{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-175ef2603536956d", "title": "PUNJAB HOLY QURAN (PRINTING AND RECORDING) ACT 2011", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/BzICNwQ1U2s-", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:57:00Z", "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": "75b634a1518d731671e3a5fb9878a6332d880817aaed969af98547df4fa5b610", "source_sha256": "75b634a1518d731671e3a5fb9878a6332d880817aaed969af98547df4fa5b610", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-175ef2603536956d:sha256:75b634a1518d731671e3a5fb9878a6332d880817aaed969af98547df4fa5b610", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE PUNJAB HOLY QURAN (PRINTING AND RECORDING) \r\nACT, 2011 \r\n(XIII of 2011) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Registration of publishers and recording companies \r\n4. Quran Board \r\n5. Publishing of the Holy Quran \r\n6. Literal distortion of the text of ayah \r\n7. Translation or interpretation of the Holy Quran contrary to belief of \r\nMuslims \r\n8. Disposal of damaged or shaheed copies \r\n9. Penalty \r\n10. Offences by corporations \r\n10A. Cognizance of offences \r\n10B. Trial of offences \r\n11. Power to make rules \r\n12. Repeal \r\nSCHEDULE \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB HOLY QURAN (PRINTING AND RECORDING) ACT, 2011 \r\n(XIII of 2011) \r\n[2nd May, 2011] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\n \r\nto ensure publication of the text of the Holy Quran free from errors of printing and \r\nrecording and proper disposal of damaged or shaheed copies of the Holy Quran. \r\nPreamble.– Whereas it is expedient to provide for publication of the text of the Holy \r\nQuran free from errors of printing and recording, for proper disposal of damaged or \r\nshaheed copies of the Holy Quran, and for ancillary matters; \r\n It is enacted as follows:– \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be c ited as the \r\nPunjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Act, 2011. \r\n (2) It extends to the whole of the Punjab. \r\n (3) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions.– In this Act– \r\n(a) “Ayah” means a sentence, clause or verse of the Holy Quran at the \r\nend of which the small round circle is given in the standard copy; \r\n(b) “damaged or shaheed copy of the Holy Quran ” includes a sub -\r\nstandard copy of the Holy Quran, damaged or worn out pages of the \r\nHoly Quran and other pages containing Quranic verses; \r\n(c) “disposal” means collection and storage of a damaged or shaheed \r\ncopy of the Holy Quran and includes its burial under the ground or its \r\ndisposal in the sea or river or recycling it in such manner as conforms \r\nto its holiness and sanctity; \r\n(d) “Holy Quran” means the Holy Quran in the Arabic text, published in a \r\ncomplete form, or in the form of parts (Paaras) or chapters (Surahs), \r\nbut does not include extracts published in a text-book, a prayer-book or \r\na religious treatise; \r\n(e) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules made under the Act; \r\n(f) “publisher” means a person or an association of persons registered \r\nunder section 3 as publisher of the Holy Quran; \r\n(g) “Quran Board” means the Quran Board constituted under section 4; \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 30 March 2011; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 30 April 2011; \r\nand published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 2 May 2011, pages 38643-38646. \r\n(h) “record of the Holy Quran” means the Holy Quran recited in human \r\nvoice and recorded by any modern means of recording , conforming to \r\nthe text contained in the standard copy; \r\n(i) “recording company” means a person or an association of persons \r\nregistered under section 3 as a recording company; and \r\n(j) “standard copy” means a copy of the Holy Quran authenticated by the \r\nQuran Board as corrected and free from errors of printing. \r\n2[3. Registration of publishers and recording companies. - The Punjab Quran \r\nBoard may in the prescribed manner and on payment of prescribed fee and \r\nfulfillment of the prescribed terms and conditions, register a publisher or a recording \r\ncompany for purposes of publishing or recording of the Holy Quran.] \r\n4. Quran Board.– 3[(1) The Chief Minister shall constitute a Punjab Quran Board \r\ncomprising prominent Ulama, Huffaz and Qaris of all schools of thought amongst \r\nMuslims.] \r\n (2) The Government shall cause a copy of the Holy Quran to be prepared, \r\nand shall forward it to the Quran Board for authentication as a standard copy. \r\n 4[(3) The Punjab Quran Board shall keep the standard copy in the \r\nGovernment archives for safe custody.] \r\n 5[(4) The Punjab Quran Board shall recommend steps for error-free printing \r\nand publication or recording of the Holy Quran and shall supervise the work of error -\r\nfree printing and publication or recording of the Holy Quran.] \r\n (5) The Quran Board shall perform such other functions as may be \r\nprescribed. \r\n5. Publishing of the Holy Quran .– (1) A publisher may print the Holy Quran in \r\noff-set, photostat, photo-block or any other modern system of printing but he shall \r\nnot print it in litho process. \r\n6[(2) In printing the Holy Quran, a publisher shall not use paper prohibited by \r\nthe Punjab Quran Board.] \r\n (3) The publisher shall get his specimen copy and every recording \r\ncompany shall get its specimen record of the Holy Quran compared with the text of \r\nthe standard copy by a person holding a diploma from a religious institution or a \r\ncertificate of Moulvi Fazil or a qualified Qari who is also a Hafiz or a person trained in \r\nthe job of proof reading in Arabic and have a certificate recorded by such a person at \r\nthe end to the effect that the text and references do not contain any error. \r\n \r\n2Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.2. \r\n3Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.3. \r\n4Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.3. \r\n5Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.3. \r\n6Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.4. \r\n (4) The publisher shall ensure– \r\n(a) that the serial number of every chapter (Surah) is printed on every \r\npage and the serial number of every Ayah is inserted within the small \r\nround circle of every Ayah; \r\n(b) that the cover page of every edition of the Holy Quran clearly bears the \r\nname of the publisher, the name of printing p ress, and the year of \r\npublication; \r\n(c) that every page of the Holy Quran bears the indication given in the \r\nSchedule; and \r\n(d) on detection of any error or omission in the printed Holy Quran, the leaf \r\non which it occurs is replaced by a fresh leaf free from such error or \r\nomission, in each such copy. \r\n (5) The publisher shall not be penalized for non compliance with the \r\nprovisions of clauses (a) and (c) of sub-section (4) unle ss he is found negligent in \r\nthe performance of his duty. \r\n (6) No translation of the Holy Quran shall be published or recorded without \r\nits Arabic text. \r\n (7) No record of the Holy Q uran which injures its sanctity, in any form , \r\nshall be prepared. \r\n6. Literal d istortion of the text of ayah .– Where, in a copy or record of the \r\nHoly Quran or in any extract thereof published in a text -book, a prayer book, a \r\nreligious treatise or otherwise, any Ayah has been literally distorted, either by \r\nchange of a word, or of sequence, or of Ea’rab, as to alter its meaning, the printer or \r\npublisher thereof, or, as the case may be, the recording company, whether or not \r\nregistered under this A ct shall, unless he or it prove s that such distortion occurred \r\nonly owing to a printing or mechanical error, be liable to the punishment provided for \r\nin section 9. \r\n7[7. Translation or interpretation of the Holy Quran contrary to belief of \r\nMuslims.– 8[(1)] Where, in a copy or record of the Holy Quran, or in any extract \r\nthereof published in a text book, a prayer book, a religious treatise or any other book, \r\nan Ayah is translated, interpreted or commented upon, disseminated, uploaded, \r\nshared, produced, reproduced, converted into portable document through any \r\ninformation system or electronic device in to cyberspace by any person contrary to \r\nthe belief of Muslims, the author, the printer or publisher, or the person who prepared \r\nthe record, downloader, creator, possessor, modifier, disseminator whatsoever, \r\nwhether or not registered under this Act, shall, unless he proves that such translation, \r\ninterpretation, commentary, dissemination, uploading, sharing, production, \r\nreproduction or conversion occurred only owing to a printing or mechanical error, be \r\nliable to punishment provided for in section 9.] \r\n \r\n7Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2021 (XX of 2021), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30th June 2021, pp. 10051-10052 s.2. \r\n8Inserted the expression “(1)” by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printin g and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), \r\npublished in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.5. \r\n 9[(2) Whoever willfully degrades, derogates and disrespect the Holy Quran \r\nor any part thereof while putting or writing it on any part of the human body in \r\nsacrilegious manner in any form of printing and recording (audio & video) including \r\nany electronic form through modern electronic devices or techniques on internet and \r\nsocial media for any unlawful purpose shall be liable to be punished under section 9 \r\nof this Act or any other law for the time being in force.] \r\n10[8. Disposal of damaged or shaheed copies. - A p ublisher or a recording \r\ncompany shall make suitable arrangements in the prescribed manner for disposal of \r\na damaged or shaheed copy of the Holy Quran and shall comply with the directions \r\nof the Punjab Quran Board issued for proper disposal of a damaged or shaheed \r\ncopy of the Holy Quran.] \r\n9. Penalty.– (1) A printer, publisher or a proprietor of a recording company who \r\ncontravenes any provision of this Act or the rules made thereunder, or a person in \r\nwhose voice a record is prepared, or a person who has certified under sub-section (3) \r\nof section 5, a specimen copy or record of the Holy Quran which is not in conformity \r\nwith the provisions of this Act , 11[shall be punished with imprisonment which may \r\nextend to seven years but which shall not be less than three ye ars or with fine which \r\nshall not be less than one hundred thousand rupees, or with both.] \r\n 12[(1A) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 7 with the intent to use \r\nthe same in derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose, shall be punished with \r\nimprisonment for life.] \r\n 13[(2) The Punjab Quran Board may cancel the registration of a publisher or \r\na recording company which is convicted of an offence under sub-section (1).] \r\n10. Offences by corporations .– If the person guilty of an offence un der sub -\r\nsection (1) of section 9 is a company or other body corporate, every proprietor, \r\ndirector, manager, secretary or other officer of the company or body corporate shall, \r\nunless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he \r\nexercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence, be deemed to \r\nbe guilty of such offence. \r\n14[10A. Cognizance of offences. – All offences punishable under this Act shall be \r\ncognizable and non-bailable. \r\n15[10AA. Designation of Law Enforcement Authority and Constitution of \r\nSpecial Cell. - (1) The Government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, \r\n \r\n9Added by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.5. \r\n10Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.6. \r\n11Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2021 (XX of 2021), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30th June 2021, pp. 10051-10052 s.3. \r\n12Inserted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and R ecording) (Amendment) Act 2021 ( XX of 2021), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30th June 2021, pp. 10051-10052 s.3. \r\n13Substituted by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.7. \r\n14Added by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2021 ( XX of 2021), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30th June 2021, pp. 10051-10052 s.4. \r\ndesignate any law enforcement agency or department for carrying out the purposes \r\nof this Act. \r\n(2) The Chief Minister shall, in consultation with the Punjab Q uran Board, \r\nestablish a Special Cell to be headed by the Director General appointed by the Chief \r\nMinister from amongst the officers in BS -20 preferably an officer having knowledge \r\nof information technology. \r\n(3) The Special Cell shall consist of such membe rs and officers as the \r\nChief Minister may determine. \r\n (4) The Special Cell shall have the powers and function to: \r\na) conduct research and ensure that the provisions of this Act are \r\ncomplied with; \r\nb) analyze and enquire complaints forwarded by the Punjab Quran \r\nBoard regarding commission of an offence under this Act; \r\nc) seek record and assistance from any agency or person; \r\nd) take up such other matters as may be specified through rules \r\nmade in exercise of the powers conferred under section 11 of \r\nthis Act; and \r\ne) submit findings and recommendations to the Punjab Quran \r\nBoard for further decision.] \r\n16[10AAA. Proceeding against Offenders. - (1) If the Punjab Quran Board does not \r\nagree with the findings / recommendations of the Special Cell, it may reject all or any \r\npart of the report so submitted and may advise the Special Cell to examine the \r\nmatter again. \r\n(2) The Punjab Quran Board may recommend legal action to any Law \r\nEnforcement Agency under this Act.] \r\n10B. Trial of offences. – The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 \r\n(V of 1898) and the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (PO No. 10 of 1984) shall \r\nmutatis mutandis apply for the purpose of trial of the offences under this Act.] \r\n11. Power to make rules.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the \r\nofficial Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. \r\n (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing \r\npower, such rules may provide for– \r\n(a) the constitution and functions of the Quran Board; \r\n(b) the inspection of the copies and records of the Holy Quran printed or \r\nprepared before the commencement of this Act; \r\n(c) the prohibition of the sale of copies and records of the Holy Quran \r\ncontaining errors; \r\n \r\n15Added by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amendment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.8. \r\n16Added by the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) (Amend ment) Act 2022 (XLV of 2022), published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated: 30 December 2022, pp. 3003-3005, s.8. \r\n(d) the checking of all such copies and records of the Holy Qura n as have \r\nnot been certified under this Act as free from errors, at the expense of \r\nthe publisher or recording company; \r\n(e) the seizure of such copies or records of the Holy Quran in which there \r\nare errors which cannot, in the opinion of the prescribed aut hority, \r\neasily be corrected in print or record; and \r\n(f) the disposal of a damaged or shaheed copy of the Holy Quran. \r\n12. Repeal.– (1) The Publication of Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and \r\nRecording Errors) Act 1973 (LIV of 1973) , in its application to the Province of the \r\nPunjab, is hereby repealed. \r\n (2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Publication of Holy Quran \r\n(Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) Act 1973 (LIV of 1973), anything done \r\nor action taken under the repealed Act, shall have effect as if the thing was done or \r\nthe action was taken under this Act. \r\n \r\n \r\nSCHEDULE \r\n[see section 5 (4) (c)] \r\nUpper Side of the Page: \r\nSerial Number of Surah with \r\ncaption as, \r\n \r\n“________البقرہ ______”. \r\nPage \r\nNumber, \r\n \r\n“______”. \r\nSerial Number of Paara with \r\nopening words as, \r\n \r\n“_______\r\n ______”. \r\n \r\nLower Side of the Page: \r\nSerial Number of Surah with \r\nSerial Number of concluding \r\nAyah on the page as, \r\n \r\n“_____سورہ۔۲ آیتہ۔۹____”. \r\nManzil Serial Number of Surah with \r\nopening Ayah on the page as, \r\n \r\n“________سورہ۔۵ آیتہ۔۵_____”.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; 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