the requirements of this Act;
(e) to
pay reasonable compensation to the consumer for any loss suffered by him due to
the negligence of the defendant;
(f) to
award damages where appropriate;
(g) to
award actual costs including lawyers’ fees incurred on the legal proceedings;
(h) to
recall the product from trade or commerce;
(i) to
confiscate or destroy the defective product;
(j) to
remedy the defect in such period as may be deemed fit; or
(k) to
cease to provide the defective or faulty service until it achieves the required
standard.
32. Penalties.– (1) Where
a manufacturer fails to perform or in any way infringes the liabilities provided in
sections 4 to 8, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18 to 22, he shall be punished with
imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to
hundred thousand rupees or with both in addition to damages or compensation as
may be determined by the court.
(2) Where a defendant or the claimant fails or
omits to comply with any order made by the Consumer Court, such defendant or the claimant shall be
punishable with imprisonment for a term not less than one month which may
extend to three years, or with fine not less than five thousand rupees which
may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both.
33. Appeal.– Any person aggrieved by any final
order of the
34. Finality of Order.– Every order of the
35. Dismissal of frivolous or vexatious claims.– Where a claim is found to be frivolous or
vexatious, the Consumer Court shall dismiss the claim and impose fine on the
claimant up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand rupees for having willfully
instituted a false claim and shall award appropriate compensation to the
defendant from the amount of fine so realized.
Part IX
Miscellaneous
36. Aid to the Consumer Court.–
All agencies of the Government shall act in aid of the
37. Immunity.– No suit, prosecution or other
legal proceedings shall lie against any functionary under this Act, acting
under the direction of the Consumer Council or the Government for anything
which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.
38. Power to make rules.– The Government may, by
notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes
of this Act.
39. Power to remove difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in
giving effect to any of the provisions of this Act, the Government may make
such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to
it to be necessary or expedient for removing such difficulty.
[1]This Act was
passed by the Punjab Assembly on 13 January 2005; assented to by the Governor
of the Punjab on 19 January 2005; and published in the Punjab Gazette
(Extraordinary), dated 25 January 2005, pages 2565 to 2573.
[2]Substituted by the Punjab Consumer
Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 (LIV of 2025), for the following:
“(b) “Authority” means the District Coordination Officer of the district
concerned or any other officer as may be notified by the Government;”
[3]Substituted by the Punjab Consumer
Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 (LIV of 2025), for the following:
“Explanation:- For the purpose of sub-clause (i),
“commercial purpose” does not include use by a consumer of products bought and
used by him only for the purpose of his livelihood as a self-employed person.”
[4]Substituted by the Punjab Consumer
Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 (LIV of 2025), for the following:
“(1) Any person may file a complaint for
violation of the provisions of sections 11, 16, 18 and 19 before the Authority
who, on being satisfied that such is the case, fine the violator that may
extend to fifty thousand rupees and which may be recovered as arrears of land
revenue.”
[5]Inserted by the
[6]Substituted by the Punjab Consumer
Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 (LIV of 2025), for the following:
“26. Establishment of Consumer
Courts.– (1) The Government shall, by notification, establish one or
more separate Consumer Courts for an area, comprising one or more districts to
exercise jurisdiction and powers under this Act.
(2) A
Consumer Court shall consist of a District Judge or an Additional District
Judge to be appointed by the Government in consultation with the Lahore High
Court.
(3) The
terms and conditions of service of the District Judge or the Additional
District Judge appointed under sub-section (2) shall be such as may be
prescribed.”