PUNJAB AAB-E-PAK AUTHORITY ACT 2019

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PUNJAB AAB-E-PAK AUTHORITY ACT 2019 
(XII of 2019) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Establishment of the Authority. 
4. Functions and powers of the Authority. 
5. Governing Body. 
6. Business of the authority. 
7. Meetings of the Governing Body. 
8. Chairman. 
9. Removal of Chairman or member of the Governing Body. 
10. Chief Operating Officer. 
11. Secretary. 
12. Appointment of Advisors and Consultants. 
13. Committees. 
14. Transfer of water supply function to the Authority. 
15. Appointment of Officers of the Authority. 
16. Immunity of the Chairman and Employees of the Authority. 
17. Fund. 
18. Budget, Audit and Accounts. 
19. Report to be furnished to the Government. 
20. Rules. 
21. Regulations. 
22. Removal of difficulties. 
 
 
TEXT 
1
PUNJAB AAB-E-PAK AUTHORITY ACT 2019 
(XII of 2019) 
[25th April, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of the Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority. 
2
[It is necessary to establish the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority responsible for 
provision of clean drinking water to the people of the Punjab, in consultation with the 
relevant entities including the local governments; and for the matters connected 
therewith and ancillary thereto.] 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and comm encement.– (1) This Act may be cited as  the 
Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority Act 2019.  
 (2) It shall extend to whole of the Punjab.  
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In the Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority Act 2019; 
(b) “advisor” means an advisor appointed to assist the Authority; 
(c) “Authority” means the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority established u nder 
section 3 of the Act; 
(d) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Governing Body; 
3
[(dd) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898);] 
(e) “employee” means an employee of the Authority; 
4
[(ee) “facilities” means the premises, installations, equipment, storage, 
packaging, static or mobile, piped or otherwise supply networks, 
materials registered or licensed under the Act for  purposes of provision 
of clean drinking water;] 
(f) “Fund” means the fund established under section 5[17] of the Act; 
                                                      
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 14 March 2019; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab 
on 23 April 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 25 April 2019, pp.3027-3032. 
2Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.2 
3Inserted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.3 
4Inserted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in t he Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.3 
5Substituted for the figure “19” by the Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 (XXVII of 2019), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.3 
 
 
(g) “Governing Body” mea ns the Governing Body constituted  under 
section 5 of the Act; 
(h) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(i) “local g overnment” means a local g overnment established under the 
law for the time being in force; 
(j) “member” means the member of the Governing Body and  includes 
the Chairman; 
(k) “Patron in Chief” means Governor of the Punjab; 
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by  the rules or  the regulations made 
under the Act; 
(m) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; and 
(n) “rules” means the rules made under the Act. 
3. Establishment of the Authority .– (1) The Government shall, by notification 
in the official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Punjab Aab -e-Pak 
Authority. 
 (2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession 
and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property  subject to 
the approval by the Government, and shall by the said name sue and be sued. 
4. Functions and powers of the Authority .– (1) The Authority shall 6[in the 
prescribed manner,] perform the following functions with regard to one or more areas 
entrusted to it by the G overnment or the relevant local government  with the 
agreement of the Authority: 
(i) to provide  sustainable supply of clean drinking water to each 
and every individual; 
(ii) to undertake or engage i n such activities as are necessary for  
sustainable efficient and affordable clean drinking water; 
(iii) to conduct surveys, studies and research; 
(iv) to devise strategy, plan and actionable parameters for survey of 
water contamination and for provision of clean drinking wa ter by 
installation of water filtration and purification plants; 
(v) to reduce, suspend or disconnect the water supply in the event 
of contravention of the provisions of the  Act or the rules or 
regulations made thereunder; 
(vi) 
7
[to design, fabricate, construct, install, build, commission, test, 
operate and maintain or cause to design, fabricate, construct, 
install, build, commission, test, operate and maintain schemes 
and water filtration plants for drinking water;] 
                                                      
6Inserted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
7Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
 
 
(vii) 
8
[to develop or cause to develop an infrastruct ure as needed to 
provide drinking water, including setting up of bottling plants, 
and testing laboratories;] 
(viii) to safeguard human health including reduction in the mortality 
rate associated with lack of access of safe drinking water, 
inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene by improving the quality 
and access to clean drinking water wh ich shall lead to reduction  
of water borne diseases; 
(ix) to educate and involve the community in the development of 
filtration plants and water supply schemes to devise suitable 
arrangements for improving access to clean drinking water; 
(x) to carry out improvements, management, administration, 
supervision, execution and control of works and projects for 
providing clean drinking water; 
(xi) 
9
[to devise and develop a model of designing, supervision, 
monitoring and evaluation of the execution of clean drinking 
water projects and their quality assurance system;] 
(xii) to increase participation in inter national collaborative projects  
wherever necessary or desirable 10[; and] 
11
[(xiii) to register or  cause to register facilities for provision of clean 
drinking water; 
(xiv) to issue licenses to facilities engaged for provision of clean 
drinking water; 
(xv) to maintain or cause to maintain a record including an electronic 
database of all registrations, licenses, inspections, and matters 
related or ancillary thereto; and 
(xvi) to prescribe standards for clean drinking water.] 
 
12
[(2) The Authority may also perform the following functions in such manner 
as may be prescribed:  
(i) to liaise with companies, bodies, associations, societies, 
corporations, authorities, agencies, trust, charities, 
organizations, institutions whether in Pakistan or 
elsewhere, engaged in providing clean drinking water;  
(ii) to aid, benevolent, charitable, national or other institutions 
or the objects which are engaged in providing clean 
                                                      
8Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
9Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
10Substituted for the full stop,  by Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 (XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
11Inserted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
12Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.4 
 
 
drinking water and which in the opinion of the Authority 
warrant support; 
(iii) to prepare, print, publish, broadcast and issue or cause to 
prepare, print, publish, broadcast and issue papers, 
surveys, journals, magazines, periodical reports, articles, 
bulletins, short message service, newsletters or 
conferences, audio -visual programmes, materials, 
graphics, statistics, advisories for circulation and 
communication, through any appropriate means, 
including electronic means, for the information, guidance, 
awareness, and education of the general public;  
(iv) to provide a platform for research and development 
regarding provision of clean drinking water; and  
(v) to prepare or cause to prepare databank, s patial data 
infrastructure, and disruptive technologies’ model for the 
transparency and optimization of services’ delivery in the 
discharge of its functions under the Act; 
(vii) to execute specific drinking water supply projects of the 
Government or the concerned local governments with the 
agreement of the Authority; 
(viii) to utilize existing surveys and databases of public health, 
including ONE-HEALTH of departments and agencies of 
the Government for matters related thereof or ancillary 
thereto, for the purpose of the Act; and 
(ix) capacity building of the relevant institutions and the 
human resource to carry out its functions under the Act.] 
5. Governing Body.– (1) The management and administration of the affairs of 
the Authority shall vest in the Governing Body. 
 (2) The Governing Body shall consist of 
13
[eleven] members including the 
Chairman, and the members shall be appointed in the manner as may be prescribed 
and until so prescribed as may be determined by the Government.  
 
14
[(3) The Patron in Chief may  provide strategic guidance to the Authority, 
and he may, from time to time, review the  performance of the Authority to achieve 
the purposes of the Act.] 
 
15
[(4) The Chief Executive Officer of the Authority shall act as Secretary of 
the Governing Body and the Governing Body shall have the following five  ex officio 
members: 
(a) Principal Secretary to Governor of the Punjab; 
                                                      
13Substituted for the word “nine” by the Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 (XXVII of 2019), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.5 
14Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.5 
15Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.5 
 
 
(b) Secretary to the Government, Planning and Development 
Department; 
(c) Secretary to the Government, Finance Department; 
(d) Secretary to the Government, Housing, Urban Development and 
Public Health Engineering Department; and 
(e) Secretary to the Government , Local Government and 
Community Development Department.] 
(5) A member of the Governing Body shall hold office for a period of three 
years and  shall be eligible for re-appointment for another term.  
(6) A member, other than an ex-officio member, may by writing under his 
hand, resign from his office. 
(7) The Government may, if it considers  expedient to do so, remove any 
non-official member of the Authority without assigning any reason. 
(8) The m ember, other than an ex -officio m ember, shall cease to hold 
office if he absents himself from  three consecutive meetings  of the Governing Body 
or from all the meetings of the Governing Body for a continuous period of three 
months, whichever is longer. 
6. Business of the authority .– (1) The meetings or the business of the 
Authority shall be conducted in such manner and procedure as may be prescribed. 
 (2) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid by reason of any 
vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Governing Body. 
7. Meetings of the Governing Body .– (1) The Chairman, or in his absence a 
member elected by the m embers present, shall preside at the meetings of the 
Authority. 
 (2) The quorum for any meeting of the Governing Body shall be five 
members. 
8. Chairman.– 
16
[(1) The Chairman shall be elected from amongst the non -
official members of the Governing Body for a non-extendable term of one year. 
(2) The Chairman shall perform such functions as may be entrusted to him 
by the Governing Body from time to time.] 
 (3) 
17
[* * * * * * * * * * *] 
 (4) 
18
[* * * * * * * * * * *] 
 (5) The Chairman shall draw such salary or remuneration as the 
Government may determine. 
                                                      
16Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.6 
17Omitted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.6 
18Omitted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.6 
 
 
9. Removal of Chairman  or m ember of the Governing Body .– 
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 5, the Government shall remove the 
Chairman or an appointed member from office if he: 
(a) in the opinion of Government, fails to discharge his duties or becomes 
incapable of discharging his duties under the Act;  
(b) has become insolvent; 
(c) has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude; 
(d) has knowingly acquired or continued to hold without the permissi on in 
writing of the Government or the Patron in Chief directly or indirectly or 
through a partner, any share or interest in any contract or e mployment 
with or on behalf of A uthority, in any land or property which in his 
knowledge, is likely to be beneficial for him as a result of operation of 
the Authority.  
10. 
19
[Chief Executive Officer].– (1) There shall be a 
20
[Chief Executive Officer] of 
the Authority, who shall be appointed by the Government on such terms and  
conditions as the Government may determine. 
 (2) Subject to the direction and cont rol of the C hairman, the 
21
[Chief 
Executive Officer] shall have the general and active management of the business of 
the Authority and shall see that all  orders and resolutions of the Governing B ody are 
carried into effect.  
 (3)  The [Chief Executive Officer], may execute contracts,  deeds and other 
instruments on behalf of the Authority  as are necessary and appropriate, subje ct to 
approval of the Chairman.  
 (4) The 
22
[Chief Executive Officer] shall also exercise such powers and 
perform such functions as may be prescribed by regulatio ns or assigned by the 
Authority.  
 (5) The Government shall determine the  remuneration for the 
23
[Chief 
Executive Officer]. 
 
24
[(6) In addition to the powers and functions mentioned in subsection (2), (3) 
and (4), the Chief Executive Officer shall: 
(a) prepare and submit to the Governing Body a strategic plan for 
operation, management and functioning of the Authority and 
                                                      
19Substituted for the words “Chief Operating Officer” by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 
2019), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
20Substituted for the words “Chief Operating Officer” by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 
2019), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
21Substituted for the words “Chief Operating Officer” by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 
2019), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
22Substituted for the words “Chief Operating Officer” by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 
2019), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
23Substituted for the words “Chief Operating Officer” by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 
2019), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
24Added by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.7 
 
 
annual updates of the plan with respect to the major functions 
and operations of the Authority; 
(b)  prepare and submit to the Governing B ody proposals with 
respect to such grants and allotments, contracts, other financial 
assistance, and designation of positions as are necessary or 
appropriate to carry out the objectives of the Authority; 
(c)  after receiving an approved proposal from the G overning Body, 
make such grants and allotments, enter into such contracts, 
award such other financial assistance, make such payments in 
lump sum or installments, and in advance or by way of 
reimbursement, and in the case of financial assistance 
otherwise authorized under the Act with necessary adjustments 
on account of overpayments and underpayments, and designate 
such  positions as are necessary  or  appropriate  to  carry  out  
the effective functioning of the Authority; 
(d)  prepare and submit to the Governing Body a proposal regarding, 
the regulations and such other standards, policies, procedures, 
programs, and  initiatives as are necessary or appropriate for 
management and operations of the Authority, and after receiving 
and reviewing of an approved proposal shall establish and 
administer such standards, policies, procedures and programs 
as may be approved;  
(e)  prepare and submit to the Governing body an annual report on 
actions taken to achieve the goal of the authority under the Act, 
including an assessment of the progress made toward achieving 
those goals and the actions to be taken in the coming year 
toward achieving those goal; and  
(f)  prepare and submit to the Governing Body an annual report, 
and  such  interim reports as may be necessary, de scribing 
the major actions with respect to the Officers of the Authority, 
and with respect to implemented standards, policies, 
procedures, programs, and initiatives.] 
25
[11. Registration and licensing of facilities .- (1) The Authority may , on such fee , 
register or license such number of facilities in such manner as may be prescribed to 
ensure provision of clean drinking water. 
 (2) A facility registered or license d under subsection (1) shall comply with 
such standards of clean drinking water as may be prescribed.] 
12. Appointment of Advisors and Consultants.– The Authority may employ 
suitably qualified advisors and consultants to transact any business or to do any act 
required to be transacted or done in exercise of powers or performance of it s 
functions under the Act. 
                                                      
25Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.8 
 
 
13. Committees.– (1) Subject to the Act and the rules, the Authority may appoint 
such committees a s may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its duties and 
performance of its functions under the Act.  
 (2) The Authority shall have the powers to co -opt as members of any 
committee appointed under subsection (1), such  number of persons who are not 
members of the Governing Body as it may think fit and the person so co -opted shall 
have the right to attend the meetings of the committee, and take part in the 
proceedings of the committee. 
14. Transfer of water supply functi on to the Authority.– (1) Where an area 
has been entrusted to the Authority for purposes of water supply, the respective local 
government shall not undertake drinking water supply functions for such period as 
the Government may notify: 
Provided that such period shall not exceed two years without permission of 
the relevant local government.   
 (2) Notwithstanding anyth ing contained in subsection (1), the Authority 
shall be responsible to the respective local government or where no local 
government is present to the Government for the due discharg e of its water supply 
functions.  
 (3) The Authority shall perform its fu nctions in liaison with Housing, Urban 
Development and  Public Health Engineering Department  of the Government  
whenever and wherever required.  
15. Appointment of Officers of the Authorit y.– (1) The officers of the A uthority 
shall be appointed in the prescribed manner.  
 (2) Direct appointments in the Authority shall be made through open 
competition.  
16. Immunity of the Chairman and Employees of the Authority.– (1) No suit or 
prosecution shall lie: 
(a) against the Authority for any act which in good faith is done or 
purported to be done by the Authority under this Act; or 
(b) against the Chairman, m ember of the Governing Body, officer, 
servant, Employee or agent for any act which in good faith is done 
or purported to be done by him under th e Act or on the direction of 
the Governing Body. 
(2) Any expense incurred by such person as is referred to in subsection (1) 
in any suit or prosecution brought against him before any court in respect of any act 
which is done by him under the Act or on the direction of the Governing Body shall, if 
the court holds that the act was done in good faith, be paid out of the funds of the 
Authority. 
 
 
17. Fund.– 
26
[(1) There shall be established a Fund to be known as the Punjab 
Aab-e-Pak Authority Fund which shall be administered a nd controlled by the 
Authority. 
(2) The Fund shall consist of: 
(a) budgetary releases from the Government; 
(b) grants made by the Federal Government, the 
Government or any other authority or agency, including 
international agencies and donors; 
(c) all such sums of money as may be determined from time 
to time by the Government; 
(d) all such sums of money as may be received by the 
Authority in the exercise, discharge and performance of 
its powers, functions and duties, including levies, cess, 
taxes, penalties etc.; 
(e) money received through sale of clean drinking water; 
(f) donations, if received from Pakistanis, including 
expatriate Pakistanis; 
(g) fee and charges collected and profits earned by the 
Authority;  
(h) and income from any other source.] 
(3) The Fund shall be kept in such custody, utilized and regulated in  such 
manner as may be prescribed by the Government. 
27
[(4) There shall be paid out of the fund of the Authority all such sums of 
money required to defray the expenditures incurred by the Authority in the exercise, 
discharge and performance of its powers and functions.] 
18. Budget, Audit and Accounts. – (1) The Authority shall prepare, in such form 
and at such time in each financial year, as may be prescribed, its budget for the next 
financial year, showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Authority.  
 (2) The Authority shall cause its accounts to be kept in such form and 
manner as may be determined by the Government.  
 (3) The books of accounts of the Authority shall be kept at the head office 
of the Authority. 
 (4) In addition to the requirement of the Government, the Authority shall 
also have its annual Audit done by an independent Chartered Accountant to be 
appointed by the Authority. 
28
[18A. Appointment of Inspectors.– (1) The Authority may appoint or designate as 
many persons as Inspectors as may be necessary  to carry out the purposes of the 
Act in such manner as may be prescribed.  
                                                      
26Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.9 
27Substituted by the Punjab Aab-e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 (VIII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 17 August 2019, pp. 309-315, s.9 
 
 
(2) An Inspector shall have such qualifications and experience as may be 
prescribed but a person who has any financial interest in any matter regulated under 
the Act shall not be appointed or designated as an Inspector.  
(3) The Authority  may, with the approval o f the Government , place the 
control and administration of an Inspectors with a local government to such extent as 
it may deem appropriate. 
18B. Penalties.– (1) A person in charge  of a registered or licensed  facility, who 
contravenes any provision of the Act , the rules , the regulations or any order made 
under the Act , shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 
one year or with fine which may extend to rupees two hund red thousand  or with 
both. 
(2) If a facility which contravenes any of the provision s of the Act is a 
company, every director, manager, secretary or other officer or agent of such 
company shall be deemed to be guilty of such contravention. 
18C. Tribunal.– (1) The Government may , by notification  in the official G azette, 
constitute, for the whole or any part of the Province, a Tribunal consisting of not less 
than one technical and one judicial member  in such manner  and to perform  such 
functions as may be prescribed.  
(2) An offence punishable under the Act shall be exclusively triable by a 
Tribunal constituted under the Act 
(3) A person who is sentenced by the Tribunal, may, within thirty days of 
the sentence, prefer an appeal to the Lahore High Court.  
18D. Procedure.– (1) An offence under the Act shall be cognizable and bailable.  
(2) The procedure for trial of offences under the Act shall generally be the 
same as is laid down in the Code for trials on the basis of a police report.  
(3) Nothing in this section shall pr eclude the Tribunal from following the 
procedure laid down in the Code for summary trials. 
18E. Bar of jurisdiction.– No order made in exercise of any power conferred by or 
under the Act shall be called in question in any Court except in the manner provided 
for under the Act.  
18F. Burden of proof .– Where any person is prosecuted for contravening any 
order made under the  Act or for contravening the Act, the burden of proof that he 
acted in accordance with the Act shall be on tha t person unless such a burden is  
inconvenient for the person to discharge. 
18G. Act to have overriding effect .– The provisions of the Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything contrary conta ined in any other law  for the time being in 
force.] 
                                                                                                                                                                     
28Inserted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.10 
 
 
29
[19. Annual report.– (1) The Authority shall submit an annual report of its activities 
to the Government at the end of each financial year. 
 (2) The Government shall lay the annual report of the Authority in the 
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab within ninety days of its receipt from the authority.] 
30
[20. Power to make rules.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purpose of the Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
provision, such rules may provide for: 
(a) the manner of keeping of accounts; 
(b) qualification and procedure to be followed for appointment or 
recruitment of advisers, consultants, experts, technical staff, 
inspectors and analysts; 
(c) terms and conditions of employment or service of employees; 
(d) date on which  and the f orm in which the annual budget 
statement of the Authority shall be submitted to the Government 
each year; 
(e) procedure for appropriation and re -appropriation of moneys at 
the disposal of the Authority; 
(f) form and manner in which the accounts of receipts and 
expenditure of the moneys shall be kept; 
(g) such other matters relating to the administration of the Authority 
as the Government may think fit; and 
(h) procedure to be followed  in the conduct of business by 
committees constituted under the Act.] 
31
[21.  Power to frame regulations .– Subject to the Act and the rules, the Authority 
may, by notification in the official Gazette, frame regulations as may be necessary to 
ensure prescribed standards and quality in the provision of clean drinking water and 
sustainability of its provision to the public.] 
22. Removal of difficulties. – If any difficulty arises in giving effect to  any 
provision of the Act, the Chairman may, with the approval of the Government,  make 
such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of th e Act, as may appear to him to 
be necessary for the purpose of removing such difficulty. 
                                                      
29Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.11 
30Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.12 
31Substituted by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority (Amendment) Act 2019 ( XXVII of 2019), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 13th December 2019, pp. 2555-2560, s.13