PUNJAB WOMEN PROTECTION AUTHORITY ACT 2017

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THE PUNJAB WOMEN PROTECTION AUTHORITY ACT 
2017 
(X of 2017) 
CONTENT 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. The Authority 
4. Qualifications of members 
5. Removal of non-official members 
6. Powers and functions of the Authority 
7. Meetings 
8. Delegation of Powers 
9. Director-General 
10. Appointments 
11. Public servants 
12. Liability for loss 
13. Police assistance 
14. Powers of Additional Inspector General Women Protection 
15. Fund 
16. Accounts 
17. Budget 
18. Audit 
19. Performance Audit 
20. Annual report 
21. Indemnity 
22. Power to make rules 
23. Power to frame regulations 
24. Repeal 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB WOMEN PROTECTION AUTHORITY ACT 2017 
(X of 2017) 
[31st May 2017] 
An 
Act 
for the establishment of the Punjab Women Protection Authority. 
It is necessary for the provision of a comprehensive, efficient, effective and 
gender equitable system for protection, relief and rehabilitation of wo men against all 
forms of violence in the Punjab; to control, monitor, and oversee that system; and, to 
deal with matters ancillary thereto. 
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the  
Punjab Women Protection Authority Act 2017. 
(2) It shall extend to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Women Protection Authority Act 2017; 
(b) “Authority” means Punjab Women Protection Authority established 
under the Act; 
(c) “defendant” means a person against whom relief is sought by the 
aggrieved person; 
(d) “Director General” means the Director General of the Authority; 
(e) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(f) “member” means a member of the Authority; 
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or regulations made under the 
Act; 
(h) “referred Act” means the Punjab Protection of Women against Violence 
Act 2016 (XVI of 2016); 
(i) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; and 
(j) “rules” means the rules made under the Act. 
(2) An expression or word used but not defined in the Act shall have the 
same meaning as is assigned to it in the referred Act. 
                                                                 
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 24 May 2017; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 
29 May 2017; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 31 May 2017, pp. 7667-7672 
3. The Authority .– (1) Th e Government may, by notification, establish an  
Authority to be called the “Punjab Women Protection Authority” to carry out the 
purposes of the Act. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with powers, su bject to the provisions of the Act, to acquire and 
hold property, both movable and immovable, and may, by the said name, sue and be 
sued. 
(3) The Authority shall not dispose of any immovable property without prior 
consent in writing of the Government. 
(4) The Authority shall be headed by the Chairperson appointed by the 
Government, and shall consist of the following members: 
(a) four members, including at least two female members, of Provincial 
Assembly of the Punjab to be nominated by the Government; 
(b) Additional Chief Secretary or, as the case may be Secretary to the 
Government, Home Department; 
(c) Provincial Police Officer (Inspector General of Police) Punjab, or his 
representative, not below the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police; 
(d) Secretary t o the Government, Social Welfare and Bait -ul-Maal 
Department; 
(e) Secretary to the Government, Women Development Department; 
(f) Secretary to the Government, Public Prosecution Department; 
(g) four non -official members including, at least, two women, to be  
nominated by the Government; and Member/Secretary. 
(h) Director General of the Authority. 
(5) The ex-officio members at (b) and (d) to (f) may be represented by an 
officer of the concerned department not below the rank of an Additional Secretary or, 
if there is no Additional Secretary, by an officer BS-19 and above. 
2[(5-a) The Chairperson shall receive such perks and privileges, and be 
subject to such conditions of service as the Government may specify. 
 
(5-b) For the purpose of attending a meeting of the  Authority, a member shall 
receive such travelling allowance as may be determined by the Authority.] 
(6) The tenure of the members, other than ex officio  members, shall be 
three years but the Government may extend the term by one year. 
(7) No act or proce edings of the Authority shall be invalid merely by 
reason of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. 
4. Qualifications of members .– (1) A person shall be eligible for appointment  
as a member who: 
                                                                 
2 Inserted by the Punjab Women Protection Authority(Amendment)  Act 2020 (XXIV of 2020), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 10 September 2020, pp. 1067, s. 2. 
 
(a) is a Pakistani citizen of sound mind  and not less than twenty six years 
of age; 
(b) has not been convicted by a court on charges of corrupt practices, 
moral turpitude or misuse of power or authority under any law; 
(c) is not an un-discharged insolvent; 
(d) does not have any conflict of interest with the purposes of the Authority 
or any financial interest in any project or scheme, directly or indirectly, 
launched by the Authority; and 
(e) has worked towards furtherance of the rights of women and gender 
equality for a minimum period of three years. 
5. Removal of non -official members.– (1) The Chairperson and the members  
shall serve during the pleasure of the Government and the Government may remove 
the Chairperson or a non-official member in the prescribed manner. 
(2) A non-official member may resign by tendering resignation in writing. 
6. Powers and functions of the Authority .– The Authority shall have the  
powers to: 
(a) establish, maintain, monitor, govern, operate and construct Protection 
Centers in the Punjab; 
(b) initiate and maintain a cont inuous process of comprehensive planning 
for the protection system; 
(c) execute, implement and administer the protection system, relief to, and 
rehabilitation of, the women against violence; 
(d) control, monitor, and oversee the administration and function ing of the 
Committee and protection system; 
(e) execute the policies made by the Government for the provision of 
protection, relief and rehabilitation of women against all forms of 
violence; 
(f) undertake appropriate projects for purposes of the Act; 
(g) issue necessary instructions, directions or guidelines to the Committee 
and District Women Protection Officer or any other officer or official 
who is engaged in the Protection System, or to any other body for the 
implementation of the projects of the Author ity and for effective 
implementation of the provisions of the Act or the referred Act; 
(h) formulate and ensure minimum standards, code of conduct and 
Standard Operating Procedures to be followed by the persons engaged 
in the Protection System; 
(i) evaluate, assess and coordinate the execution of its policies; 
(j) conduct survey of the aggrieved persons desirous of being 
rehabilitated; 
(k) institute a mechanism for the periodic sensitization and awareness of 
the public servants and employees of the Authorit y on issues involving 
women and protection and relief of the aggrieved persons; 
(l) carry out execution of the monetary, protection or residence orders; 
(m) ensure that a case of violence registered with a police station in the 
Province is referred to the Protection Centre for medical examination, 
collection of forensics, investigation and prosecution and until the 
Protection Centre is established in the District to make standing 
arrangements for shifting of an aggrieved person, with her consent, to 
the nearest Protection Centre; 
(n) approve annual strategy to improve the Protection Centre and shelter 
homes; 
(o) enlist women volunteers and women volunteer organizations in the 
District and assign roles to such volunteers and organizations to assist 
the Protec tion Centers in terms of advocacy, raising awareness, 
mediation and referring the victims to the Protection Centers; 
(p) approve the annual report about the key performance indicators, 
operations of the Protection Centers and gaps in the implementation of 
the Protection System for submission to the Government; 
(q) accept donations such as land, vehicles, equipment, money or human 
resource for facilitation of the functioning of the Protection System; 
(r) acquire property, both movable and immovable undertake  any works, 
incur any expenditure and enter into contracts to this effect; 
(s) seek assistance for the establishment of Protection Centres or for the 
execution and operations of all Protection Centers from a Government 
department, agency or person; 
(t) prepare financial statements and feasibility reports, provide 
administrative approvals, issue technical sanction, and initiate 
tendering and procurement processes for the construction and 
maintenance of Protection Centres and other allied works; 
(u) approve the annual budget and to re-appropriate funds; 
(v) carry out administrative functions; 
(w) monitor and evaluate establishment or construction of the standardized 
Protection Centers according to their capacity; 
(x) provide funding to the District Women Prote ction Committee to carry 
out its functions; and 
(y) take such other measures and perform such other functions as may be 
assigned to it by the Government and as are necessary for carrying out 
the purposes of the Act. 
7. Meetings.– (1) The Authority shall meet at least once in a month, at such time 
and, place and shall observe such procedure in regard to transaction of its business 
and meetings as may be prescribed and until so prescribed as the Authority may 
determine. 
(2) The meetings of the Authority shall  be presided over by the 
Chairperson and in the absence of the Chairperson, by a member elected for the 
purpose by the members present. 
(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be one third of the total 
number of members. 
8. Delegation of Powers .– The Authority may delegate to the Chairperson, a  
member, Director General or an officer of the Authority any of its powers, duties or 
functions, except the power to: 
(a) approve the annual budget; 
(b) approve the annual performance report; 
(c) frame regulations; and 
(d) make policy decisions. 
9. Director-General.– (1) The Government shall, on such terms and conditions  
as it may determine, appoint the Director General. 
(2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive of the Authority and 
shall: 
(a) be a whole time officer of the Authority; 
(b) perform such duties as may be prescribed or as may be assigned or 
delegated to him by the Authority; and 
(c) hold office for a term of three years but he shall serve during the 
pleasure of the Government. 
(3) The Government may extend the term of office of the Director General 
for such period as it may determine. 
(4) The Government may, by serving one month’s notice or on payment of 
one month’s salary in lieu of the notice, remove the Director General. 
(5) The Di rector General may, by serving one month’s notice or on 
payment of one month’s salary in lieu of the notice, resign. 
(6) In case the office of Director General is vacant for any reasons 
whatsoever, the Government may make such temporary arrangements for th e 
discharge of functions of the Director General. 
10. Appointments.– (1) The Authority may, in the prescribed manner, appoint  
such officers, advisors and employees as it considers necessary for efficient 
performance of its functions and determine the terms and conditions of service. 
(2) The Authority may acquire the services of such officers, advisors and 
employees on deputation from any agency as it deems necessary. 
11. Public servants.– All persons acting or purporting to act under the Act shall  
be deemed to be public servants within the meanings of section 21 of the Pakistan 
Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
12. Liability for loss .– Any person employed by or serving under the Authority,  
charged with the administration of the affairs of the Authority, acting  on behalf of the 
Authority or acting under a contract with the Authority, who is responsible for: 
(a) any loss, waste, misappropriation of any money or property belonging 
to the Authority; or 
(b) any act which may adversely affect an aggrieved person approaching a 
Protection Centre, which is a direct consequence of his negligence or misconduct in 
the discharge of his duties– 
shall be liable to compensate the Authority as determined by it after 
affording reasonable opportunity of being heard. 
13. Police assistance.– The Authority may seek assistance of the police in the  
discharge of its duties and performance of functions under the Act or under referred 
Act. 
14. Powers of Additional Inspector General Women Protection .– (1) There  
shall be an Additional Inspec tor General Women Protection for purposes of the Act 
or the referred Act. 
(2) The Additional Inspector General Women Protection shall be a police  
officer. 
(3) The Authority may authorize the Additional Inspector General Women  
Protection to: 
(a) supervise t he working of police officers posted at the Protection 
Centers in the Punjab; 
(b) report to the Provincial Police Officer (Inspector General Police) Punjab 
on a bi-weekly basis all the cases at the Protection Centres; 
(c) conduct evaluation of the police officers at the Protection Centres; 
(d) provide remedial measures to the police officers and victims of gender -
based crimes; 
(e) supervise and monitor prosecution of cases under the referred Act; 
(f) oversee and monitor prosecution on gender -based crimes an d 
performance of police officials at the Protection Centers; and 
(g) perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as the Authority 
may assign. 
15. Fund.– (1) There shall be a Fund to be known as the Punjab Women  
Protection Authority Fund. 
(2) The F und shall vest in the Authority and shall be utilized by the 
Authority in connection with its functions under the Act including construction, 
maintenance, operations, procurement and the payment of salaries and other 
remunerations to the members, officers,  servants, experts and consultants of the 
Authority. 
(3) The Fund shall consist of: 
(a) the grants received from the Government or from other domestic or 
international agencies; 
(b) monetary relief payable to the Authority by the defendants under a 
monetary order by the court under section 9 of referred Act; 
(c) any gifts or donations received by the Authority; and 
(d) income from any other sources. 
(4) The Fund shall be maintained and invested in such manner as may be  
prescribed. 
(5) The Authority shall not obtain any loan and shall not incur any financial  
liability. 
16. Accounts.– The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant  
records and prepare annual statement of accounts in such manner and form as may 
be prescribed. 
17. Budget.– The Authority shall prepare every year, in such form and manner  
and at such time as may be prescribed, a budget in respect of the next financial year 
showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Authority and shall submit it 
to the Government for approval. 
18. Audit.– (1) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited by the Auditor  
General of Pakistan. 
(2) In addition to the audit under subsection (1), the Authority or the 
Government may appoint a firm of Chartered Accountants or any Government audit 
agency to audit the accounts of the Authority. 
(3) The Authority shall also make such arrangements for pre -audit or 
concurrent audit of accounts as may be necessary. 
19. Performance Audit.– The Government may, at any time, direct to have the  
performance audi t of the Authority by a person or agency appointed by the 
Government. 
20. Annual report .– (1) The Director General shall, within three months of the  
end of a financial year, submit the annual performance report to the Authority 
enumerating all activities, developmental initiatives undertaken, the targets achieved 
during the previous financial year and the future plans. 
(2) The Authority shall publish the report for public information and submit 
it to the Government and the Government shall lay it before Pro vincial Assembly of 
the Punjab within ninety days of its receipt. 
21. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie  
against the Authority, the Director General, any member, officer, servant, expert or 
consultant of the Authority , in respect of anything done or purported to be done in 
good faith under the Act. 
22. Power to make rules .– The Government may, by notification in the official  
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act . 
23. Power to frame regulations .– Subject to the Act and the rules, the Authority  
may, frame regulations for matters not provided for in the Act or rules and for which 
provision is necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
24. Repeal.– The Punjab Women Protection Au thority Ordinance, 2017 (II of  
2017) is hereby repealed.