{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-07565c46d613e157", "title": "PUNJAB WATER AND SANITATION AUTHORITY ACT 2025", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/VWVUY1FgVGMHZQ--", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T17:01:28Z", "legal_status": "not independently verified", "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.", "text_sha256": "e7db4e0f0db5f21b784e5f26705dea666508f08400893a11ea7de83d5cd1afbb", "source_sha256": "e7db4e0f0db5f21b784e5f26705dea666508f08400893a11ea7de83d5cd1afbb", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-07565c46d613e157:sha256:e7db4e0f0db5f21b784e5f26705dea666508f08400893a11ea7de83d5cd1afbb", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE PUNJAB WATER AND SANITATION AUTHORITY \r\nACT 2025 \r\n(VII of 2025) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent, application and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Establishment of Authority \r\n4. Composition of Authority \r\n5. Meetings of Authority \r\n6. Powers and functions of Authority \r\n7. Director General \r\n8. Employees of Authority \r\n9. Determination of fee and other charges \r\n10. Establishment of Agency \r\n11. Composition of Agency \r\n12. Meetings of Agency \r\n13. Powers and functions of Agency \r\n14. Managing Director \r\n15. Appointment of officers and employees \r\n16. Permissions \r\n17. Control of discharge \r\n18. Right of entry \r\n19. Groundwater \r\n20. Controlled area \r\n21. Fund of Authority \r\n22. Fee and charges \r\n23. Budget \r\n24. Accounts \r\n25. Audit \r\n26. Annual report \r\n27. Offences, penalties and procedure \r\n28. Trial of offences \r\n29. Bar of jurisdiction \r\n30. Delegation \r\n31. Indemnity \r\n32. Recovery of dues \r\n33. Employees to be public servant \r\n34. Power to make rules \r\n35. Power to frame regulations \r\n36. Al-Jazari Water and Sanitation Academy \r\n37. Repeal, omission and savings \r\n38. Act to prevail \r\n39. Removal of difficulties \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB WATER AND SANITATION AUTHORITY ACT 2025 \r\n(VII of 2025) \r\n[29th January, 2025] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for establishment of the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority. \r\nIt is necessary to establish the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority for developing, \r\noperating and maintain ing water supply and sanitation systems; conserving and \r\npreserving groundwater and water resource management in the Punjab and to provide \r\nfor the matters incidental thereto and ancillary therewith. \r\nBe it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: \r\n1. Short title, extent, application and commencement. (1) This Act may be cited \r\nas the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority Act 2025. \r\n(2) It extends to the whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It applies to areas of districts Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and \r\nGujranwala and such other areas as the Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, specify, from time to time. \r\n(4) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions. In the Act: \r\n(a) “Act” means the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority Act 2025; \r\n(b) “Agency” mean s the Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency established \r\nunder the Lahore Development Authority Act, 1975 (XXX of 1975) and \r\nFaisalabad Water and Sanitation Agency, Multan Water and Sanitation \r\nAgency, Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency and Gujranwala Water \r\nand Sanitation Agency established under the Punjab Development of Cities \r\nAct, 1976 (XIX of 1976) and any other Agency established under the Act; \r\n(c) “area” means the service area of an Agency; \r\n(d) “Authority” means the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority established \r\nunder the Act; \r\n(e) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority; \r\n(f) “Director General” means the Director General of the Authority; \r\n(g) “Fund” means the Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority Fund established \r\nunder the Act; \r\n(h) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n(i) “Managing Director” means the Managing Director of the Agency; \r\n(j) “person” means a natural or juridical person; \r\n(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations made or framed \r\nunder the Act; \r\n(l) “regulations” means regulations framed under the Act; and \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 20 January 2025; and was assented to by Governor of the Punjab on \r\n29 January 2025; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2697-2707. \r\n(m) “rules, means the rules made under the Act. \r\n3. Establishment of Authority. (1) The Government shall , by notification in the \r\nofficial Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Punjab Water and Sanitation \r\nAuthority for carrying out the purposes of the Act. \r\n(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a \r\ncommon seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of moveable or immovable \r\nproperty and shall, by the said name, sue and be sued. \r\n(3) The Authority shall not dispose of its immovable property without prior \r\napproval of the Government. \r\n4. Composition of Authority. (1) The Authority shall consist of: \r\n(a) Chief Minister or his nominee. Chairperson \r\n(b) a person nominated by the Chief Minister. Vice Chairperson \r\n(c) Chairperson of each Agency. Members \r\n(d) Chairman, Planning and Development Board or \r\nhis representative not below the rank of \r\nAdditional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(e) Secretary to the Government, Finance \r\nDepartment or his representative not below the \r\nrank of Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(f) Secretary to the Government, Housing , Urban \r\nDevelopment and Public Health Engineering \r\nDepartment or his representative not below the \r\nrank of Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(g) Secretary to the Government, Local \r\nGovernment and Community Development \r\nDepartment or his representative not below the \r\nrank of Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(h) Managing Directors of each Agency. Members \r\n(i) four technical experts , each from the field of \r\nwater supply, sanitation, hydrology and law. \r\nMembers \r\n(j) Director General. Member/Secretary \r\n(2) The Chief Minister may nominate a person as Vice Chairperson for such \r\nperiod as he may deem fit. \r\n(3) The Members at clause ( i) of sub -section (1), shall be nominated by the \r\nChief Minister for a period of three years who shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief \r\nMinister. \r\n(4) The Vice Chairperson or Member at clause ( i) of sub -section (1), may \r\nresign from his office before the expiry of tenure by submitting his written resignation to \r\nthe Chief Minister. \r\n(5) The Authority may co-opt any other expert fo r its assistance in the meeting \r\nbut such co-opted expert shall not have any right to vote. \r\n5. Meetings of Authority . (1) The Authority shall meet , at least , once in three \r\nmonths at such time and place and observe such procedure with regard to transaction of \r\nits business as may be prescribed by the regulations and until so prescribed, as the \r\nAuthority may determine. \r\n(2) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over by the Chairperson; \r\nor, in his absence, by the Vice Chairpers on and both the Chairperson and vice \r\nChairperson are not available then by a Member so elected by the Members present. \r\n(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be one half of its total \r\nMembers. \r\n(4) The decisions of the Authority shall be taken by majority of the Members \r\npresent and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson or the person \r\npresiding over the meeting, as the case may be, shall have the casting vote. \r\n(5) The Director Gene ral shall maintain a complete record of minutes of the \r\nmeeting of the Authority. \r\n(6) No act, decision, order or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid by \r\nreason of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. \r\n6. Powers and functions of Authority . (1) The Authority shall oversee and \r\nsupervise the functions of the Agency for the purposes of the Act. \r\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Authority \r\nshall: \r\n(a) make and enf orce policies for the development and maintenance of water \r\nsupply and sanitation systems; \r\n(b) develop, propose and implement key performance indicators , as well as , \r\nminimum standards for service delivery by the Agency; \r\n(c) review and monitor performance of the Agency; \r\n(d) determine, review and approve fee and charges for supply of water , \r\nsanitation services or any other service provided under the Act; \r\n(e) coordinate with any other authority performing similar functions in any other \r\narea; \r\n(f) review and decide human resource related matters; \r\n(g) administer and enforce the Act and rules and regulations made or framed \r\nthereunder; \r\n(h) hire advisors or consultants for the purposes of the Act; \r\n(i) regulate and prohibit the use and extraction of groundwater; \r\n(j) constitute standing or special committees or any othe r committee s as it \r\ndeems necessary and delegate or assign functions to such committee s for \r\ncarrying out the purposes of the Act; and \r\n(k) perform such other functions or exercise such other powers as may be \r\nnecessary and ancillary thereto. \r\n7. Director General. (1) The Chief Minister shall, on such terms and conditions as \r\nmay be determined by him, appoint the Director General of the Authority for a period of \r\nthree years and shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief Minister. \r\n (2) Notwithstanding the expiration of the term of the Director General, Chief \r\nMinister may allow him to continue to hold office for a further period of three months or till \r\nhis successor enters upon his office, whichever is earlier. \r\n (3) The Director General s hall be responsible for general administration of the \r\nAuthority and shall perform such other functions as provided under the Act or assigned to \r\nhim by the Authority. \r\n (4) The Director General shall: \r\n(a) be the whole-time officer of the Authority; \r\n(b) be the principal accounting officer of the Authority; and \r\n(c) be competent to enter into contracts on behalf of the Authority on the \r\ndirection of the Authority. \r\n(5) The outgoing Director General shall, subject to fulfilling criteria, be eligible \r\nfor re-appointment as Director General. \r\n(6) The Director General may resign from his office , before the expiry of his \r\ntenure, by submitting his written resignation to the Chief Minister. \r\n8. Employees of Authority. The Authority may, from time to time, employ such \r\nofficers, officials and other employees on such terms and conditions as it may prescribe. \r\n9. Determination of fee and other charges. The Authority shall determine, review \r\nand approve the fee and other charges for the supply of water and sanitation services \r\nand any other service provided under the Act. \r\n10. Establishment of Agency. (1) Upon the commen cement of th e Act, the \r\nfollowing Agencies shall be deemed to have been established under the Act and \r\ncontinue to work in the areas for which they were established unless altered, modified or \r\nchanged by the Government and shall be governed under the Act: \r\n(a) Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency established under the Lahore \r\nDevelopment Authority Act, 1975 (XXX of 1975); \r\n(b) Faisalabad Water and Sanitation Agency , Multan Water and Sanitation \r\nAgency, Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency and Gujranwala Water \r\nand Sanitation Agency established under the Development of Cities Act, \r\n1976 (XIX of 1976). \r\n(2) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, establish one \r\nor more Agencies other than the Agencies provided under sub -section (1), for providing \r\nservices in the area provided in the notification. \r\n(3) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, entrust any \r\nexisting Agency to provide such services in such areas as may be provided in the \r\nnotification. \r\n11. Composition of Agency. (1) Each Agency shall consist of: \r\n(a) to be nominated by the Chief Minister. Chairperson \r\n(b) representative of Housing, Urban Development and Pubic \r\nHealth Engineering Department, not below t he rank of \r\nAdditional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(c) representative of Local Government and Community \r\nDevelopment Department, not below t he rank of \r\nAdditional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(d) representative of Finance Department, not below the rank \r\nof Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(e) representative of Planning and Development Board, not \r\nbelow the rank of Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(f) two Members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, \r\nincluding one female Member, to be nominated by the \r\nChief Minister. \r\nMembers \r\n(g) Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district. Member \r\n(h) an officer of the Authority nominated by it. Member \r\n(i) three technical experts, including at least one female. Members \r\n(j) Managing Director of the Agency. Member/ \r\nSecretary \r\n(2) The Chairperson of the Agency shall be nominated by the Chief Minister for \r\nsuch a period as he deems fit, who shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief Minister. \r\n(3) The Members at clause (i) of sub -section (1), shall be nominated by the \r\nChief Minister for a period of three years, who shall serve during the pleasure of the \r\nChief Minister. \r\n(4) The Member at clause (i) of sub -section (1), may resign from his office \r\nbefore the expiry of his tenure by submitting his written resignation to the Chief Minister. \r\n12. Meetings of Agency. (1) The Agency shall meet at least once in three months \r\nat such time and place and observe such procedure with regard to transaction of i ts \r\nbusiness as may be determined by it. \r\n(2) The meetings of the Agency shall be presided over by the Chairperson , or, \r\nin his absence , by the Member nominated by the Chairperson and if so not possible, \r\nthen by a Member, from amongst the Members, so elected by the Members present. \r\n(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Agency shall be one half of its total \r\nMembers. \r\n(4) The decisions of the Agency shall be taken by majority of the Members \r\npresent and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the Chairperson or the person \r\npresiding over the meeting, shall have the casting vote. \r\n(5) The Managing Director shall maintain a complete record of the minutes of \r\nthe meeting of the Agency. \r\n(6) No act, decision, order or proceedings of the Agency shall be invalid by \r\nreason of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Agency. \r\n13. Powers and functions of Agency. (1) The Agency may perform such functions \r\nand exercise such powers, within its area as are necessary for carrying out the purpose s \r\nof the Act. \r\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions of sub -\r\nsection (1), the Agency shall have power to: \r\n(a) develop, operate, maintain and provide water supply, sewerage and \r\ndrainage systems; \r\n(b) initiate and maintain a continuous process of comprehensive development \r\nand planning of water supply, sewerage and drainage services; \r\n(c) plan, design, construct, operate and mai ntain water supply, sewerage, \r\ndrainage systems and schemes , including water treatment plants , waste \r\nwater treatment plants and disposal systems and stations; \r\n(d) establish, maintain and periodically revise as necessary, planning controls, \r\ndesign and constructio n criteria, and regulations for water supply, \r\nsewerage and drainage services for the area; \r\n(e) approve all proposed extension or rehabilitation works o n the water supply, \r\nsewerage, drainage systems and schemes in the area whether owned and \r\ncarried out by the Agency, Government, Development Agency, industrial \r\nconcern, private developer, individual consumer or any other person; \r\n(f) prepare and implement any scheme for expanding provision of water \r\nsupply, sewera ge and drainage facilities to such other areas as the \r\nAuthority may direct; \r\n(g) take such steps for conservation of water resources as may be necessary \r\nincluding the imposition of fee or water conservancy or aquifer charges with \r\nprior approval of the Authority; \r\n(h) undertake awareness campaigns regarding water conservation, drainage , \r\nwater supply and sewerage through media, seminars, publications and \r\nother available means of information technology; \r\n(i) hire, on such terms and con ditions as it may determine, advisors, \r\nconsultants, experts or other administrative or technical personnel for the \r\ndischarge of its functions under the Act; \r\n(j) collect such fee and charges as may be determined by the Authority; \r\n(k) cause removal of any works obstructing the water supply, sewerage or \r\ndrainage network and to prevent any activity that disrupts or interferes \r\ntherewith; \r\n(l) enter into contracts , on behalf of the Authority as delegated to it by the \r\nAuthority for discharge of its functions , including outsourcing any part \r\nthereof to a third -party in such manner as may be determined by the \r\nAuthority; \r\n(m) implement measures and standards determined by the Authority; \r\n(n) with prior approval of the Authority, undertake any joint venture or work in \r\nassociation with a foreign or domestic agency, corporation, company, \r\nauthority or person and may subscribe to the equities and acquire such \r\nother rights and obligations as may be necessary for such joint venture or \r\nassociation; and \r\n(o) perform and carry out any other act, duty or function necessary to give \r\neffect to its functions under the Act. \r\n(3) The Agency may also undertake such other function entrusted to it under \r\nany other law for the time being in force. \r\n(4) Under intimation to the Authority, t he Agency may, subject to its ca pacity, \r\nperform such functions or execute such schemes as entrusted to it by the Government, \r\nLocal Government or any other authority or agency established under any other law for \r\nthe time being in force. \r\n(5) In addition to the powers and functions provided under sub -section (1), the \r\nAgency may undertake construction, improvement, maintenance, operation and \r\nexpansion of: \r\n(a) water supply works including wells, water treatment plants an d other \r\nfacilities for collecting, pumping, storing and distributing water to all types of \r\nconsumers; and \r\n(b) sewerage works for collecting, pumping, treating and disposing of sewage \r\nand the provision of storm-water drainage facilities. \r\n14. Managing Director. (1) The Managing Director, for each Agency, shall be \r\nappointed by the Chief Minister for a period of three years, on such terms and conditions \r\nas may be prescribed through rules and until so prescribed, as may be determined by \r\nthe Chief Minister and he shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief Minister. \r\n(2) Notwithstanding the expiration of the term of the Managing Director, Chief \r\nMinister may allow him to continue to hold office for a further period of three months or till \r\nhis successor enters upon his office, whichever is earlier. \r\n(3) The Managing Director shall: \r\n(a) be the whole-time officer of the Agency; \r\n(b) have the general and active management of the business of the Agency; \r\n(c) ensure the implementation of the orders and resolutions of the Agency; and \r\n(d) exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be \r\nentrusted to him by the Agency. \r\n15. Appointment of officers and employees . The Agency may appoint such \r\nofficers, officials and other employees, as it considers necessary for efficient \r\nperformance of its functions, on such terms and conditions as it may determine. \r\n16. Permissions. (1) No person shall build a private drain, empty a private drain into \r\na public drain or install any equipment that interferes with, or affects the use of the \r\nAgency’s water supply, sewerage and drainage network without obtaining prior \r\npermission of the Agency. \r\n(2) No person shall develop, build, construct any works, block, building, \r\nfactory, industry or house where water is intended to be used or drained unless a layout \r\nof the drawings has been submitted to the Agency and its permission obtained thereon. \r\n(3) Any per son desirous of undertaking any act prohibited under this section \r\nshall apply to t he Agency for its permission and the Agency may give its approval , in \r\nsuch manner, on such terms and conditions and on payment of such fee as may be \r\nprescribed through regulations. \r\n17. Control of discharge. No industrial waste shall be discharged into the Agency’s \r\nsewerage or drainage system without obtaining a license from the Agency on such terms \r\nand conditions, on payment of such fee and in such manner as may be prescribed by \r\nregulations. \r\n18. Right of entry. (1) The Agency shall have power to authorize its employees to \r\nenter any land, house or other building within its area and to carry out its functions, in, \r\non, under or over that land, house or building and to take any action, including but not \r\nlimited to digging of soil , laying down of pipes or lines , construction or installation of any \r\nworks, inspection or repair of any pipes or mains, for the purposes of discharging i ts \r\nfunctions under the Act. \r\n(2) Where entry under sub -section (1) is refused by the owner or occupier of \r\nthe said land, house or building, the Agency may apply to the concerned Magistrate for \r\nan order to enable such entry to be carried out. \r\n19. Groundwater. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the \r\ntime being in force, ownership of groundwater resources, within the area, shall vest in the \r\nAuthority and the Agency shall have power to control and regulate use thereof in \r\naccordance with the provisions of the Act. \r\n(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Authority may, by notification in the \r\nofficial Gazette, amend, modify or alter boundaries of an area for the purpose of this \r\nsection in order to bring the geographical boundary on land in line with the boundary of \r\nthe underlying aquifer and its hydrogeological area of influence and any additional area \r\nso notified under this sub -section that extends beyond the area of the Agency shall be \r\nreferred to as the groundwater basin area in which the Agency will exercise the powers \r\nconferred by this section only. \r\n20. Controlled area. (1) The Authority may, in consultation with the concerned \r\nAgency, declare, by notification in the official Gazette, any locality within the area or the \r\ngroundwater basin area to be a controlled area of the concerned Agency for the \r\npurposes of the Act and may issue in respect of such controlled area such directions as \r\nmay be necessary for the conservation of groundwater. \r\n(2) Where a declaration has been made under sub -section (1), n o person or \r\nany other agency shall install a tube -well, a water-pump or any similar device within the \r\narea or the groundwater basin area, as the case may be, to extract water from the \r\naquifer without obtaining a license from the Agency in such manner and on such terms \r\nand conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations and any person who has already \r\nmade such an installation prior to the issuance of the declaration under sub-section (1) \r\nshall obtain a license from the Agency in respect thereof within su ch period, on payment \r\nof such fee and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations. \r\n (3) Any person violating the provisions of sub-section (2) shall be liable to \r\npunishment under th e Act along with closure or sealing of the said tube-well and \r\ndisconnection of any other service by the Agency. \r\n21. Fund of Authority. (1) There shall be a Fund to be known as the Punjab Water \r\nand Sanitation Authority Fund and a separate fund of each Agency which shall vest in \r\nthe Authority and shall be utilized by the Authority and its Agenc y to perform their \r\nfunctions and meet their expenses including the payment of salaries and other \r\nremuneration to their officers, employees, exp erts, advisers and consultants in such \r\nmanner as may be prescribed by the regulations. \r\n(2) The Fund shall consist of: \r\n(a) loans and grants by the Government; \r\n(b) all moneys received from the Federal Government, Government and their \r\nbodies, local government, or any national or international agency by way of \r\ngrants, loans, advances or otherwise; \r\n(c) all fee, charges and other moneys received by the Authority or the Agency; \r\n(d) all moneys received by the Authority and the Agenc y from the disposal of \r\nlands, buildings and other movable and immovable property; \r\n(e) income from lease of property or from any investment made in pursuance \r\nof the Act; and \r\n(f) all other sums received by the Authority and the Agency. \r\n(3) The Authority may, in consultation with Finance Department and with prior \r\napproval of the Government, borrow money or raise funds by issuing bonds or \r\ndebentures or otherwise for carrying out the purposes of the Act. \r\n(4) The Authority and its Agency may open their accounts in any scheduled \r\nbank in such manner as may be prescribed and may, in case of excess amount, invest in \r\nGovernment securities, Government sponsored saving schemes in such manner as may \r\nbe determined by the Authority and its Agency. \r\n(5) The fee and other charges collected by the Agenc y shall be transmitted to \r\nthe Fund at such ratio as may be determined by the Government. \r\n22. Fee and charges. (1) The Agency shall collect such fee and charges for the \r\nprovision of water supply, sewerage and drainage services or any other service provided \r\nunder the Act within its area as may be determined by the Authority. \r\n(2) The Agency, with prior approval of the Authority , in relation to its \r\ngroundwater basin area , may collect a groundwater extraction charges at such rate as \r\nmay be necessary for regulating the use and extraction of groundwater. \r\n(3) The Agency , with prior approval of the Authority, may collect a water \r\nconservation charge s for the purpose of securing sustainable use and conservation of \r\ngroundwater. \r\n(4) The Agency, with prior approval of the Authority, may collect such \r\nsurcharge as may be determined by the Authority. \r\n(5) The imposition of a fee, charges and surcharge by an Agency, under this \r\nsection, shall be published on the website of the Agency. \r\n23. Budget. (1) The Director General, in case of Authority and Managing Director, in \r\ncase of Agency, shall prepare, in such manner and a t such time as may be determined \r\nby the Authority, their respective budgets in respect of each financial year. \r\n(2) The Director General shall place the budget of the Authority , for approval, \r\nbefore the Authority and Managing Director shall place the Agency's budget , after its \r\nrecommendation, before the Authority for approval by the Authority: \r\nProvided that if the budget of the Agency is not approved by the Authority within \r\nthirty days from its receipt, without any observation in writing by the Authority, it shall be \r\ndeemed to have been approved by the Authority. \r\n24. Accounts. The Authority and the Agenc y shall maintain proper accounts and \r\nother relevant records and prepare annual statement of accounts in such form and \r\nmanner as may be prescribed through the regulations. \r\n25. Audit. (1) In addition to the audit conducted by the Government, the Authority \r\nand Agency shall appoint separate firms of charted accountants placed in category ‘A’ by \r\nState Bank of Pakistan, for the annual audit of their accounts. \r\n(2) The auditors, appointed under sub-section (1), shall submit their reports to \r\nthe Authority and the Agency, as the case may be, and the Authority and the Agency \r\nshall take such actions and make such decision s as may be necessary i n light of the \r\naudit report. \r\n26. Annual report . (1) The Authority shall, within six months of the close of a \r\nfinancial year, submit to the Government an annual report. \r\n(2) The Annual report shall consist of: \r\n(a) the statement of accounts and audit reports of the Authority and the \r\nAgency; \r\n(b) a comprehensive statement of the work s and activities of the Authority and \r\nthe Agency during the preceding financial year and its proposed projects \r\nand schemes; and \r\n(c) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Authority may consider \r\nappropriate. \r\n(3) The Agency shall submit its report comprising of statements and other \r\nmatters, as provided under clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub -section (2), within three \r\nmonths of the close of a financial year, to the Authority. \r\n(4) The Government shall, within three months of the receipt of the annual \r\nreport from the Authority, cause it to be laid in Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. \r\n27. Offences, penalties and procedure. (1) If a person contravenes any provision \r\nof the Act, he shall, if no other penalty is provided for such contravention, be punishable \r\nwith imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may \r\nextend to five hundred thousand rupees or with both. \r\n(2) A person who contravenes the provision of section 20 shall be liable to \r\nimprisonment which may extend up to thirty days but not less than three days and fine \r\nwhich may extend to one million rupees but not less than fifteen thousand rupees. \r\n(3) If a person continues to violate any order of the Authority or the Agency, he \r\nshall, in addition to any other punishment under the Act, be liable to punishment of fine \r\nwhich may extend to five thousand rupees for each day, the offence continues. \r\n(4) If a person fails to obtain any license or permit required under the Act, rules \r\nand regulations made or framed under th e Act, he shall be liable to punishment of fine \r\nwhich may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees. \r\n(5) If a person prevents, restricts or interferes with the performance or \r\ndischarge by any employee of the Authority or the Agency of any of its functions or \r\nobligations, he shall be liable to imprisonment which may extend to thirty days and fine \r\nwhich may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both. \r\n(6) An offence punishable under the Act shall be cognizable on a complaint, in \r\nwriting, of an officer authorized by the Authority or the Agency to the officer in charge of \r\nthe police station. \r\n28. Trial of offences. (1) An offence under the Act shall be cognizable and bailable. \r\n(2) The offences under the Act shall be tried in accordance with the provision s \r\nof the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898). \r\n29. Bar of jurisdiction . No order made in exercise of any power conferred by or \r\nunder the Act shall be called in question in any Court except in the man ner as provided \r\nunder the Act. \r\n30. Delegation. (1) The Authority may delegate to the Vice Chairperson, Director \r\nGeneral, its committee , a Member, officer or employee, or its Agency or its Member, \r\nofficer or employees any of its functions and powers subject to such conditions as it may \r\nthink fit, except the following: \r\n(a) adaptation or amendment or repeal of regulations; \r\n(b) approval of annual budget of the Authority; \r\n(c) consideration and decision on the audit reports; \r\n(d) constituting a committee or filing a vacancy therein; \r\n(e) filling a vacancy in the Authority; and \r\n(f) power to declare the groundwater basin area. \r\n(2) The Agency may delegate to the Managing Director, its Members, officers \r\nor its empl oyees such powers and functions subject to such conditions as it may deem \r\nappropriate. \r\n31. Indemnity. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the \r\nAuthority or the Agency and their Chairperson , Vice Chairperson, Members, officers, \r\nemployees, the Director General, the Managing Director, in respect of anything done or \r\nintended to be done in good faith under the Act. \r\n32. Recovery of dues. Any sum that is due to the Authority or the Agency shall be \r\nrecoverable as arrears of land revenue. \r\n33. Employees to be public servant. All employees of the Authority or the Agency \r\nshall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan \r\nPenal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). \r\n34. Power to make rules. The Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. \r\n35. Power to frame regulations. Subject to the Act and the rules made thereunder, \r\nthe Authority may, by notification in the official Gazette, frame regulations for carrying out \r\nthe purposes of the Act. \r\n36. Al-Jazari Water and Sanitation Academy . (1) The Al-Jazari Water and \r\nSanitation Academy situated at Lahore shall be deemed to be under the Authority from \r\nthe date of commencement of the Act and shall continue to perform its functions as \r\nalready assigned to it until altered, modified or changed by the Authority through the \r\nregulations. \r\n (2) All assets, liabilities or properties moveable or immovable of the Al-Jazari \r\nWater and Sanitation Academy shall remain vested in it but its administrati on and \r\nsuperintendence shall stand transferred to the Authority. \r\n(3) The Academy may recruit trainer s, instructors, officers and such other \r\nemployees in such manner as may be prescribed through regulations. \r\n37. Repeal, omission and savings. (1) Sub-sections (2) to (6) of section 10, sub -\r\nsection (2) of section 28 and section 29 of the Lahore Development Authority Act, 1975 \r\n(XXX of 1975), and clause (xvi) of sub-section (2) of section 7, sub-section (2) of section \r\n27 and section 28 of the Punjab Development of Cities Act, 1976 (XIX of 1976) are \r\nhereby repealed and entries at Sr. No.1 and 2 of Fourth Schedule of the Punjab Water \r\nAct, 2019 (XXI of 2019) are hereby omitted. \r\n(2) Notwithstanding the repeal under sub -section (1), all schemes, projects, or \r\nworks started by the following Agencies but not completed shall be deemed to have \r\nbeen started, continued to be executed under the provisions of the Act: \r\n(a) Lahore Water and Sanitation Agency established under the Lahore \r\nDevelopment Authority Act, 1975 (XXX of 1975); and \r\n(b) Faisalabad Water and Sanitation Agency, Multan Water and Sanitation \r\nAgency, Rawalpindi Water and Sanitation Agency and Gujranwala Water \r\nand Sanitation Agency established under the Development of Cities Act, \r\n1976 (XIX of 1976). \r\n(3) Notwithstanding the repeal under sub -section (1), a ll rules made, \r\nregulations framed, appointments made, orders and notifications issued, land acquired, \r\nschemes prepared or executed, rates determined and penalties and fee imposed, or \r\nother charges levied, contracts entered into, bank accounts opened or fixed deposits \r\nmade, suits instituted by or against the Agencies mentioned in sub -section (2) or any \r\nother right accrued, or liability incurred or action taken or proceeding s initiated under the \r\nrepealed Acts, shall, so far as they are consistent with the provisions of the Act, continue \r\nin force and be deemed to have been made, imposed, levied, issued, entered into, \r\nopened, instituted, prepared, executed, accrued or incurred, taken and initiated by the \r\nAgency under the Act: \r\nProvided that the existing employees of the Agencies given in sub -section (2 ), \r\nshall continue to serve in their respective agencies and their terms and conditions shall \r\nnot be altered to their disadvantage. \r\n38. Act to prevail . In the event of any conflict or inconsistenc y between the \r\nprovisions of the Act and the provisions of any o ther law, the provisions of the Act shall, \r\nto the extent of such conflict or inconsistency, prevail. \r\n39. Removal of difficulties . If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the \r\nprovisions of the Act, the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make \r\nsuch order, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, as it may deem necessary for \r\nthe purposes of removing such difficulty.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-07565c46d613e157:sha256:e7db4e0f0db5f21b784e5f26705dea666508f08400893a11ea7de83d5cd1afbb:chars-0-1770:96cd8177d3d2401aeca328bf7d752aecf7b6ed456e5107f669a463f5c79b892c", "character_start": 0, "character_end": 1770, "utf8_byte_start": 0, "utf8_byte_end": 1770, "passage_sha256": "96cd8177d3d2401aeca328bf7d752aecf7b6ed456e5107f669a463f5c79b892c", "reader_fragment": "p-0-1770-96cd8177d3d2401a" }, { "passage_id": 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