PUNJAB SAHULAT BAZAARS AUTHORITY ACT 2025

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: 4a6f4ebfb1d5eff0911e6b61226360ea46854639df0a873ea12233ca37c35094.

THE PUNJAB SAHULAT BAZAARS AUTHORITY ACT 2025 
(XIX of 2025) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of the Authority 
4. Composition of the Authority 
5. Powers and functions of the Authority 
6. Meetings of the Authority 
7. Director General 
8. Delegation of powers 
9. Committees 
10. Public servants 
11. Fund of the Authority 
12. Bank accounts 
13. Accounts 
14. Budget 
15. Audit 
16. Succession and validation 
17. Land acquisition 
18. Powers to eject unauthorized occupants 
19. Appeals 
20. Recovery of fines 
21. Damage to property 
22. Annual report 
23. Indemnity 
24. Removal of difficulties 
25. Overriding effect 
26. Bar of jurisdiction 
 
 
27. Power to make rules 
28. Power to frame regulations 
29. Guidelines 
 
 
  
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB SAHULAT BAZAARS AUTHORITY ACT 2025 
(XIX of 2025) 
[24th March, 2025] 
An 
Act 
to establish the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority. 
It is necessary to establish Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority for launching, constructing, 
monitoring, regulating and maintaining Sahulat  Bazaars in the Punjab and supplying 
essential commodities to the general public on notified rates and creating business 
opportunities for entrepreneurs and for all the matters ancillary thereto and connected 
therewith.  
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority Act 2025. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab.  
(3) It shall come into force at once.  
2. Definitions.– In the Act:  
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority Act 2025; 
(b) “allied facilities” mean a facility provided in a Sahulat Bazaar other than 
stalls; 
(c) “Authority” means Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority established under the 
Act; 
(d) “business plan" means a business pl an of each bazaar established under 
the Act; 
(e) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority; 
(f) “Director General” means the Director General of the   Authority; 
(g) “Fund” means the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority Fund established 
under the Act; 
(h) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(i) “Member” means a Member of the Authority; 
(j) “PMBMC” means the Punjab Model Bazaars Management Company; 
(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations made or framed 
under the Act;  
(l) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; 
(m) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; 
(n) “Sahulat Bazaar” means a Bazaar established under the Act; and 
                                              
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 14 March 2025; and was assented to by Governor of the Punjab on 21 
March 2025; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 24 March 2025, pp. 3627-3634. 
 
 
(o) “stall holder” means a stall holder doing business in a Sahulat Bazaar, and 
includes a temporary stall holder or any othe r person doing business in a 
Sahulat Bazaar or using a stall or space provided by the Authority for his 
business in a Sahulat Bazaar for a specified period in accordance with 
agreement with the Authority. 
3. Establishment of the Authority.– (1) The Government shall, by notification in the 
official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars 
Authority for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a 
common se al with power, subject 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 an immovable property without prior 
approval of the Government. 
(4) The head office of the Authority shall be at Lahore and the Authority may 
establish its sub-offices, on need basis, anywhere in the Punjab.  
4. Composition of the Authority.– (1) The Authority shall consist of the following: 
(a) a person to be appointed by the Chief Minister. Chairperson 
(b) Secretary to the Government, Industr ies, 
Commerce and Investment Department or his 
nominee not below rank of Additional Secretary. 
Member 
(c) Secretary to the Government, Finance Department, 
or his n ominee not below the rank of Additional 
Secretary. 
Member 
(d) Secretary to the Government, Planning and 
Development Board or his nominee not below the 
rank of Additional Secretary. 
Member 
(e) Secretary to the Government, Price Control and 
Commodities Management Department or his 
nominee not below the rank of Additional 
Secretary. 
Member 
(f) four technical experts, including at least one 
woman, from the field of farming, agricultural 
marketing, food industry, corporate or law. 
Members 
(g) two Members of Provincial Assembly of the 
Punjab, including at least one female Member, to 
be nominated by the Chief Minister. 
Members 
(h) Director General of the Authority. Member/Secretary 
(2) The Members at clause (f) of sub -section (1) shall be appointed by the 
Chief Minister and they shall hold office during pleasure of the Chief Minister. 
(3) In case, the post of Chairperson is vacant due to any reason, the 
Chairperson shall be appointed within sixty days of such vacancy. 
(4) In case, a Member at clause (f) of sub -section (1) re signs or such post is 
vacant due to any reason, Chief Minister shall fill such vacancy by appointing another 
person for remaining period of the tenure of the Member whose post has become vacant. 
 
 
(5) In case, a Member at clause (g), resigns by submitting his resignation to 
the Chief Minister his resignation shall not take effect until it is accepted by the Chief 
Minister.  
5. Powers and functions of the Authority.– The Authority shall, in such manner as 
may be prescribed by the regulations, have powers and functions to: 
(a) plan, promote, organize, re -organize and implement programs for 
construction, development, operation and upgradation of existing Sahulat 
Bazaars, and, for establishment of new Sahulat Bazaars;  
(b) approve business plan of the respective Sahulat Bazaars;  
(c) repair, rehabilitate, provide security to and maintain the infrastructure of 
Sahulat Bazaars and the allied facilities; 
(d) plan to utilize the land of the Authority for revenue generation and creation 
of business opportunities;  
(e) establish and maintain an effective system for monitoring, supervision and 
control of functions of the Authority;  
(f) provide platform to farmers, producers and stall holders to sell their 
products to end users or to any other person running business in a Sahulat 
Bazaar; 
(g) levy fee, rent or charge for providing the space for stalls, security, and 
allied facilities in the Sahulat Bazaars; 
(h) establish Sahulat Bazaars at suitable places in a district, and to designate 
any place or existing facility as a Sahulat Bazaar; 
(i) enter into contracts, agreements, and memorandum of understanding with 
Governmental and non -Governmental Organizations, public or private 
institutions, persons, authorities, associations, societies and corporations to 
carry out the purposes of the Act; 
(j) seek assistance from any department, agency, organization or body of the 
Government for carrying out the purposes of the Act; 
(k) consider and approve annual and revised budget estimates and to re -
appropriate funds from one major head of expenditure to another and to 
appoint internal and third party auditors;  
(l) develop and implement human resource management policies and system; 
(m) assess, identify, create, increase, decrease, designate and re -designate, 
upgrade posts and prepare and execute the internal job posting regime; 
(n) lay down qualifications and criteria for appointment of its employees, and 
implement a transparent and objective evaluation process for appointment 
of the employees; 
(o) take disciplinary action against its employees in such manner as may be 
prescribed through regulations;  
(p) suspend, or fire its employees in such manner as may be prescribed 
through regulations;  
(q) lend or borrow any of its employee or employee of any other Department or 
authority, on deputation basis as per the policy of the Government; 
(r) transfer or post any employee against any post in any entity administered 
by the Authority; 
 
 
(s) appoint, with or without remuneration, such advisors, consultants, experts, 
interns, and other staff as it may deem appropriate; 
(t) impart training to its employees for purpos es of better performance and 
service delivery;  
(u) establish roles, jurisdictions and job descriptions of the employees and 
devise mechanism of performance appraisal of employees; 
(v) take measures to establish and maintain discipline in the employees and 
determine the terms and conditions of engagement of such experts, 
consultants or advisors as may be required and in such manner as may be 
prescribed; 
(w) make payment of reward from the Fund to an employee who has made 
exceptional efforts in accomplishing the objectives of the Act; and 
(x) exercise and perform such powers and functions as may be ancillary to any 
of the above. 
6. Meetings of the Authority.– (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 by the regulations and until so prescribed 
as the Authority may determine. 
(2) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over by the Chairperson 
who may approve its agenda; an d, in absence of the Chairperson, the meeting shall be 
presided by the Member nominated by the Chairperson and in case the nomination 
cannot be made, then by the Member so elected by the Members present. 
(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be one half of the total 
Members. 
(4) The Director General, on the direction of the Chairperson or on a 
requisition by not less than one -half of the total Members, shall call a meeting of the 
Authority.  
(5) Subject to the quorum, the decisions of the Auth ority shall be taken by 
majority of the Members present and voting and in the event of equality of votes, the 
Chairperson or the Member presiding over the meeting, as the case may be, shall have a 
casting vote.  
 (6) The Director General shall maintain a complete record of the minutes of the 
meeting and the decisions of the Authority. 
 (7) No act, decision, order or proceedings of the Authority or a committee 
constituted by the Authority shall be invalid by reason of any vacancy or defect in the 
constitution of the Authority.  
7. Director General.– (1) The Chief Minister shall, on such terms and conditions as 
the Authority may determine,  appoint the Director General of the Authority,  through 
public advertisement and open competition process. 
(2) The Director General shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief Minister 
and he may resign from his office subject to one month’s prior notice in writing to the 
Chief Minister through the Authority or on payment of one month’s pay in lieu thereof. 
(3) The Director G eneral shall be the administrative head of the Authority and 
shall: 
(a) be the principal accounting officer of the Authority; 
 
 
(b) keep in custody the records and seal of the Authority; 
(c) authorize payments of monthly salaries, honoraria and allowances to the 
employees of the Authority; 
(d) prepare annual budget estimates and supplementary budget estimates of 
the Authority and place the same before the Authority for approval; 
(e) be responsible for the maintenance and development of all ancillary 
services and procurements; 
(f) approve payment of bills under any head of the budget of the Authority; 
(g) authenticate orders, decisions or other instruments of the Authority by his 
signature; 
(h) take steps for the implementation of the decisions of the Authority; 
(i) receive and send all the correspondence of the Authority; and 
(j) execute deeds and documents on behalf of the Authority. 
 (4) The Director General may, with approval of the Chairperson, delegate any 
of his powers to any other officer of the Authority. 
 (5) The Director General shall be answerable to the Authority for 
administrative, financial and other actions undertaken by him under the Act. 
8. Delegation of powers .– The Authority may, subject to such conditions and 
limitations as it may determine, delegate any of its powers or function s to the 
Chairperson, Director General, or a committee constituted by it, except the powers to: 
(a) frame, amend or repeal regulations; 
(b) approve policy decisions, guidelines or procedures for the operation of the 
Fund; 
(c) determine the terms and conditions of serv ice of the employees of the 
Authority; 
(d) constitute committees; 
(e) approve the annual budget, audited accounts and annual reports of the 
Authority; and 
(f) consider audit reports of the Authority. 
9. Committees.– The Authority may constitute committees comprising o f such 
Members or its employees or such other persons as it may deem necessary for carrying 
out the purposes of the Act, on such terms and conditions as it may determine. 
10. Public servants.– All persons acting or purporting to act under the Act shall be 
deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the  Pakistan Penal 
Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
11. Fund of the Authority.– (1) There shall be a fund of the Authority to be known as 
the Punjab Sahulat Bazaars Authority Fund which shall vest in the Authority and shall be 
utilized by the Authority for performance of its functions under the Act. 
(2) The Fund shall consist of:  
(a) funds provided by the Government; 
(b) grants received from the Government; 
 
 
(c) grants received from any other authority or agency; 
(d) donations made to the Authority;  
(e) all such sums of money as may be determined from time to time by the 
Government; 
(f) all such sums of money as may be received by the Authority in exercise, 
discharge and performance of its powers, functions and duties; 
(g) rates and loans negotiated and raised, or otherwise obtained, by the 
Authority with the prior approval of the Government; 
(h) all other sums receivable by the Authority; 
(i) income of the Authority from any other source; 
(j) rates and loans negotiated and raised, or  otherwise obtained, by the 
Authority with the prior approval of the Government; 
(k) fee, charges, rentals and fines collected by the Authority; 
(l) income from the lease or sale of the property; 
(m) funds from floating bonds, shares, debentures, certificates, or othe r 
securities issued by the Authority; and 
(n) all other sums received by the Authority. 
(3) The Fund shall be maintained in such form and manner as may be 
prescribed. 
12. Bank accounts.– The Authority may open and maintain its bank accounts at such 
scheduled banks as may be prescribed by the regulations. 
13. Accounts.– The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant 
records and prepare annual statement of accounts relating to its financial affairs 
including its income and expenditure as per requ irements of the international financial 
reporting standards in such form and manner as may be prescribed. 
14. Budget.–  (1) The Director General shall prepare, in such manner and at such 
time as may be prescribed, a budget in respect of the financial year next ensuing 
showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Authority and shall submit the 
same to the Authority for approval.  
 (2) Expenditure which has not been approved in the budget shall not be 
incurred without prior approval of the Authority.  
 (3) The Authority may empower the Director General to re -appropriate funds 
from one head to another as may be prescribed. 
15. Audit.– (1) The accounts of the Authority shall be maintained and audited by the 
Auditor General of Pakistan.  
(2) Subject to sub -section (1), the Authority may cause the accounts of the 
Authority to be audited by a registered chartered accountant firm.  
 (3) Subject to the Act, the auditor shall submit annual or any special audit 
report to the Authority and the Authority shall take corrective measures in light of the 
audit report, if any. 
16. Succession and validation .– (1) On establishment  of the Authority, subject to 
the provisions of the Companies Act, 2017 (XIX of 2017),  all assets including land, 
 
 
property and any liability in the name, possession and control of the PMBMC; all rights of 
the PMBMC regarding the land owned and managed by t he PMBMC  shall stand 
transferred to the Authority. 
(2) All orders, notifications, instructions or standard operating procedures 
issued by PMBMC, if not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall continue to 
remain in force. 
(3) Notwithstanding the  provisions of the Punjab Rented Premises Act, 2009 
(VII of 2009), the immovable properties including any site or building obtained on rent by 
the PMBMC shall be deemed to have been obtained in the name of the Authority which 
shall be deemed to be the tena nt for such property, and the Model Bazaars established 
by the PMBMC shall be deemed to be Sahulat Bazaars under the Act. 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in 
force, all existing employees presently working in the P MBMC shall be deemed to be the 
employees of the Authority, and shall be adjusted against the positions created in the 
Authority and shall be eligible, at least, for present salaries and all other benefits in the 
Authority on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations but such 
terms and conditions shall not be less favourable than those admissible to such 
employees while in service of the PMBMC immediately before the commencement of the 
Act: 
Provided that previous service period of the  employees of the PMBMC shall also 
be counted towards their employment in the Authority.    
(5)  Save as otherwise specifically provided, anything done, actions taken, 
proceedings commenced, orders, rules, regulations, agreements made, directions given 
or instruments executed, standard operating procedures, instructions or any kind of 
notifications issued in relation to PMBMC, if in force on commencement of the Act and 
not inconsistent with the Act, shall continue to be in force unless modified, amended, 
repealed or substituted under the provisions of the Act. 
17. Land acquisition.– (1) The acquisition of any land or any interest in land by the 
Authority under the Act shall be deemed to be acquisition for a public purpose within the 
meaning of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (I of 1894). 
(2) The Authority may establish a Sahulat Bazaar on a piece of state land not 
owned by it, in a prescribed manner, subject to no objection certificate from the 
concerned District Collector or authority or department or agency,  and with prior 
permission to be obtained from the Board of Revenue of the Government, where 
applicable, for such period as may be determined with mutual agreement.   
(3) The Authority may acquire a piece of land on lease by entering into a lease 
agreement with any public or private entity, in a prescribed manner.   
(4) A department, authority, agency or a local government may, for the 
purposes of the Act, transfer any assets, rights and liabilities to the Authority for the 
purposes of establishing a Sahula t Bazaar on such terms and conditions as may be 
mutually agreed.  
18. Powers to eject unauthorized occupants .– (1) The Authority may, in the 
prescribed manner, with the aid of police, summarily eject any unauthorized occupant 
from any part of the Sahulat  Bazaar or a proposed Sahulat Bazaar site vested in the 
Authority, and remove any structure thereon.   
(2) The Authority may recover the cost incurred on ejection under sub -section 
(1) from the unauthorized occupant as arrears of land revenue.  
 
 
19. Appeals.– Any person aggrieved by an order passed under the Act may, within 
thirty days from the date of receipt of such order, prefer an appeal to: 
(a) the Director General, if such order is passed by an officer of the Authority, 
except the Director General; 
(b) the Authority if such order is passed by the Director General; and 
(c) Chief Secretary, if such order is passed by the Authority. 
20. Recovery of fines.– The Authority shall recover the fine, fee or any other amount, 
imposed or levied, under the Act, the rules or the  regulations, as an arrears of land 
revenue. 
21. Damage to property .– (1) Any person who intentionally damages the property 
vested in the Authority or causes it to be damaged or dishonestly misappropriates or 
converts to his own use or to any other person’ s use shall be punished with 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year but which shall not be less than 
fifteen days and fine which may extend to two hundred thousand rupees but which shall 
not be less than thirty thousand rupees.  
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), the person who is 
guilty of any offence under sub -section (1) shall restore such damage to the satisfaction 
of the Authority at his cost and if he fails to do so, the Authority shall determine the cost 
involved in the restoration of the damage and such person shall be liable to pay the 
amount so determined within the time specified by the Authority. 
(3) No court shall take cognizance of an offence under the Act except on a 
complaint made in writing by the Authority or an officer authorized by the Authority for the 
purpose.  
22. Annual report .– (1) The Authority shall, within four months of the end of a 
financial year, submit its  annual performance report to Provincial Assembly of the 
Punjab with approval of the Government. 
(2) The report shall consist of: 
(a) the statement of accounts and audit reports of the Authority; 
(b) all activities, targets achieved, future plans, works done under the Act and 
its proposed projects and schemes; and  
(c) such other facts as may be ancillary to the above. 
23. Indemnity.– (1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
the Authority, Chairperson, Members, officers or employees of the Authority or any other 
person exercising any power or performing any func tion under the Act or the rules or 
regulations made there under for anything done in good faith. 
(2) No Government department or agency shall initiate any inquiry or 
investigation against the official conduct of any of the employees of the Authority withou t 
prior approval of the Authority. 
24. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of 
the Act, the Government, at any time, may make such orders or give such directions not 
contrary to the provisions of the Act, as are necessary to remove such difficulty.  
25. Overriding effect .– In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between a 
provision of the Act and a provision of any other law, the provisions of the Act shall, to 
the extent of such conflict or inconsistency, prevail. 
 
 
26. Bar of jurisdiction.– A civil court shall not entertain a suit or an application for the 
grant of injunction against any proceedings taken or order made under the Act. 
27. Power to make rules .– The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
28. Power to frame regulations .– The Authority may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, frame regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
29. Guidelines.– The Authority m ay, issue guidelines, including but not limited to a 
code of conduct, for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of its Members 
and employees under the Act, rules or regulations.