Post Office Act, 1898

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THE POST OFFICE ACT, 1898 
 
 
CONTENTS 
______ 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
SECTIONS:   
1.  Short title, extent, application and commencement. 
2.  Definitions.  
3.   Meanings of “in course of transmission by post” and delivery”.  
______ 
 
CHAPTER II 
PRIVILEGE AND PROTECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT 
4.  Exclusive privilege of conveying letters reserved to the Government. 
5.  Certain persons expressly forbidden to convey letters.  
6.  Exemption from liability for loss, misdelivery, delay or damage. 
______ 
 
CHAPTER III 
POSTAGE 
7.  Power to fix rates of inland postage. 
8.  Power to make rules as to payment of postage and fees in certain cases.  
9.  Power to make rules as to registered newspapers. 
10.  Power to declare rates of foreign postage. 
11.  Liability for payment of postage. 
12.  Recovery of postage and other sums due in respect of postal articles. 
Updated till 15.12.2021 
 
 
13.  Customs duty paid by the Post Office to be recoverable as postage.  
14.  Post Office marks prima facie evidence of certain facts denoted.  
15.  Official mark to be evidence of amount of postage. 
______ 
CHAPTER IV 
POSTAGE STAMPS 
16.  Provision of postage stamp and power to make rules as to them. 
17. Postage stamps to be deemed to be stamps for the purpose of revenue.   
______ 
 
CHAPTER V 
CONDITIONS OF TRANSMISSION OF POSTAL ARTICLES 
18.  Redelivery to sender or delivery to another addressee at the request of the sender of 
postal article in course of transmission by post. 
19.  Transmission by post of anything injurious prohibited. 
20.  Transmission by post of anything indecent, etc. prohibited.   
21.  Power to make rules as to transmission by post of postal articles. 
22.  Power to postpone despatch or delivery of certain postal articles. 
23.  Power to deal with postal articles posted in contravention of Act. 
24.  Power to deal with postal articles containing goods contraband or liable to duty.  
24A.  Power to deliver such articles to Customs authority. 
25.  Power to intercept notified goods during transmission by post.  
26.  Power to intercept postal articles for public good.  
27.  Power to deal with postal articles from abroad bearing fictitious or previously used 
stamps. 
27A.  Prohibition of transmission by post of certain newspapers. 
27B.  Power to detain newspapers and other articles being transmitted by post. 
27C.  Procedure for disposal by High Court of application s for release of newspapers and 
articles so detained.  
 
 
27D.  Jurisdiction barred. 
______ 
 
CHAPTER VI 
REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND VALUE-PAYABLE POST 
28.  Registration of postal articles.  
29.  Power to make rules as to registration. 
30.  Insurance of postal articles. 
31.  Power to require insurance of postal articles. 
32.  Power to make rules as to insurance. 
33.  Liability in respect of postal articles insured.  
34.  Transmission by post of value-payable postal articles.  
35.  Power to make rules as to value-payable postal articles. 
36.  Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries.  
______ 
 
CHAPTER VII  
UNDELIVERED POSTAL ARTICLES 
37.  Power to make rules as to disposal of undelivered postal articles.  
38.  Disposal of undelivered postal articles at office of Post Master General. 
39.  Final disposal of undelivered postal articles.  
______ 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
SHIP LETTERS 
40.  Duty of master of ship, departing from any port in Pakistan, and not being a mail ship, 
to convey mail bags.  
41.  Duty of master of ship arriving at any port in the P akistan, in respect of postal articles 
and mail bags on board. 
42.  Allowance of gratuities for conveyance of postal articles by ships other than mail 
ships.  
______ 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
MONEY ORDERS 
43.  Power to maintain money order system and to make rules as to remittances thereby.  
44.  Power for remitter to recall money order or alter name of payee. 
45.  Power to provide for the issue of postal orders.  
46.  Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries.  
47.   Recovery of money order paid to the wrong person.  
48.  Exemption from liability in respect of money orders.  
______ 
 
CHAPTER X 
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 
 
Offences by Officers of the Post Office  
49.  Penalty for misconduct of person employed to carry or deliver mail bags or postal 
articles. 
50.  Penalty for voluntary withdrawal from duty, without permission or notice, of person 
employed to carry or deliver mail bags or postal articles.  
51.  Penalty for making false entry in register kept by person employed to carry or deliver 
postal articles 
52.  Penalty for theft, dishonest misappropriation, secretion, destruction or throwing away 
of postal articles.  
53.  Penalty for opening, detaining or delaying postal articles.  
54.  Penalty for fraud in connection with official marks and for receipt of excess postage.  
55.  Penalty for fraudulently preparing, altering, secreting or destroying post office 
documents.  
56.  Penalty for fraudulently sending unpaid postal articles.  
57.  Punishment of offences committed in an Acceding State or tribal area or non-
Acceding State. 
Other Offences 
58.  Penalty for contravention of section 4. 
59.  Penalty for contravention of section 5. 
 
 
60.  Penalty for breach of rules under section 16.  
61.  Penalty for contravention of section 19 or 20.  
62.  Penalty for defiling or injuring post office letter-boxes.  
63.  Penalty for affixing without authority thing to, or painting, tarring or disfiguring, post 
office or post office letter-box.  
64.  Penalty for making false declaration.  
65.  Penalty for master of ship failing to comply with the provisions of section 40 or 41.  
66.  Penalty for detention of letters on board vessel arriving in port. 
67.  Penalty for detaining mails or opening mail bag.   
68.  Penalty for retaining postal articles wrongly delivered or mail bags.  
69.  Penalty for unlawfully diverting letters.  
General 
70.  Penalty for abetting, or attempting to commit, offences under Act.  
71.  Property in cases of offences to be laid in the Post Office.  
72.  Authority for prosecutions under certain sections of Act. 
______ 
 
CHAPTER XI 
SUPPLEMENTAL 
 73.  Zamindari and other district posts. 
74.  General power to make rules and provisions as to rules under Act. 
75.  Delegation of powers, other than rule-making powers, to Director General.  
76.  [Repealed.]  
77. [Omitted.]  
THE FIRST SCHEDULE.___[Repealed] 
THE SECOND SCHEDULE.___[Repealed] 
 
 
 
THE POST OFFICE ACT, 1898 
 
1ACT No. VI OF 1898 
 
[22nd March, 1898] 
 
An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to the Post Office 2* * 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to the Post Office 2* * ; It 
is hereby enacted as follows:- 
 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
PRELIMINARY 
 
1. Short title, extent, application and commencement. ___(1) This A ct may be called the 
3*Post Office Act, 1898. 
  
4[(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan  and applies to all c itizens of Pakistan and persons in 
the service of Government wherever they may be.] 
  
(3) It shall come into force on the first day of July, 1898. 
 
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,___ 
 
(a)  the expression “Director General” means the 5[Director General, Pakistan Post 
Office] ; 
 
(b)  the expression “inland,” used in relation to a postal article, means___  
 
 
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gazette of India, 189 7, Pt. V, p. 385; for Report of the Select Committee, see ibid., 1898, Pt. 
V,p.211; for Proceedings in Council, see ibid., 1897, Pt. VI, p. 249; ibid., 1898, Pt. VI, pp. 23, 99 and 285 to 289. 
 
It has been extended to t he State of Bahawalpur, by the Bahawalpur (Extension of Federal Laws) Order, 1953 (G.G .O. 11 of 1953), as 
amended. 
 
It has been applied to excluded area of Upper Tanawal in N.W.F.P., with modifications, see N.W.F.P. Regulation I of 1942. 
 
As to rules made under the Post Office Act , which are now in force or are in force from time to time, see the Postal Guide, which is 
published by the Post Office periodically; see also Gazette of India, 1926, Pt. I, p. 1224. 
 
2 The words “in India” omitted by A.O., 1949, Sch. 
  
3 The word “Indian” omitted, ibid., . 
 
4Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. ( with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
subsection (2) as amended b y A.O., 1949, Sch., the Burma Laws Act, 1898 (13 of 1898), s. 18 and Sch. V, and the Federal Laws (Revision and 
Declaration) Act, 1951 (26 of 1951), ss. 4 and 8 and 3rd Sch. 
 
5 Subs. by the Posts and Telegraphs (Amdt.) Act, 1962 (5 of 1962), s.3 ( with effect from the 1st July, 1962), for “Director General of [Posts 
and Telegraphs]”. The words in crotchets were subs. by the Indian Post Office and Telegraph (Amdt.) Act, 1914(14 of 1914), s.  3(i), for “the Post 
Office of India”. 
 
 
 
(i)  posted in 1[Pakistan] and addressed to any place in 1[Pakistan] or to 
any place for which a post office is established by 2[the 3[Federal 
Government] 4* * *] beyond the limits of 1[Pakistan]; or 
 
(ii)  posted at any post office established by 2[the 3[Federal Government] 4* 
* *] beyond the limits of 1[Pakistan] and addressed to any place for 
which any such post office is established or to any place in 1[Pakistan]: 
 
5[Provided that the expression “inland” shall not apply to  any 
class of postal articles which may be specified  in thi s behalf by the 
6[Federal Government] by notification in the 7[ official Gazette], when 
posted in or at or addressed to any places or post offices which may be 
described in such notification:] 
 
(c)  the expression “mail bag” includes a bag, box, parcel or any other envelope or 
covering in which post al articles in course of transmission by post are con -
veyed, whether it does or does not contain any such article: 
 
8[(d)  the expression “mail ship” means a ship employed for carrying mails, pursuant 
to contract  or continuing arr angement, by the Federal Governm ent or the 
Government of any foreign country;] 
 
(e)  the expression “officer of the Post Of fice” includes any person employed in 
any business of the Post Office or on behalf of the Post Office; 
 
(f)  the ex pression “postage” means the duty chargeable for the transmission by 
post of postal articles; 
 
(g) the expression  “postage stamp ” means any stamp provided by the 6[Federal 
Government] for denoting postage or other fees or sums payable in respect of 
postal articles under this Act, and includes adhesive postage stamps and 
stamps printed, embossed, impressed or otherwise indicated on  any envelope, 
wrapper, postcard or other article; 
 
 
 
1Subs. by Ordinance 21 of 1960, s. 3 and 2nd Sch. ( with effect from the 14t h October, 1955), for “the Provinces and the Capital of the 
Federation” which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
2Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “the G.G. in C.”. 
3 Subs. by F.A. O. 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.  
4 The words “or the Crown Representative” omitted by A.O.,1949, Sch.  
5Proviso ins. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1903 (2 of  1903), s.2. 
6Subs. by F.A.O., 1975. Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G.G. in. C.”. 
 7 Subs. by A.O., 1937 for “Gazette of India”. 
8Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981, s. 3 and Second Sch., for the existing clause (d). This clause was 
amended previously by A.O,1937, to read as above. 
 
 
 
 
 
(h)  the expression “post office” includes every house,  building, room, carriage or 
place used for the purposes of the Post Office, and every letter -box provided 
by the Post Office for the reception of postal articles; 
 
(i)  the expression “postal article” includes a letter, postcard, newspaper, 1[printed 
paper or small packet], parcel and every article or thing transmissible by post; 
 
(j)  the expression “Post Master General” includes a Deputy Post Master General 
or other officer exercising the powers of a Post Master General; and 
 
(k)  the expression “Post Office ” means the department 2[ established for the 
purpose of carrying the provisions of this Act into effect and] presided over by 
the Director General. 
3.  Meaning s of “in course of trans mission by po st” and “delivery”. For the purposes of 
this Act,– 
(a)  a postal article shall be deemed to be in course of transmission by post from 
the time of its being delivered to a post office to the time of its being delivered 
to the addressee or of its being ret urned to the sender or otherw ise disposed of 
under Chapter VII : 
 
(b)  the delivery of a postal article of any description to a postman or other person 
authorised to receive postal articles of that description for the post shall be 
deemed to be a delivery to a post office: and 
(c)  the delivery of a postal article at the house or office of the addres see, or to the 
addressee or  his servant or agent or other person considered to be authorised 
to receive the article according to the usual manner of delivering postal articles 
to the addressee, shall be deemed to be delivery to the addressee. 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
PRIVILEGE AND PROTECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT 
 
4. Exclusive privilege of conveying letters reserved to the Government. ___(1) Wherever 
within 3[Pakistan] posts or postal communications are established by the 4[Federal Government], the 
4[Federal Government] shall have the exclusive privilege of con veying by post, from one place to 
another, all letters, except in the following cases, and shall also have the ex clusive privilege of per -
forming all the incidental services of receiving, collecting, se nding, dispatching and delivering all 
letters, except in the following cases, that is to say :___ 
 
 
1 Subs. by the Finance Ordinance, 1979 (30 of 1979) s. 7, for “book pattern or sample packet”. 
2 Ins. by the Indian Post Office and Telegraph (Amdt.) Act, 1914 (14 of 1914), s. 3. 
3 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (2l of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. ( with effect from the 14th 
October, 1955), for “t he Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O. , 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for 
“British India”. 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975. Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G.G. in. C”. 
 
 
(a)  letters sent by a private friend in his way, journey  or travel, to be delivered by 
him to the person to whom they are directed, without hire, reward or othe r 
profit or advantage for receiving, carrying or delivering them; 
 
(b)  letters solely concerning the aff airs of the sender or receiver thereof, sent by a 
messenger on purpose; and 
 
(c)  letters solely concerning goods or property, sent 1[ by sea or by land or by air] 
to be delivered with the  goods or property which the letters concern, without 
hire, reward o r other profit or advantage for receiv ing, carrying or delivering 
them: 
Provided that nothing in the section shall authorise any person to make 
a collection of letters excepted as aforesaid for the purpose of sending them 
otherwise than by post. 
 
(2) For the purposes of this section and section 5, the expression “letters” includes postcards. 
 
5. Certain persons expressly forbidden to convey letters. Wherever within 2[Pakistan] 
posts or postal communications are established by the 3[Federal Government], the following persons 
are expressly forbidden to collect, carry, tender or deliver letters, or to receive letters for the purpose 
of carrying or delivering them, although they obtain no hire, reward or other profit or advantage for 
so doing, that is to say :___ 
 
(a) common carriers of passengers or goods, and their servants or agents, except as 
regards letters solely concerning goods in their carts or carriages; 4* 
 
(b) owners and masters of vessels sailing or passing on any river or canal in 2[Pakistan], 
or between any ports or places in 2[Pakistan], and their servants or agents, except as 
regards letters solely concerning goods on board, and except as regards postal articles 
received for conveyance under, Chapter VIII 5[; and] 
 
6[(c)  owners, pilots and other members of the crew of aircraft flying from or to any airports 
in Pakistan.] 
 
 
1Subs. by the Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1952 (49 of 1952), s. 2, for “either by sea or by land”. 
2 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A. O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
3 Subs. by F. A.O., 1975. Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”.  
4 The word” and” omitted by the Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1952 (49 of 1952), s. 3 (1). 
5Subs. ibid., s. 3(2), for the full-stop.  
6 Added., ibid., s. 3(3). 
 
 
6. Exemption from liability for loss, mis delivery, delay or damage. 1[The 2[Federal 
Government]] shall not incur any liability by reason of the loss, misdelivery or delay of, or damage 
to, any postal article in course of transmission by post, except in so far  as such liability may in 
express terms be undertaken by the 3[Federal Government] as hereinafter provided; and no officer of 
the Post Office sha ll incur any liability  by reason of any such loss, misdelivery, delay or damage, 
unless he has caused the same fraudulently or by his wilful act or default. 
 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
POSTAGE 
 
7. Power to fix rates of inland postage. ___(1) The 3[Federal Government] may, by 
notification in the 4[ official Gazette ], fix the rates of postage and other sums to be charged in 
respect of postal articles sent by the inland post under this Act, and may make rules as to the scale of 
weights, terms and conditions subject to which the rates so fixed shall be charged: 
 
 5* * * * * * *  
 
(3) The 3[Federal Government] may, by notification in the 4[official Gazette], declar e what 
packets may be sent by the inland post as 6[printed papers and small packets] within the meaning of 
this Act.  
8. Power to make rules as to payment of postage and fees in certain cases. The 3[Federal 
Government] may, by rule,___ 
(a)  require the pr epayment of postage on inland postal articles or any class of inland 
postal articles, and prescribe the manner in which prepayment shall be made; 
(b)  prescribe the postage to be charged on inland postal articles when the postage is not 
prepaid or is insufficiently prepaid; 
(c)  provide for the redirection of postal articles and the transmission by post of articles so 
redirected, either free of charge subject to such further charge as may be specified in 
the rules; and 
 
(d)  prescribe the fees to be charge d for the “express delivery” of postal articles, in 
addition to, or instead of, any other postage chargeable thereon under this Act. 
 
  Explanation.___“Express delivery” means delivery by a special messenger or 
conveyance. 
  
9. Power to make rules as to registered newspapers.___(1) The 3[Federal Government] may 
make rules providing for the registration of newspapers for transmission by in land post as registered 
newspapers. 
 
  
1The original words “The Secretary of State for India in Council have successively been amended by A.O., 1937, and A.O., 1961, Art. 2 and 
Sch. (with effect from the 23rd March, 1956), to read as above. 
 
2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”. 
3 Subs. by F. A.O., 1975. Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”. 
4Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “Gazette of  India”. 
5Omitted by Act VII. of 1992. s.2.  
6Subs. by the Finance Ordinance, 1979 (30 of 1979), for “book, pattern and sample packets.” 
 
 
(2) For the purpose of s uch registration, every publication, consisting wholly or in great part 
of political or other news, or of articles relating thereto, or to other current topics, with or without 
advertisements, shall be deemed a newspaper, subject to the following conditions, namely:___ 
 
(a)  that it is published in numbers at intervals of not more than thirty -one days; 
and 
 
(b)  that it has a bona fide list of subscribers. 
(3) An extra or supplement to a newspaper, bearing the same date as the newspape r and 
transmitted therewith, shall be deemed to be part of the newspaper: 
 
Provided that no such extra or supplement shall be so deemed unless it consists wholly or in 
great part of matter like that of the newspaper and has the title and date of publication of the 
newspaper printed at the top of each page. 
 
Explanation.-Nothing in this section or in the rules there under shall be construed to render it 
compulsory to send newspapers by the inland post. 
10. Power to declare rates of foreign postage . ___(1) Where arrangements are  in force with 
1[any foreign  country for the transmission by post of postal articles between Pakistan and such] 
country, the 2[Federal Government] may, in conformity with the provisions of such arrangements, 
declare what postage rates and other sums shall be charged in respect of such postal articles, and may 
make rules as to the scale of weight, terms and conditions subject to which the rates so declared shall 
be charged. 
 
(2) Unless and until such declaration as aforesaid is made, the existing rates and r egulations 
shall continue in force. 
 
11. Liability for payment of postage .___(1) The addressee of a postal article on which 
postage or any other sum chargeable under this Act is due, shall be bound to pay the postage or sum 
so chargeable on his accepting delivery of the postal article, unless he forthwith returns it unopened: 
Provided that, if any such postal article appears to the satisfaction of the Post Master General 
to have been maliciously sent for the purpose of annoying the addressee, he may remit the postage. 
 
(2) If any postal article on which postage or any other sum chargeable under this Act is due, 
is refused or returned as afore said, or if  the addressee is dead or cannot be found, then the sender 
shall be bound to pay the postage or sum due thereon under this Act. 
 
12. Recovery of postage and other sums due in respect of postal articles. If any person 
refuses to pay any postage or other sum  due from him under this Act in respect of any postal article, 
the sum so due may, on application made by an officer of the Post Office authorised in this behalf by 
the written order of the Post  Master General, be recovered for the use of the Post Office from the 
person so refusing, as if it were a fine imposed under this Act by any Magistrate having jurisdict ion 
where that person may for the time being be resident; and the Post Master General may further direct 
that any other postal article, not being on 3[Pakistan State] service, addressed to that person shall be 
withheld from him until the sum so due is paid or recovered as aforesaid. 
 
 
1 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Second Sch., for, certain  words. 
2 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937. for, “G. G. in. C”. 
3Subs. by A.O., 1961, Art. 2 and Sch., for “Her Majesty's” (with effect from the 23rdMarch, 1956). 
 
 
13. Customs duty paid by the Post Office to be recoverable as postage. When a postal 
article, on which any duty of customs is payable, has been received by post from any place beyond 
the limits of 1[Pakistan], and the duty has been paid by the postal authorities at any custom s-port or 
elsewhere, the amount of the duty shall be recoverable as if it were postage due under this Act. 
 
14. Post Office marks prima facie evidence of certain facts denoted.  In every proceeding 
for the recovery of any postage or other sum alleged to be due under this Act in respect of a postal  
article,___ 
 
(a)  the production of the postal article, having ther eon the official mark of the 
Post Office denoting that the article has been refused, or that the addressee is 
dead or cannot be found, shall be prima facie evidence of the fact so denoted, 
and 
 
(b)  the person from whom the postal article purports to have come shall, until the 
contrary is proved, be deemed to be the sender thereof. 
 
15. Official mark to be evidence of amount of postage. The official mark on a postal article 
denoting that any postage or other sum is due in respect thereof to the Post Office of 1[Pakistan] or to 
the Post Office of 2[any] foreign country, shall be prima facie evidence that the sum denoted as 
aforesaid is so due. 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
POSTAGE STAMPS 
 
16. Provision of postage stamp and power to make rules as to them. ___(1) The 3[Federal 
Government] shall cause postage stamps to be provided of such kinds and denoting such values as 
4[it] may think necessary for the purposes of this Act. 
 (2) The 3[Federal Government] may make rules as to th e supply, sale and use of postage 
stamps. 
 
 (3) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of foregoing power, such rules may___ 
 
(a)  fix the price at which postage stamps shall be sold; 
 
(b) declare the classes of postal articles in respect of which postage stamps shall 
be used for the payment of postage or other sums charegable under this Act; 
(c)  prescribe the conditions with regard to perforation,  defacement and all other 
matters subject to which  postage stamps may be accepted or refused in pay -
ment of postage or other sums; 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955, for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O. 1949. Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
2 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s.  3 and 2nd Sch., for, “the United Kingdom or of 
any British possession or”. 
3 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”.  
4 Subs. ibid., for “he”.  
 
 
(d)  regulate the custody, supply and sale of postage stamps; 
 
(e)  declare the persons by whom and the terms and  conditions subject to which 
postage stamps may be sold; and 
 
(f)  prescribe the duties and remuneration of persons selling postage stamps. 
  
1[17]. Postage stamps to be deemed to be stamps for the purpose of revenue .___1[(1)] 
Postage stamps provided under section 16 shall be deemed to be stamps issued by Government for 
the purpose of re venue within the meaning of the  Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860), and, subject 
to the other provisions of this Act, shall be used for the prepayment of postage or other sums 
chargeable under this Act in respect of post al articles, accept where the 2[Federal Government] 
directs that prepayment shall be made in some other way. 
 
3[(2) Where the 2[Federal Government] has directed that prepayment of postage or other sums 
chargeable under this Act in respect of postal articles may be made by prepaying the value denoted 
by the impressions of stamping machines issued under 4[its] authority, the impression of any such 
machine shall likewise be deemed to be a stamp issued by Government for the purpose of revenue, 
within the meaning of the Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860).] 
____ 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
CONDITIONS OF TRANSMISSION OF POSTAL ARTICLES 
 
18. Redelivery to sender 5[or delivery to another addressee at the request of the sender] 
of postal article in course of transmission by post. ___(1) The 2[Federal Government] may, by r ule, 
provide for the redelivery to the sender, 5[or delivery to another addressee at the request of the 
sender] without reference to the consent of the addressee and subject to such conditions (if any) as 
may be deemed fit, of any postal article in course of transmission by post. 
(2) Save as provided by any rules that may be made under sub -section (1), the sender shall 
not be entitled to recall a postal article in course of transmission by post 6[or to ask for its delivery to 
another addressee]. 
 
19. Trans mission by post of  anything injurious prohibited. ___(1) Except as otherwise 
provided by rule and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed thereby, no person shall send 
by post any explosive, dangerous, filthy, noxious or deleteri ous substance, any sharp instrument not 
properly protected, or any living creature which is either noxious or likely to injure postal articles in 
course of transmission by post or any officer of the Post Office. 
(2) No person shall send by post any article or thing which is likely to injure postal articles in 
course of transmission by post or any officer of the Post office. 
 
 
1 The original s. 17 was re-numbered as s. 17 (1) by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1924 (16 of 1924), s. 2. 
2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”. 
3Sub-section (2) ins. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1924 (16 of 1924), s. 2.. 
4Subs. by A. O. 1937, for “his”. 
5Ins. by the Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1957 (24 of 1957), s. 2. 
6 Added by Act 24 of 1957, s. 2. 
 
 
20. Transmission by post of anyt hing indecent, etc. prohibited.  No person shall send by 
post___ 
(a)  any indecent or obscene printing, painting, photo graph, lithograph, engraving, 
book or card, or any other indecent or obscene article, or 
 
(b)  any postal article having thereon, or on the cover thereof, any words, marks or 
designs of an indecent, obscene, seditious, scurrilous, threatening  or grossly 
offensive character. 
 
21. Power to make rules as to transmission by post of postal articles.___1[(1) The 2[Federal 
Government] may make rules as to the transmission of articles by post. 
   
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of  the foregoing power, such rule s 
may___ 
 
(a)  specify articles which may not be transmitted by post;  
 
(b) prescribe conditions on which articles may be transmitted by post; 
 
(c)  provide for the detention and disposal of articles in course of transmission by 
post in contravention of rules made under clause (a) or clause (b) ; 
 
(d)  provide for the granting of receipts for, and the granting and obtaining of 
certificates of, posting and delivery of postal articles and the sums to be paid, 
in addition to any other postage, for such receipts and certificates; and 
 
(e)  regulate cov ers, forms, dimensions, maximum  weights, and enclosures, and 
the use of postal articles, other than letters, for making communications.] 
 
(3) Postal articles shall be posted and delivered at such t imes and in such mann er as the 
Director General may, by order, from time to time appoint. 
 
22. Power to postpone  despatch or delivery of certain postal articles. ___(1) Where the 
despatch or delivery from a post office of letters w ould be delayed by the despatch or delivery 
therefrom at the same time o f book, pattern or sample packets and parcels, or any of them, such 
packets or parcels, or any of them, may, subject to such rules as the 2[Federal Gover nment] may 
make in this behalf, be detained in the Post Office so long as may be necessary. 
 
(2) Where separate  parcel posts are established, parcels may be for warded and conveyed by 
them, being detained, if necessary, in the Post Office for that purpose. 
 
23. Power to deal with postal articles posted in contravention of Act. ___(1) Any postal 
article sent by post i n contravention of any of the provisions of this Act may be detained and either 
returned to the sender or fo rwarded to destination, in each case charged with such additional postage 
(if any) as the 2[Federal Government] may, by rule, direct. 
 
  
1Subs. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912), s. 2, for the original sub-section (1) and (2). 
2 Subs. by F.A.O , 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for” G. G. in C.”. 
 
 
(2) Any officer in charge of a p ost office or aut horised by the Post Master General in this  
behalf may open or unfasten any newspaper or any book, pattern or sample packet, in course of 
transmission by post, which he suspects to have been sent by post in contravention of 1[section 20, 
clause (a) or of] section 21 or of any of the provisions of this Act relating to postage. 
 
(3) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1)___ 
 
(a)  any postal article sent by post in contravention of the provisions of section 19 
may, under the authority of the Post Master General, if necessary, be opened 
and destroyed ; and   
2[(b)  any postal article sent by post in contravention of the provisions of section 20 
may be disposed of in as manner as the 3[Federal Government] may by rule, 
direct.] 
 
24. Power to deal with postal articles containing goods contraband or liable to duty. 
4[Except as otherwise provided in this Act, where a postal article suspected to contain any goods of 
which the import by post the transmission by post is prohibited by or under any en actment for the 
time being in force,] or anything liable to duty, is received for delivery at a post office, the Officer in 
charge of the post office shall send a notice in writing to that addressee inviting him to attend, either 
in person or by agent, wit hin a specified time at the post office, and shall in the presence of the 
addressee or his agent, or if the addressee or his agent fails to attend as aforesaid then in his absence, 
open and examine the postal article: 
 
Provided, first, that, if the Director General so directs in the case of any post office or class of 
post office, the officer in charge of the post office shall call in two respectable persons as witnesses 
before he opens a postal article in the absence of the addressee or his agent: 
 
Provided, secondly, that in all cases a postal article, after being opened under this section 
shall be delivered to the addressee, unless it is required for the purpose of any further proceeding 
under this or any other law or enactment for the time being in force , and that the opening of the 
postal article and the circums tances connected the therewith shall be immediately reported the Pos t 
Master General.   
  5* * * * *            *    * 
 
6[24A. Power to deliver such articles to Customs authority. - The 3[Federal Government] may, by 
general or special order, empower any officer of the Post Office, specified in such order, to deliver 
any postal article, received from beyond the limits of 7[Pakistan] and suspected to contain anything 
liable to duty, to such Customs a uthority as may be specified in the said order, and such Customs 
authority shall deal with such article in  accordance with the provisions of the 8[Custom Act, 1969 
(IV of 1969)] or of any other law or the time being in force.] 
 
 
1Ins. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912), s. 3. 
2 Subs. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912). s. 3, for the original clause. 
3 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A. O., 1937, for “G. G. in. C.”. 
4 Subs. by Act 3 of 1912, s. 4, for “Where a postal article suspected to contain any contraband goods”. 
5 The third proviso was rep. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1921 (15 of 1921), s. 2. 
6 S. 24A ins. ibid., s. 3. 
7Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2)4, “British India”. 
8 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3, and 2nd Sch., for “Sea Customs Act, 1878 (VIII 
of 1878). 
 
 
25. Power to intercept notified goods during transmission by post. Where a notification 
has been published under section 1[16 of th e Customs Act, 1969  (IV of 1969) ] in respect of any 
goods of any specified description, 2[or where the import or export into or from 3[Pakistan] of goods 
of any specified description has been prohibited or restricted by or under any other enactment for th e 
time being in force], any officer of the Post Office empowered in this behalf by the 4[Federal 
Government] may search, or cause search to be made, for any such goods in course of  transmission 
by post, and shall deliver 5[all postal articles reasonably be lieved or found to contain such goods] to 
such officer as the 4[Federal Government] may appoint in this behalf, and such goods may be 
disposed of in such manner a s the 4[Federa1 Government] may direct. 6[In carrying out any such 
search, such officer of the  Post Office may open or unfasten, or cause to be opened or unfastened, 
any newspaper or any book, pattern or sample packet in course of transmission by post]. 
 
26. Power to intercept postal articles for public good. ___(1) On the occurrence of any 
public emergency, or in the interest of the public safety or tranquility, the 4[Federal Government], or 
a 7[Provincial Government], or any officer specially authorised in this behalf 8[by the 9[Federal or the 
Provincial Government], may, by order in writing, direct that any postal article or class or description 
of postal article s in course of transmission by post shall be intercepted or detained, or 10[shall be 
disposed of in such manner as the authority issuing the order may direct]. 
 
 (2) If any doubt arises as  to the existence of a public emergency, or as to whether any act done 
under sub -section (1) was in the interest of the public safety or tranquillity, a certificate 11[of the 
12[Federal Government] or, as the case may be, of the Pro vincial Government] sha ll be conclusive 
proof on the point. 
 
27. Power to deal with postal articles from abroad bearing fictitious or previously used 
stamps.___(1) Wh ere a postal artic le is received by post from any  place beyond the limits of 
3[Pakistan]___  
 
(a)  bearing a fictitious postage stamp, that is to say,  any facsimile or imitation or 
representation of a postage stamp, or 
 
(b)  purporting to be prepaid with any p ostage stamp which has been previously 
used to prepay any other postal article, 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3, and 2nd Sch., for “16 of the Sea Customs Act, 
1878 (VIII of 1878). 
2 Ins. by the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930 (2 of 1930), s. 40 and Sch. II.  
3Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2)4, “British India”. 
 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G.G. in C”. 
5 Subs. by the Indian Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912), s. 5  for  “all such goods found”. 
6 Ins. ibid., 
7 Subs. by A..O., 1937, for “ L. G”.  
8 Subs. ibid., for “by the G. G. in C.”. 
9  Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central”. 
10 Subs. by Act 3 of 1912, s. 6, for “shall be delivered to the Govt. or to an officer thereof mentioned in the order, to be disposed of in such 
manner as the G.G. in C. may direct”.  
11 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “signed by a Secretary to the G. of  I, or to the L. G.,” 
12Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” 
 
 
the officer in charge of the post office at which the postal article is received, shall send a notice to the 
addressee inviting him to attend, either in person or by agent, within a specified time, at the post 
office to receive delivery of the postal article. 
 
 (2) If the addressee or  his agent attends at the post office with in the time specified in the 
notice and consents to make known to the officer in charge of the post office the name and address of 
the sender of the postal article and to redeliver to the officer aforesaid the portion of the postal article 
which bears the address and the fictitious or previously used postage stamp, or, if the postal article is 
inseparable from the stamp, the entire postal artic le, the postal article shall be delive red to the 
addressee or his agent. 
 (3) If th e addressee or his agent fails to attend at the post office within the time spe cified in 
the notice, or, having attended within that time, refuses to make known the name and address of the 
sender or to redeliver the postal article or portion thereof  as required by sub -section (2), the postal 
article shall not be delivered to him, but shall be dispo sed of in such manner as the 1[Federal 
Government] may direct. 
 
 Explanation.___For the purposes of this section, the expression “postage stamp” includes any 
postage s tamp for denot ing any rate or duty of p ostage of any 2* * * foreign country 3[and the 
impression of any st amping machine provided or autho rised for the like p urpose by or under the 
authority of the Government of such 4*   *   * country]. 
 
5[27A. Prohibition of transmission by post of certain newspapers. No newspaper printed 
and published in 6[Pakistan] without conforming to the rules laid down in the 7[West Pakistan Press 
and Publications Ordinance, 1963 (W.P Ordinance No. XXX of 1963)] shall be transmitted by post. 
 
 
827B. Power to detain newspapers and other ar ticles being transmitted by post. __(l) Any 
officer of the Post Office authorised by the Post Master General in this behalf may detain any postal 
article in course of transmission by post which he suspects to contain___ 
 
 
(a)    (i) any newspaper or book a s defined in the 7[West Pakistan Press and 
Publications Ordinance, 1963 (W.P Ordinance No. XXX of 1963)]; or 
 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs, by A.O, 1937, for “G, G. in C.”, 
2 The words “part of  her Majesty’s dominions or of any [Acceeding State] or ” omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) 
Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Second Sch. 
3 Ins, by the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Act, 1924  (16 of 1924) section 3. 
4 The words “part, State or” omitted by Ordinance 27 of 1981 (s.) 3 and Second Sch. 
5 Ss. 27 A to 27D were ins. by the Press Law Repeal and Amendment Act 1922 (14 of 1922), s 6 and Sch. IV.  
 
6 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O.,1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
 
7 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration), Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3. and Second Sch., for “Press and Registration of 
Books Act, 1867”. 
8 As to the application of ss.  27B to 27D in respect of book, newspaper or other document containing; matter defamatory of a Ruler of a 
State or Minister of such Ruler, etc., and tending to prejudice the relation between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of such State, see s. 
3 of the Foreign Relations Act , 1932 (12 of 1932 which further provides that for such application of these sections, the provisions of  s. 3 of Act 12 of 
1932 shall be construed as if for the words “Provincial Government”, wherever they occur in these sections, the words “Central Government” were 
substituted. 
 
 
(ii)  any document; 
 
 
containing any 1[treasonable or] seditious matter, th at i s to s ay, any 
matter the publication of which is punis hable under 2[section 123A or 
section 124A, as the case may be, of the Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 
1860)] ; or 
 
(b)  any newspaper as defined in the 3[West Pakistan Press and Publications 
Ordinance, 1963 (W.P Ordinance No. XXX of 1963 )] (W.P. edited, printed or 
published otherwise than in conformity with the rules laid down in that Act; 
 
and shall deliver any postal article so d etained to such officer as the 4[Provincial Government] may 
appoint in this behalf. 
  
(2) Any officer detaining any postal article under the pro visions of sub -section ( 1) shall 
forthwith send by post to the addressee of such artic1e notice of the fact of such detention. 
 
 (3) The 4[Provincial Government] shall cause the contents of any postal article detained under 
sub-section (1) to be examined, and, if it appears to the 4[Provincial Government] that the article 
contained any newspaper, book or other document, of the nature described in clause (a) or clause (b) 
of sub-section (1), may pass such orders as to the disposal of the article and its contents as it may 
deem proper, and, if it does not so appear, shall release the article and its contents, unless the same 
be otherwise liable to seizure under any law for the time being in force: 
 
Provided that any person interested in any article detained under the provisions of clause (a) 
of sub-section (l) may, within two months from the date of such detention, apply to the 4[Provincial 
Government] for release of the same, and the 4[Provincial Government] shall consider such 
application and pass such orders thereon as it may deem to be proper: 
 
Provided also that, if such application is rejected, the applicant may, within two months from 
the date of the order rejecting the application, apply to the High Court for release of the article and its 
contents on the ground that the article did not contain any newspaper, boo k or other document 
containing any 1[treasonable or] seditious matter. 
 
(4) In this section “document” includes also any painting, drawing or photograph, or other 
visible representation. 
 
27C. Procedure for disposal by High Court of application for release of newspapers and 
articles so detained. Every application made under the second provi so to sub-section (3) of section 
27B shall be heard and determined in the manner provided by sections 99D to 99F of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), 5*   *           *. 
 
 
 
1 Ins. by the Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1951 (20 of 1951), s. 2. 
2 Subs. ibid., for “section 124A of the Indian Penal Code”. 
3Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration), Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3. and Second Sch., for “Press and Reg istration of 
Books Act, 1867”. 
 
4 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “L. G.” 
 
5 The words “by a Special Bench of the High Court constituted in the manner provided by section 99C of that Code” omitted by the Federal 
Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Second Sch. 
 
 
 
 
 
27D. Jurisdiction barred. No order passed or action taken under section 27 B shall be called 
in question in any Court otherwise than in accord ance with the second provi so to sub-section (3) of 
that section.] 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND VALUE-PAYABLE POST 
 
28. Registration of postal articles.  The sender of a posta l article may, subject to the other 
provisions of this Act, have the article registered at the post office at which it is posted, and require a 
receipt therefor; and the 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the 2[official Gazette], direct 
that, in addition to any postage chargeable under this Act, such further fee as may be fixed by the 
notification shall be paid on account of the registration of postal articles. 
 
29. Power to make rules as to registration. ___(1) The 1[Federal Government] may make 
rules as to the registration of postal articles. 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may___ 
 
(a)  declare in what case registration shall be required; 
 
(b) prescribe the manner in which the fees for registration shall be paid; and 
 
(c)  direct t hat twice t he fee for registration shall be levied on the delivery of a 
postal article required to be registered on which the fee for registration has not 
been prepaid. 
 
(3) Postal articles made over to the P ost Office for the pur pose of being registered shall be 
delivered, when registered, at such times and in such manner as the D irector General may, by order, 
from time to time appoint. 
 
30. Insurance of postal articles.  The l[Federal Government] may, by not ification in the 
2[official Gazette], direct– 
 
(a)  that any postal article may, subject to the other pro visions of this Act, be 
insured at the post office at  which it is posted, against the risk of loss or 
damage in course of transmission by post, and t hat a receipt therefor shall b e 
granted to the person posting it; and 
 
(b)  that, in addition to any postage and fees for registra tion chargeable under this 
Act, such further fee as may be fixed by the notification shall be paid on 
account of the insurance of postal articles. 
 
31. Power to requir e insurance of postal articles.  The 1[Federal Government] may, by 
notification in the 2[official Gazette], declare in what cases insurance shall be required, and direct 
that any postal article containing anything r equired to be insured, which has been posted without 
being insured, shall be returned to the sender or shall be delivered to the addressee, subject to the 
payment of such special fee as may be fixed by the notification : 
 
 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C.” 
2Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “Gazette of India”. 
 
 
 Provided that the levy of such special fee as aforesaid shall not impose any liability upon 
1[the 2[Federal Government] ] 3* * *. 
 
32. Power to make rules as to insurance.  ___(1) The 4[Federal Government] may make rules 
as to the insurance of postal articles. 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may___ 
 
 
(a)  declare what classes of postal articles may be insured under section 30 ; 
 
(b)  fix the limit of the amount for which postal articles  may be insured; and 
 
(c)  prescribe the manner in which the fees for insurance shall be paid. 
 
(3) Postal articles made over to th e Post Office for the pur pose of being insured shall be 
delivered, when insured at such places and times and in such manner as the Director General may, by 
order, from time to time appoint. 
 
33. Liability in resp ect of postal articles insured.  Subject to such conditions and 
restrictions as the 4[Federal Government] may, by rule, prescribe, 1[the 2[Federal Government] 8* * * 
shall be liable to pay compensation, not exceeding the amount for which a postal article has been 
insured, to the sender thereof for  the loss of the postal article or its contents, or for any damage 
caused to it in course of transmission by post: 
 
Provided that the compensation so payable shall in no case exceed the value of the article lost 
or the amount of the damage caused. 
 
34. Tra nsmission by post of  value-payable postal articles.  The 4[Federal Government] 
may, by notification in the 5[official Gazette], direct that subject to the other provisions of this Act 
and to the payment of fees at such rates as may be fixed by the notificat ion, a sum of money 
specified in writing at the time of posting by the sender of a postal article shall be recover able on the 
delivery thereof from the addressee, and that the sum, so recovered, shall be paid to the sender: 
  
 Provided that 6[7*the 2[Federal Government] 8* * *shall] 9[not] incur any liability in respect of 
the sum specified for recovery, unless and until that sum has been received from the addressee. 
 
Explanation.-Postal articles sent in accordance with the provisions of this section may be 
described as “value-payable” postal articles. 
 
 
1 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “the Secretary of State for India in Council”. 
2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”. 
3The words “or the Secretary of State” omitted by A.O., 1949, Sch. 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O.,1937, for “G. G. in C.”. 
5 Subs. by A.O,. 1937, for “Gazette of India”. 
6 Subs. ibid., for “the Secretary of State for India in Council shall not”;  
7 The word “neither” omitted by A.O., 1949, Sch. 
8 The words “nor the Secretary of State” omitted ibid. 
9Added ibid., 
 
 
 
35. Power to make rules as to value -payable postal articles. ___(1) The l[Federal 
Government] may make rules as to the transmission by post of value-payable postal articles. 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules 
may___ 
(a)  declare what classes of postal articles may  be sent as  value-payable posta1  
articles ; 
 
(b)  direct that no postal article shall be so sent unless the  sender declares that it is 
sent in execution of a Bona-fide order received by him; 
 
(c)  limit the value to be recovered on the delivery of any  value-payable postal 
article; 2* 
 
(d)  prescribe the form of declaration to be  made by the  senders of value -payable 
postal articles, and the time and manner of the payment of fees; 
 
3[(e)  provide for the retention and repayment to the addressee in cases of fraud of 
money recovered on the delivery of any value-payable postal article; and 
 
(f)  prescribe the fees to be charged for inquiries into complaints regarding the 
delivery of or payment for value-payable postal articles.] 
  
(3) Postal articles sha ll be made over to the P ost Office for the purpose of being sent as 
“value-payable” and shall be deliver ed, when so sent, at such times and in such manner as  the 
Director General may, by order, from time to time appoint. 
 
4[(4) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against 5[the 6[Federal Government], 
7 * * * or any officer of the Post Office in respect of any thing done, or in good faith purp orting to be 
done, under any rule made under clause (e) of sub-section (2).] 
 
36. Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries. - (1) Where arrangements 
are in force with 8* * * any 9* * * foreign country, for the transmission by post of registered, insured 
or value -payable postal articles between  10[ Pakistan] and 11[such] country, the 1[Federal 
Government] may make rules to give effect to such arrangements. 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937; for “G. G. in C.”. 
2 The word “and” rep. by the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912), s. 7 (1).  
3 Clauses (e) and (f) ins. ibid. 
4 Sub-section (4) ins. by s. 7 (2), ibid. 
5 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “the Secretary of State for India in Council”  
6 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”.  
7 The words “the Secretary of State” omitted by A.O., 1949, Sch. 
8 The words “the United Kingdom, or with” omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and 
Second Sch. 
 
9 The words “British possession, [Acceeding State] or” omitted ibid. the words in crotchets were amended by Act 26 of 1951 , s. 4 and III Sch. 
10 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”.  
 
11 Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Second Sch., for “the United Kingdom or such 
possession, State or”. 
 
 
 
  (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of  the foregoing power, such rules 
may prescribe___ 
 
(a)  the form of declaration to be made by the senders of  such postal articles as 
aforesaid; and 
 
(b) the fees to be charged in respect thereof. 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER VII  
 
UNDELIVERED POSTAL ARTICLES 
 
37. Power to make rules as to disposal of undelivered postal articles. ___(1) The 1[Federal 
Government] may make rules as to the disposal of postal articles which for any reason cannot be 
delivered (hereinafter referred to as “undelivered postal articles”). 
  
(2) In p articular and without prejudice to the generality of  the foregoing power, such rules 
may___  
(a)  prescribe the period during which undelivered postal  articles at a post office 
shall remain in that office; and. 
 
(b)  provide for the publication of lists of  undelivered postal articles, or of any 
class of undelivered postal articles.  
   
(3) Every undelivered postal article, after being detained at  a post office for the period 
prescribed by rule under the foregoing  provisions of this section, shall  be either forwarded, free of 
further charge, to the post office at wh ich it was posted, for return to the  sender, or sent to the office 
of the Post Master General. 
 
38. Disposal of undelivered postal articles at  office of Post Master General. ___(1) Every 
postal article received at the office of the Post Master General under sub -section (3) of section 37 
shall be dealt with as follows :___ 
 
(a)  if practicable, it shall be redirected and forwarded by post to the addressee; or,
  
 
(b)  if it cannot be redirected and fo rwarded as afore said, it shall be opened by 
some officer, appointed by the Post Master General in this behalf and bound to 
secrecy, in order to ascertain the name and address of the sender. 
 
(2) If the name and address of the sender are so ascertained, it  shall be returned by post to the 
sender, free of further charge or sub ject to such further charge as the l[Federal Government] may, by 
rule, direct. 
 
39. Final disposal of undelivered postal articles.  Undelivered postal articles which cannot 
be disposed o f under the foregoing provisions, shall be detained in the office of the Post Master 
General for such further period (if any), and shall be dealt with in such manner, as the l[Federal 
Government] may, by rule, direct: 
 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C.”.  
 
 
 Provided that___ 
 
(a)  letters and postcards shall be destroyed; 
 
(b)  money or saleable property, not being of a perishable nature, found in any 
undelivered posta l article, shall be detained for a period of one year in the 
office of the Post Master General, and, if on the expiration of that period no 
person has established his right thereto, shall, if money, be credited to the Post 
Office, and, if saleable property , be sold, the sale -proceeds being credited to 
the Post Office. 
 
_____ 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
SHIP LETTERS 
 
40. Duty of master of ship, departing from any port in the Pakistan and not being a mail 
ship, to convey mail bags. The master of a ship, not being a mail ship, about to depart from any port 
in 1[Pakistan] to any port within, or any port or place beyond, 1[Pakistan], shall receive on board any 
mail bag tendered to him by any officer of the Post Office for conveyance, granting a receipt therefor 
in such form as the 2[Federal Government] may, by rule, prescribe, and shall, without delay, deliver 
the same at the port or place of destination. 
 
41. Duty of master of ship arriving at any port in the  Pakistan in respect of postal 
articles and mail bags on board. ___(1) The master of a ship arriving at any port in 1[Pakistan] shall, 
without delay, cause every postal article or mail bag on board which is directed to that port and is 
within the exclusive privilege conferred on the 2[Federal Government] by section 4, to be delivered 
either at the post office at that port or to some officer of the Post Office authorised in this behalf by 
the Post Master General. 
 
(2) If there is on board any postal article or mail bag which is directed to any other place 
within 1[Pakistan] and is within the exclusive privilege aforesaid, the master shall, without delay, 
report the fact to the officer in charge  of the post office at the port  of arrival and act according to the 
directions he may receive from such officer, and the receipt  of such officer shall discharge him from 
all further responsibility in respect of the postal article or mail bag. 
 
42. Allowance of gratuities for conveyance of postal articles by ships other than mail 
ships. The 2[Federal G overnment] may, by notification  in t he 3[official Ga zette], declare what 
gratuities shall be allowed to masters of ships, not being mail ships, in respect of postal articles 
received by them for conveyance on behalf of the Post Office; and the master of a ship, not being 
mail ship, about to leave any port in 1[Pakistan] as aforesaid shall, if he receives on board a mail bag 
for conveyance, be entitled to demand and obtain immediately the amount of the grat uity payable 
under this section in respect of the mail bag and its contents. 
 
_______ 
 
 
1Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. ( with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
 
2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C.”. 
 
3 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “Gazette of India”. 
 
 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
MONEY ORDERS 
 
43. Power to maintain money order system and to m ake rules as to remittances 
thereby.___(1) The 1[Federal Government] may provide for the  remitting of small sums of money 
through the Post Office by means of money orders, and may make rules as to such money orders. 
 
 (2) In particular and without prejudic e to the generality of  the foregoing power, such rules 
may prescribe___ 
 
(a)  the limit of amount for which money orders may be issued; 
 
(b)  the period during which money orders shall remain current; and 
 
(c)  the rates of commission or the fees to be ch arged on  money orders or in 
respect thereof. 
 
44. Power for remitter to recall money order or alter name of payee. ___(1) Subject to such 
conditions as the 1[Federal Government] may, by rules made under section 43, prescribe in respect of the 
levy of addit ional rates of commission or fees or any other matters, a person remitting money 
through the Post Office by means of a money order may require that the amount of the order, if not 
paid to the payee, be repaid to him, or be paid to such person other than th e original payee as he may 
direct. 
 
(2) If neither the payee nor the remitter of a money order can be found, and if within the 
period of one year from the date of the issue of the order no claim is made by such payee or remitter, 
the amount of such order shall not be claimable from the Government. 
 
45. Power to provide for the issue of postal orders. The l[Federal Government] may 
authorise the issue, in such form 2[and of such amount] as may be suitable, of money orders, to be 
called postal orders or by suc h other designation as may be deemed appropriate, for certain fixed 
amounts, and may make rules as to the rates of commission to be charged thereon and the manner in 
which, and conditions subject to which, they may be issued, paid and cancelled 2[.] 
 
2[* * * * * * *]  
 
46. Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries. ___(1) Where arrangements 
are in force with 3* * * any 4* * * foreign country, for the issue and payment through the Post Office 
of money orders between 5[Pakistan] and 6[such] cou ntry, the 1[Federal Government] may make 
rules to give effect to such arrangements. 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937 for “G. G. in C”.' 
2 Ins, subs. & omitted by Act XXIX of 2017, s. 2. 
3 The words “the United Kingdom, or with” omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and 
Second Sch.  
4 The words “British possession, [Acceeding State] or"  omitted ibid., the words in crotchets were amended by Act 26 of 1951, s. 4 and 
Sch.III. 
5 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the, 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation which had been subs. by A.O., 1949 Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
 
6 Subs. by Ordinance 27 of 1981, s. 3 and Second Sch., for “the United Kingdom or such possession, State or”. 
 
 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of  the foregoing power, such rules 
may prescribe___ 
 
(a)  the manner in which, and the conditions subject to  which, such orders may be 
issued and paid in 1[Pakistan] ; and 
 
(b)  the rates of commission to be charged thereon. 
 
47.  Recovery of money order paid to the wrong person. If any person, without reasonable 
excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie on him, neglects or refuses to refund___ 
 
(a)  any amount paid to him in respect of a money order  by an officer of the Post 
Office in excess of what ought to have been paid to him in respect thereof, or  
 
(b)  the amount of a money order paid by an officer of the Post Office to him 
instead of to some other person to whom it ought to have been paid, 
 
such amount shall be recoverable by an officer of the Post Office authorised by the Post Ma ster 
General in this behalf from the person so neglecting or refusing as if it were an arrear of land -
revenue due from him2. 
 
 48. Exemption from liability in respect of money orders. No suit or other legal proceeding 
shall be instituted against 3[the Government] or any officer of the Post Office in respect of___ 
 
(a)  anything done under any rules made by the 4[Federal Government] under this 
Chapter; or 
 
(b)  the wrong payment of a money order caused by in correct or incomplete 
information given by the r emitter as to the name and address of the payee, 
provided that, as regards incomplete information, there was reasonable 
Justification for accepting the information as a sufficient description for the 
purpose of identifying the payee; or 
 
(c)  the payment of any money order being refused or delayed by, or on account 
of, any accidental neglect, omission or mistake, by, or on the part of, an officer 
of the Po st Office, or for any other cause whatsoever, other than the fraud or 
wilful act or default of such officer; or 
 
(d)  any wrong payment of a money order after the expiration of one year from the 
date of the issue of the order; 5[or 
 
(e)  any wrong payment or delay in payment of a money order beyond the limits of 
1[Pakistan] by an officer of any post offic e, not being one established by the 
4[Federal Government]. ] 
 
  
 
1 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the, 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation which had been subs. by A.O., 1949 Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
2 See the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890 (1 of 1890). 
3 The original words “the Secretary of State for India in Council” have successively been amended by A.O., 1937, and A.O., 1961, Art. 2 
(with effect from the 23rd March, 1956), to read as above. 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”. 
5 The word  “or” and cl. (e) ins. by the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Act, 1912 (3 of 1912), s. 8.  
 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 
 
Offences by Officers of the Post Office 
 
49. Penalty for misconduct of person employed to carry or deliver mail bags or postal 
articles.- Whoever, being employed to carry or deliver any mail bag or any postal article in course of 
transmission by post,___ 
 
(a)  is in a state of intoxication while so employed, or 
 
(b)  is guilty of carelessness or other misconduct, whereby  the safety of any such 
mail bag or postal article as aforesaid is endangered, or 
 
(c)  loiters or makes delay in the conveyance or delivery of any such mail bag or 
postal article as aforesaid, or 
 
(d) does not use due care and diligence safely to convey or deliver any such mail 
bag or postal article as aforesaid,  
 
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
 
50. Penalty for voluntary withdrawal from duty, without permission or notice, of person 
employed to carry or deliver mail bags or postal articles. Whoever, being employed to carry or 
deliver any mail bag or any postal article in course of  transmission by post, voluntarily withdraws 
from the duties of his office without, permis sion or without having given one month’s previous 
notice in writing , shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to  one month, or with 
fine which may extend to fifty rupees, or with both. 
 
51. Penalty for making false entry in register kept by person employed to carry or 
deliver postal articles. Whoever, being employed to ca rry or deliver any  postal article in course of 
transmission by post and required while so employed t o keep any register, makes, or causes or 
suffers to be made, any false entry in the register with intent to induce the belief  that he has visited a 
place, or delivered a postal article, w hich he has not vis ited or delivered, shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for a term which may ex tend to six months, or with fine, which may extend to one 
hundred rupees, or with both. 
 
52. Penalty for theft , dishonest misappropriation, secretion , destruction or throwing 
away of postal articles. Whoever, being an officer of the Post Office, commits theft in respect of, or 
dishonestly misappropriates, or, for any purpose whatsoever, secretes, destroys or throws away, any 
postal article in course of transmission by post or anything contained therein, shall be punishable 
with imprisonment for a term  which may extend to seven yea rs, and shall also be punishable with 
fine. 
 
53. Penalty for opening, detaining or delaying postal articles. Whoever, being an officer 
of the Post Office, contrary to his duty, opens, or causes or suffers to be opened, any postal article in 
course of transmission by post, or wilfully detains or delays, or causes or suffers to be detained or 
delayed, any such postal article, shall be punishable with impr isonment for a term which may extend 
to two years, or with fine, or with both: 
 
 
Provided that nothing in this section shall extend to the opening, detaining or delaying of any 
postal article under the authority of this Act or in obedience to th e order in wr iting of the 1[Federal 
Government] or the direction of a competent Court. 
 
54. Penalty for fraud in connection with official marks and for receipt of excess postage. 
Whoever, being an officer of the Post Office,___ 
 
(a)  fraudulently puts any wrong official mark on a postal article, or 
 
(b)  fraudulently alters, removes or causes to disappear any official mark which is 
on a postal article, or, 
 
(c)  being entrusted with the delivery of any postal article, knowingly demands or 
receives any sum of money in re spect of the postage thereof which is not  
chargeable under this Act, 
 
shall be punishable with imprisonment for  a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be 
punishable with fine. 
 
55. Penalty for fraudulently preparing, altering, secreting or d estroying post office 
documents. Whoever, being an officer of the Post Office en trusted with the preparing or keeping of 
any document, frau dulently prepares the document inco rrectly, or alters or secretes or destroys the 
document, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to tw o years, and 
shall also be punishable with fine. 
 
 56. Penalty for fraudulently sending unpaid postal articles. Whoever, being an officer of 
the Post Office, sends by post, or puts into any mail bag, any posta l article upon which postage has 
not been paid or char ged in the manner pr escribed by this Act, intending thereby to defraud the 
Government of the postage on such postal article, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term 
which may extend to two years, and shall also be punishable with fine. 
 
 57. Punishment of offences committed in an Acceding State or tribal area or non -
Acceding State.___(1) Whoever, being an officer of the Post Office employed in any place 2[in any 
tribal area] in which posts are established by 3[the 4[Federal Government] 5* * *], or being appointed 
to sell postage stamps in any such place, commits therein an offence punishable under this Act, shall 
be punishable either in the place where the offence was com mitted by any Court or o fficer duly 
empowered by 3[the 4[Federal Government] 5* * *] to take cognizance of offences committed in that 
place, or in any part of 6[Pakistan] by any Court of com petent jurisdiction as if the offence had been 
committed in that part. 
 
 
 
 
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art, 2 and Table for “Central Government”, which had been subs, by A.O ,., 1937 for “G.G in C” 
2Subs. by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (27 of 1981), s. 3 and Second Sch., for “ in an Acceding State  or 
tribal areas or non Acceding State”   
 
3 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “the G.G. in C”. 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”. 
5The words “or the Crown Representative” omitted by A.O., 1949, Sch. 
6 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O., 1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
 
 
(2) The provisions of section 188 of the  Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), shall 
not apply to any offence referred to in this section. 
 
Other Offences 
 
58. Penalty for contravention of section 4.___(1) Whoever___ 
 
(a)  conveys, otherwise than by post, a letter within the exclusive p rivilege conferred on 
the 1[Federal Government] by section 4, or 
 
(b)  performs any service incidental to conveying, otherwise than by post, any letter within 
the exclusive privilege aforesaid, or 
 
(c)  sends, or tenders or delivers in order to be sent, otherwise than by post, a letter within 
the exclusive privilege aforesaid, or 
 
(d)  makes a collection of letters excepted from the exclu sive privilege aforesaid for the 
purpose of sending them otherwise than by post, 
 
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees or every such letter. 
 
(2) Whoever, having already been convicted of an offence under this section, is again 
convicted thereunder, shall, on every such subsequent conviction, be punishable with fine which may 
extend to five hundred rupees. 
 
59. Penalty for contravention of section 5. ___(1) Whoever, in contravention of the 
provisions of section 5, carries, receives, tenders or delivers letters, or collects letters, shall be 
punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every such letter. 
 
(2) Whoever, having already been convicted of an offence under this section, is again 
convicted thereunder, shall, on every such subsequent conviction, be punishable with fine which may 
extend to five hundred rupees. 
 
60. Penalty for breach of rules under section 16. Whoever, being appointed to sell postage 
stamps,___ 
(a) takes from any purchaser for any postage stamp or quantity of postage stamps 
a price higher than that fixed by any rule made under section 16, sub -section 
(3), clause (a), shall be punishable with imprison ment for a term which may 
extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or 
with both; or 
 
(b)  commits a breach of any other rule made under section 16, shall be punishable 
with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 
 
61. Penalty for con travention of section 19 or 20. ___(1) Whoever, in contravention of the 
provisions of section 19 or section 20, sends or tenders or makes over in order to be sent by post any 
postal article or anything, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one 
year, or with fine, or with both.   
(2) The detention in the Post Office of any postal article on the ground of its having been sent 
in contravention of the provisions of section 19 or section 20, shall not exempt the sender from any 
proceedings which might have been taken if the postal article had been delivered in due course of 
post. 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O, 1975, Art. 2 and Table for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C.”. 
 
 
62. Penalty for defiling or  injuring post office letter -boxes. Whoever places in or against 
any letter-box provided by the Post Office for the reception of postal articles any fire, match or light, 
any explosive, dangerous, filt hy, noxious or dele terious substance, or any fluid, or commits a 
nuisance in or against any such letter-box, or does any thing likely to injure any such letter -box or its 
appurtenances or contents, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which ma y extend to 
one year, or with fine, or with both. 
 
63. Penalty for affixing without authority thing to, or painting, tarring or disfiguring, 
post office or post office letter -box. Whoever, without due authority, affixes any placard, 
advertisement, notice, list, document, board or other thing in or on, or paints, tars or in any way 
disfigures any post office or any letter-box provided by the Post Office for the reception of postal 
articles, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
 
64. Penalty for making false declaration.  Whoever, being required by this Act to make a 
declaration in respect of any postal article to be sent by post or the contents or value thereof, makes 
in his declaration any statement which he knows, or has reason to believe, to be false, or does not 
believe to be true, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, and, if the 
false declaration is made for the purpose of defrauding the Government, with fine which may extend 
to five hundred rupees. 
 
65. Penalty for master of ship failing to comply with the provision s of section 40 or 41.  
Whoever, being the master of a ship,___ 
 
(a)  fails to comply with the provisions of section 40, or,  
 
(b)  without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving whic h shall lie on him, fails to 
deliver any postal article or mail bag or to comply with the directions of the 
officer in charge of the post office at a port of arrival, as required by section 41,  
 
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees. 
 
66. Penalty for detention of letters on  board vessel arriving in port. ___(1) Whoever, being 
l[the master of a ship or the pilot of an aircraft] arriving at any port in 2[Pakistan] or any one on board 
3[such ship or aircraft], knowingly has in hi s baggage or in his possession or custody, after the postal 
articles on board or any of them have been sent to the post office at the port of arrival, any postal 
article within the exclusive privilege conferred on the 4[Federal Government] by section 4, sh all be 
punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every such postal article as aforesaid. 
 
(2) Whoever, being 5[such master, pilot] or other person as aforesaid, detains any such postal 
article as aforesaid after demand made for it by an officer of the Post Office, shall be punishable with 
fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for every such postal article. 
 
67. Penalty for detaining mails or opening mail bag.  Whoever, except under the 
authority of this Act 6[or of any other Act for th e time being in force] or in obedience to the 
order in writing of the 4[Federal Government] or the direction of a competent Court, detains 
the mails or any postal article in course of transmission by post, or on any pretence opens a mail 
bag in course of t ransmission by post, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two 
hundred rupees: 
 
1 Subs. by the Post Office (Amdt.) Act, 1952 (49 of 1952), s. 4(a), for “either the master of a ship”. 
2 Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch. (with effect from the 14th October, 1955), for 
“the Provinces and the Capital of the Federation” which had been subs. by A.O.,  1949, Arts. 3(2) and 4, for “British India”. 
3 Ins. by Act 49 of 1952, s. 4 (a). 
4 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government”, which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in C”. 
5 Subs. by Act 49 of 1952, s. 4 (b), for “such master”. 
6 Ins. by the Indian Post Office (Amendment) Act, 1921 (15 of 1921) s.4. 
 
 
Provided that nothi ng in this section shall prevent the deten tion of an officer of the Post 
Office carrying the mails or any postal article in course of transmission by post, on a charge of 
having committed an offence declared to be cognizable by the Code of Criminal Proced ure, 1898 (V 
of 1898), or any other law for the time being in force. 
  
68. Penalty for retaining postal articles wrongly delivered or mail bags.  Whoever 
fraudulently retains, or wilfully secretes or makes away with, or keeps or detains, or, when required 
by an officer of the Post Office, neglects or refuses to deliver up, any postal article in course of 
transmission by post which ought to  have been delivered to any other pers on, or a mail bag 
containing a postal article, shall be punishable with imprisonmen t for a term which may extend to 
two years, and shall also be punishable with fine. 
  
69. Penalty fo r unlawfully diverting letters.  Whoever, not being an officer of the Post 
Office, wilfully and maliciously, with intent to injure any person, either opens or causes to be opened 
any letter which ought to have been delivered, or does any act whereby the due delivery of a letter to 
any person is prevented or impeded, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both: 
 
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person  who does any act to which the 
section applies, if he is a parent,  or in the position of a parent or guardian, of the addressee, and  the 
addressee is a minor or a ward. 
 
General 
 
 70. Penalty for abetting, or attempting to commit, offenc es under Act.  Whoever abets 
the commission of any offence punishable under this Act or attempts to commit any offence so 
punishable, shall be punishable with the punishment provided for that offence. 
 
 71. Property in cases of offences to be laid in the P ost Office. In every prosecution for an 
offence in respect of a mail bag or of any postal article sent by post, it shall be sufficient, for the 
purpose of the charge, to describe the mail bag or postal article as being the property of the Post 
Office, and it shall not be necessary to prove that the mail bag or postal article was of any value. 
 
 72. Authority for prosecutions  under certain sections of Act.  No Cou rt shall take 
cognizance of an offence punishable under any of the provisions of sections 51, 53, 54, clauses (a) and 
(b), 55, 56, 58, 59, 61,64,65, 66 and 67 of this Act, unless upon complaint made by order of, or under 
authority from, the Director General or a Post Master General. 
 
______ 
 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL 
 
 73. Zamindari and other district posts. ___(1) The l[Federal Government] may make rules 
for the management of any zamindari or other district post. 
 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in. C”. 
 
 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules  
may declare what portions of this Act shall be applicable to zamindari and othe r district posts and to 
the persons employed in connection therewith. 
  
74. General power to make rules and provisions as to rules under Act.___(1) In addition to 
the powers hereinbefore conferred , the l[Federal Government] may make rules 2 to carry out any  of 
the purposes and objects of this Act. 
 
 (2) In making any rule under this Act, the 1[Federal Government] may direct that a breach  of 
it shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
 
 (3) All rules made by the l[Federal Government] un der this Act shall be published in the 
3[official Gazette] and, on such publication, shall have effect as if enacted by this Act. 
  
75. Delegation of powers, other than rule -making powers, to Director General.  The 
l[Federal Government] may, by notification  in the 3[official Gazette] authorise, either absolutely or 
subject to conditions, the Director General to exercise any of the powers conferred upon the l[Federal 
Government] by this Act, other than a power to make rules. 
 
 76. [Repeal.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1914 (X of 1914), s. 3 and Schedule II. 
 
 77.[Saving.] Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and  Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 
(XXVII of 1981) s. 3 and 2nd Sch. 
 
 
1 Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table, for “Central Government” which had been subs. by A.O., 1937, for “G. G. in. C”. 
2 For the Pakistan Post Office Rules, 1961, see Gaz. of Pak., 1961, Pt. I, pp.87-111. 
3 Subs. by A.O., 1937, for “Gazette of India”. 
 
 
 
1[THE FIRST SCHEDULE  
 
INLAND POSTAGE PARTS 
 
1* * * * * * * 
 
THE SEC OND SCHEDULE .___[Enactments repealed. ] Rep. by the Repealing and 
Amending Act, 1914 (X of 1914), s. 3 and Sch. II. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Omitted by Act. VII of 1992. s.2