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  "id": "punjab-code-176f9cbf4fe25213",
  "title": "URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022",
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  "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/ADBQZlFuWmJcNQ--",
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  "text": "THE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022 \r\n(XXXVI of 2022) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent, and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Establishment of Urdu language Board \r\n4. Composition of the Board \r\n5. Resignation and Vacancy \r\n6. Meeting of the Board \r\n7. Powers and function of the Board \r\n8. Rules \r\n9. Regulations \r\n10. Prohibitions \r\n11. Removal of difficulty \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n  \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022 \r\n(XXXVI of 2022) \r\n    [16 November 2022] \r\n \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for strict compliance of Urdu script in the public and private sectors. \r\nIt is necessary to preserve Urdu as an official language having the status of National \r\nLanguage of Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic \r\nRepublic of Pakistan and provide for matters ancillary thereto. \r\nBe it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab; \r\n1. Short title, extent, and commencement. − (1) This Act may be cited as the \r\nUrdu language Act, 2022. \r\n(2) It shall extend 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) “Act” means the Urdu Language Act, 2022; \r\n(b) “Board” means Urdu Language Board established under this Act;  \r\n(c) “Government” means Government of The Punjab; \r\n(d) “Prescribe” means regulations framed under this Act; and \r\n(e) “Rules” means the rules made under this Act; and \r\n(f) “Treasury” means any Treasury of the Province and includes a Sub-\r\nTreasury \r\n3. Establishment of Urdu language Board. − (1) The Government Shall by \r\nnotification in the official gazette establish Urdu Language Board, the Board shall be \r\na body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with powers, \r\nsubject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of pr operty and \r\nshall, by the said name, may sue or be sued. \r\n (2) The Headquarters of the Board shall be in Lahore and it may set up its \r\nsub-offices at such place or places as it may deem fit with the prior approval of the \r\nGovernment. \r\n4. Composition of the Board.− The Board shall consist of the following;  \r\na) Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Chairperson \r\nb) Minister for Higher Education Member \r\nc) Minister of the School Education Punjab Member \r\nd) Minister of the Literacy & Non -Formal Basic \r\nEducation Member \r\ne) Chief Secretary Government of the Punjab Member \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 01 November 2022; and was deemed to have been assented to \r\nby Governor of the Punjab in terms of Article 116(3) of the Constitution; and was published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated: 16 November 2022, pp.2215-2217. \r\nf) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Law & \r\nParliamentary Affairs Department Punjab \r\ng) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Higher \r\neducation Department Punjab \r\nMember \r\n \r\nMember \r\nh) Secretary to the Government of the Punjab School \r\nEducation Department Punjab Member/Secretary \r\ni) Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Member \r\nj) Chairman Punjab Public Service Commission Member \r\nk) Chairman Punjab Text Book Board Member \r\nl) Three persons having at least 15 years of \r\nexperience in Teaching and researching of Urdu \r\nlanguage, appointed by the Chief Minister on such \r\nterms and conditions as may be prescribed \r\nMembers \r\n5. Resignation and Vacancy.− (1) A member of the Board other than ex -officio \r\nmay, by writing under  his hand and address to the Chief Minister, resign from his \r\noffice. \r\n (2) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board owing to death, \r\nremoval, or resignation shall be filled by the provision of this Act. \r\n6. Meeting of the Board. − (1) Meeting of t he Board shall be held at least four \r\ntimes in a calendar year, at such time and place as the Chairperson of the Board \r\nmay determine. \r\n (2) The Chairperson of the Board may delegate his power to any other \r\nmember of the Board. \r\n7. Powers and function of the B oard.− For the purpose to provide the exact \r\nUrdu script for usage in the public and private sectors as having the status of \r\nNational Language of Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the \r\nIslamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and for development, p romotion and facilitating \r\nits expansion, access and use of Urdu in the province the Board shall; \r\na) administer and coordinate all Government departments for the \r\npromotion of the Urdu language; \r\nb) take measures to secure and for the usage of the exact script of the \r\nUrdu language in the Province of Punjab; \r\nc) take measures for ensuring the usage of the exact script of the Urdu \r\nlanguage in the Province of Punjab; \r\nd) advice or issue instructions to all departments of the Government to \r\ncarry out the purpose of this Act; \r\ne) advise the Government on policy relating to the promotion of Pakistani \r\nlanguages, literature, and the welfare of the writers' community in the \r\nprovince; \r\nf) Made recommendations for the carrying out the purpose of this Act; \r\ng) formulate the policy to promote the Urdu language, its expansion, and \r\nadvanced language programming in the public and private sectors; \r\nh) encourage, support, and facilitate, training programs, workshops, and \r\nsymposia at provincial and regional levels in public and private \r\neducational institutions; \r\ni) establish a language laboratory, a language library, and a \r\ndocumentation Centre to  facilitate work on the exact script of the \r\nnational language; and \r\nj) take measures including allocation of funds, for the award of \r\nscholarships and research grants  \r\n8. Rules.− The Government may make rules to fulfill the requirement of this Act. \r\n9. Regulations.− The Board may frame regulations to fulfill the requirement of \r\nthis Act. \r\n10. Prohibitions.− (1) There shall be a complete ban on the use of Roman or any \r\nother language words for expressing the script of Urdu in print media or any indoor \r\nor outdoor media commercial messages or campaigns in the province.  \r\n(2) The Board shall ban using Roman or any other language words to \r\nexpress Urdu’s script. \r\n(3) The Board shall make an order for the removal of writing for the \r\nexpression of Urdu transcripts mentioned in subsection (1). \r\n(4) Deliberately using Roman or any other language words, for expressing \r\nthe script of Urdu or violating any provision of this section, shall be punished with a \r\nfine which may extend to two hundred thousand Rupees to the delinquents, to be \r\ndeposited in Government Treasury, and impounding of such transcripts exhibitions \r\nmaterial, billboard, etc. \r\n11. Removal of difficulty .− If any difficulty arises as to give effect to the \r\nprovisions of this Act the Chief Minister may pass such orders a s may be necessary \r\nfor the removal of such difficulty.",
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