URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022

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THE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022 
(XXXVI of 2022) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent, and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of Urdu language Board 
4. Composition of the Board 
5. Resignation and Vacancy 
6. Meeting of the Board 
7. Powers and function of the Board 
8. Rules 
9. Regulations 
10. Prohibitions 
11. Removal of difficulty 
 
 
 
  
TEXT 
1
THE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022 
(XXXVI of 2022) 
    [16 November 2022] 
 
An 
Act 
to provide for strict compliance of Urdu script in the public and private sectors. 
It is necessary to preserve Urdu as an official language having the status of National 
Language of Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan and provide for matters ancillary thereto. 
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab; 
1. Short title, extent, and commencement. − (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Urdu language Act, 2022. 
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at Once. 
2. Definitions.− In this Act; 
(a) “Act” means the Urdu Language Act, 2022; 
(b) “Board” means Urdu Language Board established under this Act;  
(c) “Government” means Government of The Punjab; 
(d) “Prescribe” means regulations framed under this Act; and 
(e) “Rules” means the rules made under this Act; and 
(f) “Treasury” means any Treasury of the Province and includes a Sub-
Treasury 
3. Establishment of Urdu language Board. − (1) The Government Shall by 
notification in the official gazette establish Urdu Language Board, the Board shall be 
a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with powers, 
subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of pr operty and 
shall, by the said name, may sue or be sued. 
 (2) The Headquarters of the Board shall be in Lahore and it may set up its 
sub-offices at such place or places as it may deem fit with the prior approval of the 
Government. 
4. Composition of the Board.− The Board shall consist of the following;  
a) Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Chairperson 
b) Minister for Higher Education Member 
c) Minister of the School Education Punjab Member 
d) Minister of the Literacy & Non -Formal Basic 
Education Member 
e) Chief Secretary Government of the Punjab Member 
 
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 01 November 2022; and was deemed to have been assented to 
by Governor of the Punjab in terms of Article 116(3) of the Constitution; and was published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 16 November 2022, pp.2215-2217. 
f) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Law & 
Parliamentary Affairs Department Punjab 
g) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Higher 
education Department Punjab 
Member 
 
Member 
h) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab School 
Education Department Punjab Member/Secretary 
i) Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Member 
j) Chairman Punjab Public Service Commission Member 
k) Chairman Punjab Text Book Board Member 
l) Three persons having at least 15 years of 
experience in Teaching and researching of Urdu 
language, appointed by the Chief Minister on such 
terms and conditions as may be prescribed 
Members 
5. Resignation and Vacancy.− (1) A member of the Board other than ex -officio 
may, by writing under  his hand and address to the Chief Minister, resign from his 
office. 
 (2) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board owing to death, 
removal, or resignation shall be filled by the provision of this Act. 
6. Meeting of the Board. − (1) Meeting of t he Board shall be held at least four 
times in a calendar year, at such time and place as the Chairperson of the Board 
may determine. 
 (2) The Chairperson of the Board may delegate his power to any other 
member of the Board. 
7. Powers and function of the B oard.− For the purpose to provide the exact 
Urdu script for usage in the public and private sectors as having the status of 
National Language of Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the 
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and for development, p romotion and facilitating 
its expansion, access and use of Urdu in the province the Board shall; 
a) administer and coordinate all Government departments for the 
promotion of the Urdu language; 
b) take measures to secure and for the usage of the exact script of the 
Urdu language in the Province of Punjab; 
c) take measures for ensuring the usage of the exact script of the Urdu 
language in the Province of Punjab; 
d) advice or issue instructions to all departments of the Government to 
carry out the purpose of this Act; 
e) advise the Government on policy relating to the promotion of Pakistani 
languages, literature, and the welfare of the writers' community in the 
province; 
f) Made recommendations for the carrying out the purpose of this Act; 
g) formulate the policy to promote the Urdu language, its expansion, and 
advanced language programming in the public and private sectors; 
h) encourage, support, and facilitate, training programs, workshops, and 
symposia at provincial and regional levels in public and private 
educational institutions; 
i) establish a language laboratory, a language library, and a 
documentation Centre to  facilitate work on the exact script of the 
national language; and 
j) take measures including allocation of funds, for the award of 
scholarships and research grants  
8. Rules.− The Government may make rules to fulfill the requirement of this Act. 
9. Regulations.− The Board may frame regulations to fulfill the requirement of 
this Act. 
10. Prohibitions.− (1) There shall be a complete ban on the use of Roman or any 
other language words for expressing the script of Urdu in print media or any indoor 
or outdoor media commercial messages or campaigns in the province.  
(2) The Board shall ban using Roman or any other language words to 
express Urdu’s script. 
(3) The Board shall make an order for the removal of writing for the 
expression of Urdu transcripts mentioned in subsection (1). 
(4) Deliberately using Roman or any other language words, for expressing 
the script of Urdu or violating any provision of this section, shall be punished with a 
fine which may extend to two hundred thousand Rupees to the delinquents, to be 
deposited in Government Treasury, and impounding of such transcripts exhibitions 
material, billboard, etc. 
11. Removal of difficulty .− If any difficulty arises as to give effect to the 
provisions of this Act the Chief Minister may pass such orders a s may be necessary 
for the removal of such difficulty.