PUNJAB MASSTRANSIT AUTHORITY ACT 2015

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THE PUNJAB MASSTRANSIT AUTHORITY ACT 2015 
(XXXIII of 2015) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Punjab Masstransit Authority 
4. Qualifications of the members 
5. Functions of the Authority 
6. Managing Director 
7. Resignation and relieving of Managing Director 
8. Secretary of the Authority 
9. Committees 
10. Establishment of the Fund 
11. Delegation 
12. Appointment of officers and employees 
13. Accounts 
14. Budget 
15. Audit 
16. Causing damage to property and disobedience of orders 
17. Penalty for contravention 
18. Administrative penalties 
19. Procedure relating to offences 
20. Recovery of amounts due 
21. Public servants 
22. Immunity 
23. Act to prevail over other laws 
24. Restriction on execution against property 
25. Rules 
26. Regulations 
27. Removal of difficulties 
28. Repeal and saving 
29. Repeat 
TEXT 
THE PUNJAB MASSTRANSIT AUTHORITY ACT 2015 
(XXXIII of 2015) 
[26th June, 2015] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of Punjab Masstransit Authority. 
It is expedient to establish Punjab Masstransit Authority for purpose s of 
construction, operation and maintenance of mass transit system in the major cities of 
the Punjab; for providing safe, efficient and comfortable urban transportation system; 
and, for ancillary matters; 
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act be cited as the Punjab 
Masstransit Authority Act 2015. 
(2) Subject to subsection (4), it extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
(4) It shall apply to the city of Lahore  but the Government may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, extend its application to any other city of the 
Punjab. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act: 
(a) “AFC” means the automated fare collection system; 
(b) “ancillary facility” means the facility and equipment pro visioned or 
developed by the Authority including bridge, underpass, tunnel, yard,  
fence, escalator, elevator, sliding door, toilet turnstile, scheduling 
system, passenger information, signaling, power supply, surveillance, 
control room, telecom, electrical  and mechanical system, generator, 
light or fan and other facility; 
(c) “asset” means the movable or immovable property owned or controlled 
by the Authority; 4 
(d) “Authority” means Punjab Masstransit Authority established under the 
Act; 
(e) “Chairperson” means Chairperson of the Authority; 
(f) “corridor” means the track or road or a portion of the track or road 
which has been constructed or modified or is planned to be 
constructed or modified for the purpose of enabling smooth operation 
of MTS; 
(g) “depot” means the space or area provided for parking, repair, 
maintenance, fuelling servicing and cleaning of Masstransit vehicles. 
(h) “fare” includes all sums received or receivable and all sums charged or 
chargeable for the transportation of passengers; 
(i) “fund” means the Masstransit Authority Fund established under the Act; 
(j) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(k) "licence" means a licence granted by the Authority to a service provider 
of the Authority; 
(l) “MTS” means mass transit  system established and operated by the 
Authority for operation of the masstransit vehicles; 
(m) “member” means a member of the Authority; 
(n) “masstransit vehicle” means a vehicle operated by the Authority on the  
corridor or a public transport route; 
(o) “public transport route” means a route notified by the Authority fo r 
integrated urban and suburban public transport operations; 
(p) “regulations” mean the regulations framed by the Authority under the 
Act; 
(q) “rules” mean the rules made by the Government under the Act; 
(r) “service provider” means a service provider of the Authority  like a 
masstransit vehicle operator, AFC operator, security, janitorial and 
housekeeping services  provider and any entity providing any kind of 
services for the MTS; and 
(s) “station” means a place earmarked on the corridor or public transport 
route where masstransit vehicles travelling in either direction stop for a 
specified duration allowing passengers to board on or alight from 
Masstransit vehicles. 
3. Punjab Masstransit Authority.– (1) The Government shall, by notification in 
the official Gazette, establish Punjab Masstransit Authority for carrying out the 
purposes of this Act. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, with perpetual succession and 
a common seal, with powers, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold 
and dispose of property, and may by the said name, sue and be sued. 
(3) The Government or any other entity may, by notification, transfer the 
ownership or possession of a corridor, station, depot and any other ancillary facility 
constructed or procured for the MTS to the Authority. 
(4) The Authority shall not dispose of any immovable property without prior 
permission in writing of the Government. 
(5) A person shall not enter upon or in any way use the assets without 
written approval of the Authority. 
(6) The Authority shall consist of: 
(a) Chief Minister of the Punjab; Chairperson 
(b) Vice Chairperson to be nominated by the Vice Chairperson 
 Government on such terms and conditions  
 as it may determine;  
(c) Minister for Transport of the Government; Member 
(d) four members of Provincial Assembly of the Members 
 Punjab  including  at  least  one  female  
 member of the Assembly and two members  
 of   National   Assembly   of   Pakistan  
 nominated by the Government;  
(e) three persons including at least one woman Members 
 from the private sector nominated by the  
 Government;  
(f) Chairman, Lahore Transport Company; Member 
(g) Chairman   Planning   and   Development Member 
 Board of the Government;  
(h) Secretary  to  the  Government,  Finance Member 
 Department;  
(i) Secretary  to  the  Government,  Transport Member 
 Department;  
(j) Managing Director of the Authority; and Member 
(k) Secretary of the Authority. Member/Secretary 
 
(7) A member, other than an ex officio member, shall hold office for a term 
of three years and may again be nominated by the Government. 
(a) An act or proceedings of the Authority shall not be invalid merely for 
reason of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. 
(b) The Authority shall meet at such time and place and shall observe such 
procedure in rega rd to transaction of business at its meetings as may 
be prescribed and until so prescribed as may be directed by the 
Chairperson. 
(c) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over by: 
the Chairperson; or 
in the absence of the Chairperson, by the Vice Chairperson; or 
in the absence of the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson, by such 
other member of the Authority as the Chairperson may nominate. 
4. Qualifications of the members .– No person shall be nominated or shall 
continue to be a member, if he: 
(a) is or, at  any time, has been convicted of an offence involving moral 
turpitude; or 
(b) is or, at any time, has been declared insolvent; or 
(c) is found to be a lunatic or of unsound mind; or 
(d) is a minor; or 
(e) has a financial interest in any aspect of the MTS, or has a conflic t of 
interest, directly or indirectly, with the Authority. 
5. Functions of the Authority .– (1) Subject to the provisions of this  Act and 
rules, the Authority may perform such functions as may be necessary for carrying out 
the purposes of the Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provision of 
subsection (1), the Authority shall: 
(a) own, control, maintain and develop a corridor, station, depot and any 
other ancillary facility which are transferred to it by the Government; 
(b) plan, construct , operate and maintain the corridors for future 
expansion; 
(c) enter into contracts including concession agreements, grant licenses, 
leases, make other arrangements and perform all tasks necessary for 
efficient functioning of the MTS; 7 
(d) collect fares as may be determined by the Government; 
(e) grant licences to mass transit operators and all other service providers; 
(f) incur all necessary expenditure for planning, construction, operation 
and maintenance of the MTS including administrative expenses; 
(g) collect and use fee s, fines and all other revenues generated from the 
MTS infrastructure; 
(h) subject to this Act, acquire, hold and dispose of property; 
(i) ensure safe, efficient and comfortable m ass transit  operations on a 
corridor or a public transport route; 
(j) establish, operate and maintain AFC; 
(k) make adequate arrangements for effective security of a corridor, 
station, depot and any other ancillary facility; 
(l) establish and maintain an effective third party oversight mechanism for 
collection of revenues; 
(m) establish and maintain an ef fective system of janitorial and 
housekeeping services to keep a corridor and its entire ancillary 
facilities clean; 
(n) plan and operate integrated public transport routes; 
(o) plan, construct and maintain infrastructure for the public transport 
routes; 
(p) give dire ctions to any other person or agency for establishing and 
operating feeder transport services for a corridor; 
(q) give directions to any agency to desist from issuing competing 
transportation route permits along a corridor or a public transport route 
notified by the Authority; 
(r) give directions to any person to desist from operating any competing 
transportation system along a corridor or a public transport route 
notified by the Authority; 
(s) give directions to any person or agency for not interfering in any way 
with a corridor, its ancillary facilities and their smooth functioning; 
(t) monitor and enforce contracts, agreements including concession 
agreements, licenses or leases entered into or granted by the 
Authority; and 
(u) establish subsidiary companies or to assume cont rol of companies 
transferred to it by the Government. 
6. Managing Director.– (1) The Government shall appoint Managing Director of 
the Authority on such terms and conditions as the Government may determine. 
(2) A person shall not be eligible for the post of Manag ing Director unless 
the person: 
(a) holds Masters Degree; 
(b) possesses at least twenty years experience of management in public 
or private sector; and 
(c) is less than sixty five years of age. 
(3) The Managing Director shall be the chief executive of the Authority and 
shall: 
(a) be a whole-time officer of the Authority; 
(b) perform such duties as may be assigned to him and exercise such 
powers as may be delegated to him by the Authority; and 
(c) hold office for each term of three years and shall remain in office for six 
months therea fter or until a successor in that office is appointed, 
whichever is earlier. 
7. Resignation and relieving of Managing Director .– The Managing Director 
may, at any time before the expiry of his term and upon three months prior notice, 
resign his office, or upo n similar notice, or payment of three months’ salary and 
allowances in lieu of the notice, be relieved by the Government without assigning 
any reason. 
8. Secretary of the Authority .– (1) The Government shall appoint a Secretary 
of the  Authority for a term of three years on such terms and conditions as the 
Government may determine. 
(2) The Secretary shall be a whole -time officer of the Authority and shall 
perform such functions as may be assigned to him by the Authority or the Managing 
Director. 
(3) The Government may extend the term of the Secretary beyond three 
years. 
9. Committees.– The Authority may constitute such committees as it may deem  
necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
10. Establishment of the Fund .– (1) There shall be established a Fund known 
as th e Masstransit Authority Fund which shall vest in the Authority and shall be 
utilized by the  Authority to meet all its expenses and charges in connection with its 
functions and powers under this Act including the payment of salaries and 
remuneration to its employees. 
(2) The Authority shall establish an escrow account in a scheduled bank 
approved by the Government and the account shall be collectively operated by the 
authorized representatives of the Authority and such service provider, as may be 
determined by the Authority. 
(3) All monies credited in the Fund shall be deposited with the bank 
approved by the Government. 
(4) The Fund shall be financed by: 
(a) fees, fines and other amounts received by the Authority; 
(b) grants from the Government or any other body or organization; 
(c) foreign aid and foreign loans obtained or raised by the Authority with 
the sanction of, and on such terms and conditions as may be approved 
by, the Government; 
(d) proceeds of all charges and income from sale of assets, and any 
recovery made under this Act; and 
(e) such other sums as may be received by the Authority. 
11. Delegation.– The Authority may, subject to such conditions as it deems  
appropriate, delegate to the Managing Director or an officer of the Authority any of its 
powers or functions under this Act, rules or regulations. 
12. Appointment of officers and employees .– The Authority may appoint such  
officers, experts, consultants and employees as it considers necessary for the 
efficient performance of its functions in such manner and on such terms and 
conditions as may be prescribed by regulations. 
13. Accounts.– The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant  
records and prepare annual statements of accounts in such form as may be 
prescribed. 
14. Budget.– (1) The Authority shall prepare, every year, in suc h form and at 
such time  as may be prescribed a budget in respect of the next financial year 
showing the estimated receipts and expenditures of the Authority and shall submit 
the same to the Government for approval. 
(2) If the Government fails to approve or mod ify the budget within thirty 
days of its receipt, the budget as prepared by the Authority shall be deemed to have 
been approved. 
15. Audit.– (1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall audit the annual accounts of 
the Authority. 
(2) In addition to the audit in terms  of subsection (1), the Authority shall 
appoint or hire services of a chartered accountant or a firm of chartered accountants 
for purposes of annual audit of its accounts. 
(3) The Managing Director shall, within six months of the close of a 
financial year, sub mit the annual statement of accounts along with the report of the 
auditor to the Authority. 
16. Causing damage to property and disobedience of orders .– (1) A person 
who willfully causes damage or allows damage to be caused to any property which 
vests in or is possessed by the Authority, or which is intended to be acquired by the 
Authority, or unlawfully converts it to his own or any other person’s use, shall be 
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine 
or with both. 
(2) A person who,  without lawful excuse, fails or refuses to comply with 
any direction or order issued by the Authority under this Act, shall be guilty of an 
offense punishable under this section. 
17. Penalty for contravention.– If a person contravenes any provision of this Act 
or any rule or regulation, he shall, if no other penalty is provided under the Act, be 
punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine 
or with both. 
18. Administrative penalties.– (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act 
or any other law, a person who, without permission of the Authority, enters into a 
corridor or in any manner interferes or obstructs any corridor, masstransit vehicle or 
ancillary facility, or travels or attempts to travel on a masstra nsit vehicle without 
payment of fare, shall be liable to punishment of such fine as may be prescribed by 
the rules. 
(2) If a person commits an offence under subsection (1), an officer or 
agent of the Authority authorized in this behalf may, at the spot, impose  the 
prescribed fine on such person. 
(3) If the person fails to pay or deposit the fine at the spot or in the 
prescribed manner, the officer authorized by the Authority may submit a complaint 
against such person in the Court and such person shall be deemed to have 
committed an offence under section 17 of the Act. 
19. Procedure relating to offences.– (1) An offence under this Act shall be non -
cognizable and a Court shall not assume jurisdiction for the offence unless an officer 
authorized by the Authority submits a complaint to the Court. 
(2) No Court other than the Magistrate of first class shall try an offence 
under this Act. 
(3) The Court shall try an offence under this Act in a summary manner in 
terms of Chapter XXII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) bu t 
notwithstanding anything contained in the Code, the Court may impose a 
punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or fine not 
exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or both. 
(4) The Authority or an officer authorized by the Authority may c ompound 
of an offence under this Act subject to the payment of the prescribed compensation. 
(5) The fine or compensation recovered from a person under this Act shall 
form part of the Fund. 
20. Recovery of amounts due .– Any fine, compensation or other amount 
payable to the Authority may be recovered by an officer authorized by the Authority 
as arrears of land revenue and such officer shall be deemed to be a Collector for 
purposes of recovery of fine, compensation or other amount. 
21. Public servants.– The Chairperson, V ice Chairperson, members, Managing  
Director, Secretary, officers, servants, experts and consultants of the Authority shall, 
when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, be 
deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal 
Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
22. Immunity.– No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie 
against the Authority, the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, the Managing Director, any 
member, officer, servant, agent, expert or consultant of the Authority, in respect of 
anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act. 
23. Act to prevail over other laws .– In the event of any conflict or inconsistency  
between a provision of this Act and a provision of any ot her law, the provisions of 
this Act shall, to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency, prevail. 
24. Restriction on execution against property .– No property of the 
Government, the  Authority or any service provider which is deployed in the MTS 
shall be liable to be taken in execution of any decree or order of any court or of any 
local authority or person having by law the power to attach or otherwise to cause the 
property to be taken in execution without the previous sanction of the Authority. 
25. Rules.– The Go vernment may, by notification in the official Gazette, make 
rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
26. Regulations.– (1) Subject to this Act and the rules, the Authority may frame  
regulations for giving effect to the provisions of the Act. 
(2) Without prejud ice to the foregoing powers, such regulations may 
provide for appointment of its officers, staff, employees and other persons, terms 
and conditions of their service and performance of functions by the Authority. 
27. Removal of difficulties .– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the 
provisions of this Act, the Government may, by notification, not inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, remove the difficulty. 
28. Repeal and saving .– (1) The Punjab Metrobus Authority Act 2012 (LVI of 
2012) is hereby repealed. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Punjab Metrobus Authority Act 2012 
(LVI of 2012), anything done or action taken under the repealed Act, shall have the 
effect as if the thing is done or action taken under the Act. 
(3) The Authority shall be successor in  interest of the Punjab Metrobus 
Authority established under the Punjab Metrobus Authority Act 2012 (LVI of 2012) 
and all assets, liabilities, employees, agents and service providers of the Punjab 
Metrobus Authority shall stand transferred to the Authority. 
29. Repeal.– The Punjab Masstransit Authority Ordinance, 2015  (XIII of 2015) is 
hereby repealed.