Newsprint Control Ordinance, 1971

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THE NEWSPRINT CONTROL ORDINANCE, 1971 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Ordinance to override other laws. 
3.  Definitions. 
4.  Regulation of use of newsprint etc. 
5.  Dealing in newsprint. 
6.  Fixation of price. 
7.  Declaration of stock held. 
8.  Declaration by importer. 
9.  Maintenance of records of sale, etc. 
10.  Power to call for information, etc. 
11.  Penalty. 
12.  Delegation of powers.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
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1THE NEWSPRINT CONTROL ORDINANCE, 1971 
 
ORDINANCE No. XI of 1971 
[26th April, 1971] 
An Ordinance to provide for regulating the keeping, storage, distribution, disposal, acquisition 
and use of newsprint. 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for regulating the keeping, storage, distribution, 
disposal, acquisition and use of-news-print and for matters ancillary thereto ; 
AND WHEREAS the national interest of Pakistan in relation to the achievement of 
uniformity requires Central Legislation in the matter; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of th e 25th day of March, 1969, read 
with the Provisional Constitution Order, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the 
President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:___ 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement. ___ (1) This Ordi nance may be called the 
Newsprint Control ordinance, 1971. 
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.  
 (3) It shall come into force at once. 
 2. Ordinance to override other laws.  This Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding 
anything to the contrary contained in the 2[Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding 
Act, 1977 (XIXX of 1977)] or any order or other instrument made or issued thereunder or any other 
law for the time being in force. 
 3. Definitions. In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, 
(a)    “daily newspaper” means a newspaper which is published not less than five days 
a week ; 
(b)    “newspaper” means any publication printed on newsprint and published at 
regular intervals of not more than a month ; and 
(c)    “newsprint” means printing paper, white or coloured, in reels or in sheets, 
unsized or soft sized, the fiber content of which comprises not less than 70 per 
cent of mechanical wood pulp and which weights between 50 to 54 gra ms per 
square meter. 
 4. Regulation of use of newsprint etc.  Except with the prior permission in writing of the 
3[Federal Government], no person shall :__ 
(a) use newsprint for printing of publishing any newspaper started after the 
commencement of this Ordinance, ; 
(b) use newsprint for printing or publishing any newspaper in excess of such 
quantity as the 2[Federal Government] may, by general or special order, 
prescribe in respect of such newspaper ; or 
 
1Validated by the Validation of Laws Act. 1975 (63 of 1975), s. 2 and Sch., 
2Subs. by Federal Laws (revision and Declaration) Ordinance 1981 (27 of 1981. .s.3 and II sch., 
3Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2 and Table.  
 
 
 
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(c) use newsprint for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet, poster or other 
thing which is not a newspaper. 
 5. Dealing in newsprint.—(1) The 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, specify the dealers who shall be approved dealers of newsprint for the purposes of this 
Ordinance. 
 (2) Subject to an order un der sub -section (3), upon the issue of a notification under sub -
section (1), no dealer shall, except with the prior permission in writing of the 1[Federal Government], 
sell or dispose of newsprint to any person other than— 
(a)  an approved dealer; or 
(b)  a person who requires the newsprint___ 
(i)  for printing or publishing any newspaper started before the commencement of 
this Ordinance, or 
(ii)   for  printing  or  publishing  any  newspaper  started  after  the commencement  
of  this  Ordinance,  where  the  use  o f  newsprint  for printing or publishing 
such newspaper has been permitted under clause (a) of section 4, or 
(iii)   for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet, poster or other thing which is 
not a newspaper, where the use of newsprint for su ch printing or publishing 
has been permitted under clause (c) of section 4. 
 (3) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, require any dealer to sell to such 
person as is referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) such quantity of newsprint as may be specified 
in the order and may issue and incidental or supplementary instructions in regard to such sale. 
 6. Fixation of price. —(1) The 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, fix the maximum price above which newsprint shall not be sold and different prices may be 
fixed for different localities for different varieties of newsprint or for newsprint of different origins. 
 (2) No person shall buy or sell or offer to buy or sell newsprint at a price above the maximum 
price fixed under subsection (1). 
 7. Declaration of stock held.  Every dealer and every  person holding stocks of news -print 
shall, within a period of seven days from the commencement of this Ordinance,  submit to the 
1[Federal Government] or an officer authorised by it in t his behalf a declaration of the stocks of 
newsprint held by him at such commencement. 
 
1Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2and Table.
 
 
 
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 8. Declaration by importer.  Every importer of newsprint shall, within seven days of the 
clearance of the newsp rint from Customs, submit to the 1[Federal Government] or an officer 
authorised by it is this behalf a declaration specifying the particulars of newsprint so cleared by him 
or on his behalf. 
 9. Maintenance of records of sale, etc. The 1[Federal Government] may direct a dealer or an 
importer “or a person using newsprint to maintain records of all sales, purchases, imports and uses of 
newsprint and may prescribe the form in which such record shall be maintained. 
 10. Power to call for information, etc. —(l) The 1[Federal Government] may require the 
proprietor of, or any other person concerned with, any printing press or newspaper, daily newspaper, 
book, pamphlet or poster  or any person carrying on  or concerned  with any business or undertaking 
which involves the sales, distribution, storage or use of newsprint, to give  any  information  in  his  
possession  or  within  his  knowledge  with  respect  to  any transaction  relating  to  newsprint,  and  
the  person  so  required  shall  give  the  required info rmation to  the best of his knowledge and 
belief. 
 (2) No person shall mutilate, deface, tamper with, conceal or destroy any book or document 
relating to any transaction referred to in sub-section (1). 
 (3) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing , authoris e any officer or other  
person,  to  inspect  any  books  or  documents  referred  to  in  sub -section  (2)  in  the possession  of  
any  of  the  persons  referred  to  in  sub -section  (1)  and  such  person  shall, whenever required to 
do so, permit the inspection to be made without any hindrance, evasion or concealment. 
 (4) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, authorise any officer or other person 
to enter and search or cause to be entered and searched any premises, or place wh ere he has reason to 
believe that anything in contravention of this Ordinance has taken place or is likely to take place, and 
such officer or person may seize any newsprint or other articles in respect of which he has reason to 
believe that any such contravention has been committed or is about to be committed. 
 11. Penalty.  Whoever contravenes any provision of this Ordinance or of any order made, 
notification issued or direction given under this Ordinance shall be punishable with imprisonment for 
a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 
 12. Delegation of powers.  The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, direct that 
any of its powers and functions under this Ordinance shall, in relation to such matters and subject to 
such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercisable also by an officer specified in 
the order. 
                                                                              __________     
 41318          Date: 11-11-2024 
1Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2 and Table.