PUNJAB SUPPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION ORDINANCE, 1961

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THE PUNJAB SUPPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION 
ORDINANCE, 1961 
(II of 1961) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title and extent. 
2. Definitions. 
3. Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing any place to be used as a 
brothel. 
4. Punishment for soliciting. 
5. Punishment for permitting prostitution in places of public amusement. 
6. Punishment for living on earnings of prostitution. 
Presumption. 
7. Punishment for causing, encouraging or abetting prostitution of a gir l 
under sixteen. 
8. Punishment for procuration. 
9. Punishment for importing any woman or girl for prostitution. 
10. Punishment for keeping any woman or girl for prostitution. 
Presumption. 
Bar of certain legal proceedings. 
11. Subsequent offence under section 3. 
12. Determination of tenancy of premises on conviction for permitting use 
as a brothel or for purposes of habitual prostitution. 
13. Power to arrest without warrant. 
14. Power to enter without warrant and removal of minor girls. 
15. Offences triable by certain Magistrates only. 
16. Power to make rules. 
17. Repeal and savings. 
 
TEXT 
1
THE 
2
[PUNJAB] SUPPRESSION OF PROSTITUTION ORDINANCE, 1961 
(II of 1961) 
[7 January 1961] 
An 
Ordinance 
to amend and consolidate the law relating to the suppression of prostitution in the 
Province of 
3
[the Punjab]. 
Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to amend and consolidate the law relating to 
the suppression of prostitution in the Province of 
4
[the Punjab]; 
 NOW, THEREFORE , in pursuance of the Presidential Proclamation of the 
seventh day of October, 1958, and having  received the previous instructions of the 
President, the Governor of West Pakistan is pleased, in exercise of all powers 
enabling him in that behalf, to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:– 
1. Short title and extent .– (1) This Ordinance may be ca lled the 
5
[Punjab] 
Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance, 1961. 
 
6
[(2) It extends to the whole of the Province of 
7
[the Punjab] , except the 
Tribal Areas.] 
2. Definitions.– In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires, the 
following expressions shall have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to 
them, that is to say– 
8
[(a) “brothel” means any house, part of a house, room or place in which a 
prostitute resides or carries on prostitution or any place or institution 
where facilities are known to be available for prostitution;] 
(b) “place of public amusement” shall mean any place, enclosure, building, 
tent, booth or other erection, whether permanent or temporary, where 
music, singing, dancing, or any diversion or game or the means of 
                                                           
1In pursuance of the Presidential Proclamation the seventh day of October, 1958, this Ordinance was promulgated by the 
Governor of  West Pakistan on Sep tember 29, 1960  and published in the  Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated 
January 7, 1961, pp. 75-82; saved and given permanent effect by Article 225 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan (1962). 
2Substituted for the words “West Pakistan” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order,  1974 (1 of 1974), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-PP, Article 2 read with Schedule. 
3Ibid. 
4Ibid. 
5Ibid. 
6Substituted by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 (XXXVI of 1963), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 1963, pp. 1425-1426, s. 2.  
7Substituted for the words “West Pakistan” by the Punjab Laws (Adaptation) Order, 1974 (1 of 1974), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated November 20, 1974, pp. 1425-A-1425-PP, Article 2 read with Schedule. 
8Substituted by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Ame ndment) Act, 1968 (II of 1968) , published in the Gazette of 
West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 31, 1968, pp. 1997-A-1997-C, s. 2.  
carrying on the same, is provided, and to which the public are admitted 
either on payment of money or with the intention that money may be 
collected from those admitted; and shall include a race -course, circus, 
theatre, music hall, billiard -room, bagatelle -room, gymnas ium or 
fencing school; 
(c) “place of public entertainment” shall mean any place, whether enclosed 
or open, to which the public are admitted and where any kind of food or 
drink is supplied for consumption on the premises for the profit or gain 
of any person owning or having an interest in or managing such place; 
and shall include a refreshment -room, eating -house, coffee -house, 
liquor-house, boarding-house, lodging-house, hotel, serai or tavern, or 
wine, beer, spirit, arrack, toddy, bhang or opium shop; 
(d) “prostitution” means promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire, whether 
in money or kind; 
(e) “prostitute” means any female available or known to be available for 
purposes of prostitution; 
(f) “public place” includes site of any  hut, bazar, mela, exhibition, any river 
bank, dock, jetty or ware -house to which the public have access, every 
public building, garden or monument and the precincts thereof, every 
place of public amusement or entertainment, and every place 
accessible to the public for drawing water, wa shing or bathing or for 
purposes of recreation 
1
[.] 
3. Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing any place to be used as a 
brothel.– (1) Whoever– 
(a) keeps or manages or acts or knowingly finances or takes part in the 
financing of, or assists in, the management of a brothel, or 
(b) being a tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises, 
knowingly permits such premises or any part thereof to be used as a 
brothel, or 
(c) being a lessor or landlord of any premises, or the agent of such lessor 
or landlord, lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that it 
is intended to be used as a brothel, 
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may 
extend to two years,  
2
[and] with fine, which may extend to one tho usand rupees 
3
[* * 
*]. 
 (2) Where, in any prosecution of a tenant, lessee, occupier or person in 
charge of any premises under this section, it is found that such premises or any part 
thereof have been used as a brothel, it shall be presumed, unless the con trary is 
proved, that he knowingly permitted such use. 
                                                           
1Misprinted in the Gazette as “;”. 
2Substituted for the word “or” by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1968 (II of 1968), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 31, 1968, pp. 1997-A-1997-C, s. 3(i). 
3Deleted the comma and the words “, or with both” by the Act ibid., s. 3(ii). 
4. Punishment for soliciting.– Whoever in any street or public place or place of 
public resort or within sight of and in such manner as to be seen or heard from any 
street or public place, whether from within any house or building or not,– 
(a) by words, gestures, wilful and indecent exposure of her person or 
otherwise attracts or endeavours to attract attention for the purpose of 
prostitution, or 
(b) solicits or molests any person or loiters for the pur pose of prostitution, 
shall for a first offence be punished with imprisonment which may 
extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred 
rupees, or with both, and for a subsequent offence with imprisonment 
which may extend to one year, or  with fine which may extend to one 
thousand rupees, or with both. 
5. Punishment for permitting prostitution in places of public amusement .– 
Whoever being the keeper of any place of public amusement or entertainment, 
knowingly permits prostitutes, for the p urposes of their trade, to enter or remain in 
such place, shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 
6. Punishment for living on earnings of prostitution .– (1) Whoever being 
above the age of eighteen years– 
(a) knowingly lives, wh olly or in part, on the earnings of another’s 
prostitution, or 
(b) exploits the prostitution of another person, whether with or without that 
person’s consent, 
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may 
extend to two years, 
1
[and] with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees 
2
[* * *] 
and if the person convicted is a male he may be punished with whipping in lieu of or 
in addition to any other punishment provided in this sub-section. 
 (2) Presumption.– Where any person is proved to be living with, or to be 
habitually in the company of, a prostitute or is proved to have directed or exercised 
control or influence over the movements of a prostitute in such a manner as to show 
that he is aiding, abetting, compelling or explo iting her prostitution with any other 
person or generally, or to be keeping or managing or assisting in the management of 
a brothel, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that he is knowingly 
living on the earnings of prostitution. 
7. Punishment for causing, encouraging or abetting prostitution of a girl 
under sixteen.– If any person having custody, charge or care of any girl under the 
age of sixteen years, causes or encourages or abets the seduction or prostitution of 
that girl, he shall be p unished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to three years, 
3
[and] with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees 
1
[* * 
*] and if the person convicted is a male, shall  also be liable to whipping. 
                                                           
1Substituted for the word “or” by the Act ibid., s. 4(i).  
2Deleted the comma and the words “, or with both” by the Act ibid., s. 4(ii).  
3Substituted for the word “or”  by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Act, 1968 (II of 1968), published 
in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 31, 1968, pp. 1997-A-1997-C, s. 5(i).  
8. Punishment for procuration .– Whoever procures or entices or leads away 
or attempts to procure, entice or lead away any woman or girl for the purposes of 
prostitution, whether with or without her consent, or who with intent that she may for 
the purposes of prostitution become the inmate of or frequent a brothel, persuades a 
woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode, shall be punished with 
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years , 
2
[and] 
with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees  
3
[* * *]  and if the person 
convicted is a male, he may be punished with whipping in lieu of or in addition to any 
other punishment provided in this section. 
9. Punishment for importing any woman or girl for prostitution .– Whoever 
brings or attempts to bring into the Pr ovince any woman or girl with a view to her 
becoming a prostitute, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a 
term which may extend to three years,  
4
[and] with fine which may extend to one 
thousand rupees 
5
[* * *]  and if the person con victed is a male, he may be punished 
with whipping in lieu of or in addition to any other punishment provided in this 
section. 
10. Punishment for keeping any woman or girl for prostitution .– (1) 
Whoever– 
(a) keeps any woman or girl in a brothel, or 
(b) detains any woman or girl, against her will, in any place with intent that 
she may have sexual intercourse with any man other than her lawful 
husband, 
shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three 
years, 
6
[and] with fine wh ich may extend to one thousand rupees  
7
[* * *]  and if the 
person convicted is a male, shall also be liable to whipping. 
 (2) Presumption.– A person shall be presumed to detain a woman or girl 
in any place for the purpose referred to in clause ( b) of sub -section (1), if such 
person, with intent to compel or induce her to remain there,– 
(a) withholds from her any jewellery, clothing or other property belonging 
to her, or 
(b) threatens her with legal proceedings if she takes away with her any 
jewellery or clothing lent or supplied to her by or under the direction of 
such person. 
 (3) Bar of certain legal proceedings .– No legal proceedings, whether 
civil or criminal, shall be taken against any such woman or girl for taking away or 
                                                                                                                                                                                     
1Omitted the commas and the words “, or with both,” by the Act ibid., s. 5(ii).  
2Substituted for the word “or” by the Act ibid., s. 6(i).  
3Omitted the commas and the words “, or with both,” by the Act ibid., s. 6(ii).  
4Substituted for the word “or” by the Act ibid., s. 7(i).  
5Omitted the commas and the words “, or with both,” by the Act ibid., s. 7(ii).  
6Substituted for the word “or”  by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Act, 1968 (II of  1968), published 
in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 31, 1968, pp. 1997-A-1997-C, s. 8(i). 
7Omitted the commas and the words “, or with both,” by the Act ibid., s. 8(ii).  
being found in possession of an y such clothing as was necessary to enable her to 
leave such premises or brothel. 
11. Subsequent offence under section 3 .– (1) Whoever having been convicted 
of an offence punishable under section 3, is convicted of a subsequent offence 
punishable under the same section, may, in addition to the punishment provided under 
that section, be required by the Court to execute a bond, with sureties, for his good 
behaviour for such period, not exceeding three years, as the Court may direct, and in 
default of executin g such bond, may be imprisoned for a period not exceeding six 
months in addition to any punishment awarded in respect of his offence. 
 (2) The provisions of Chapters VIII and XLII of the Code of Criminal 
Procedure, 1898
1
, shall apply to orders made for the  execution of bonds under this 
section. 
12. Determination of tenancy of premises on conviction for permitting use 
as a brothel or for purposes of habitual prostitution .– (1) On conviction of any 
tenant, lessee or occupier of an offence under sub -section (1) of section 3, the Court 
shall give notice thereof in writing to the landlord or lessor of such person, who shall 
then be entitled to require the person so convicted to assign the lease or other 
contract, under which the said premises are held by him, to some person approved 
by the landlord or lessor which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and in 
the event of the person so convicted failing within three months to assign the lease 
or contract, as aforesaid, the landlord or lessor shall, notwithst anding any law, 
contract, decree or order of a Court to the contrary, be entitled to determine the 
lease or other contract, but without prejudice to the rights or remedies of any party to 
such lease or contract accruing before the date of such determination. 
 (2) If the landlord or lessor determines a lease or contract of tenancy under 
the provisions of sub-section (1), the Court which has convicted the tenant, lessee or 
occupier may make an order for delivery of possession to the landlord or lessor within 
such time not being less than seven days as the Court may direct; and the order shall 
be served on the person against whom it is made in the manner provided in the Code 
of Criminal Procedure, 1898
2
, for the service of summons. 
 (3) Whoever fails to comply with an order under the last preceding sub -
section shall be punished with imprisonment of either description which may extend 
to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both. 
 (4) If the landlord or lessor, after he has rece ived notice in writing of such 
conviction, fails to exercise his rights under sub-section (1), and subsequently during 
the subsistence of the lease or contract any such offence is again committed in 
respect of the premises, the landlord or lessor shall be deemed to have abetted that 
offence, unless he proves that he had taken all reasonable steps to prevent the 
recurrence of the offence. 
 (5) Where a landlord or lessor determines a lease or other contract under 
this section, and subsequently grants another lease or enters into another contract 
of tenancy to, with, or for the benefit of the same person, without causing to be 
inserted in such lease or contract all reasonable provisions for the prevention of a 
                                                           
1V of 1898. 
2V of 1898. 
recurrence of any such offence, he shall be deemed to have failed to exercise his 
rights under the provisions of this section, and any such offence committed during 
the subsistence of the subsequent lease or contract shall be deemed, for the 
purpose of this section, to have been committed during the subsis tence of the 
previous lease or contract. 
13. Power to arrest without warrant .–
 1
[If a complaint is made to any gazetted 
police officer about the commission of any offence punishable under section 3, 4, 5, 
6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 or if any such offence is committe d in the view of any police officer 
not below the rank of the Superintendent of Police, such officer may arrest, without 
warrant, any person accused of the commission of such offence.] 
14. Power to enter without warrant and removal of minor girls .– The 
Superintendent of Police, or any gazetted police officer specially authorised in writing 
in this behalf by the District Magistrate, may enter any place and remove to the 
prescribed place any girl who appears to be under the age of eighteen years, if he has 
reason to believe– 
(a) that an offence punishable under section 3 has been or is being 
committed in respect of the place; or 
(b) that a woman or girl in respect of whom an offence under this 
Ordinance has been committed, is to be found therein. 
15. Offences triable by certain Magistrates only .– No offence under this 
Ordinance shall be tried summarily, or by a Magistrate below the rank of a 
Magistrate of the first class. 
16. Power to make rules .– The Provincial Government may make rules for 
carrying into effect the provisions of this Ordinance. 
17. Repeal and savings.– (1) The following enactments are hereby repealed:– 
(i) the Punjab Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, 1935
2
; 
(ii) the Punjab Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, 1935
3
, as applicable to 
the former State of Bahawalpur; 
(iii) the North-West Frontier Province Anti -Prostitution and Suppression of 
Brothels Act, 1937
4
; 
5
[*] 
(iv) the Sind Prevention of Prostitution Act, 1951
6
 
7
[; and] 
                                                           
1Substituted by the West Pakistan Su ppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Act, 1968 (II of 1968), published in the Gazette of 
West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated May 31, 1968, pp. 1997-A-1997-C, s. 9. 
2Pb. IV of 1935. 
3Pb. IV of 1935. 
4N.W.F.P. III of 1937. 
5Omitted the word “and”  by the We st Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 (XXXVI of 1963), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 1963, pp. 1425-1426, s. 3(a). 
6Sind XX of 1951. 
7Substituted for the full-stop by the West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 (XXXVI of 1963), 
published in the Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 1963, pp. 1425-1426, s. 3(b). 
1
[(v) the Bombay Prevention of Prostitution Act, 1923, as applicable to  
Karachi District.] 
 (2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the enactments mentioned in sub-section 
(1), everything done, action taken, obligation, liability, penalty or punishment 
incurred, inquiry or proceeding commenced, officer appointed or person authorise d, 
jurisdiction or power conferred, rule made and order issued under any of the 
provisions of the said enactments shall, if not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Ordinance, be continued and, so far as may be, be deemed to have been 
respectively done , taken, incurred, commenced, appointed, authorised, conferred, 
made or issued under this Ordinance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
1Added by the  West Pakistan Suppression of Prostitution (Amendment) Ordinance, 1963 (XXXVI of 1963), published in the 
Gazette of West Pakistan (Extraordinary), dated November 16, 1963, pp. 1425-1426, s. 3(c).