PUNJAB PANAH GAH AUTHORITY ACT 2021

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THE PUNJAB PANAH GAH AUTHORITY ACT 2021 
(II of 2022) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.‎ 
2. Definitions.‎ 
3. Establishment of the Authority. 
4. Powers and functions of the Authority.‎ 
5. Composition of the Authority.‎ 
6. Qualification of non-official members.‎ 
7. Meetings of the Authority.‎ 
8. Chairperson.‎ 
9.  Removal of Chairperson or members.‎ 
10.  Director General. 
11. Delegation of powers. 
12. Appointments. 
13. Regional Boards.‎ 
14. Public servants.‎ 
15. Liability for loss.‎ 
16. Funds.‎ 
17. Accounts.‎ 
18. Budget.‎ 
19. Audit.‎ 
20. Performance Audit.‎ 
21. Annual report.‎ 
22. Indemnity.‎ 
23. Power to make rules.‎ 
 
 
24. Power to frame regulations.‎
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB PANAH GAH AUTHORITY ACT 2021 
(II of 2022)  
[12th January, 2022] 
An 
Act 
to establish the Punjab Panah Gah Authority. 
It is necessary  to provide for  a comprehensive, efficient, effective and sustainable  
system for protection and relief of shelterless persons by providing them place for 
temporary stay; and to provide the ancillary matters. 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:  
1. Short title, extent and commencement. ‎−‎ (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Panah Gah Authority Act 2021. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.‎−‎ In this Act: 
(a) “Authority”‎means‎ Punjab Panah Gah Authority  established under this 
Act; 
(b) “Chairperson”‎means‎the‎Chairperson‎of‎the‎Authority; 
(c) “Director‎General”‎means‎the‎Director‎General of the Authority; 
(d) “Government”‎means‎Government‎of‎the‎Punjab; 
(e) “member”‎ means‎ a‎ member‎ of‎ the‎ Authority‎ or‎ a‎ Regional‎ Board, as 
the case may be; 
(f) “Panah‎ Gah”‎ means‎ a‎ place‎ for‎ temporary‎ shelter‎ established‎ under‎
this Act for the shelterless;  
(g) “prescribed”‎means‎prescribed‎by‎rules‎or‎regulations‎made‎ or framed 
under this Act; 
(h) “regulations”‎means‎the‎regulations‎framed‎under‎this‎Act; 
(i) “rules”‎means‎the‎rules‎made‎under‎this Act; and 
(j) “shelterless”‎means‎a‎person‎who‎is‎a‎musafir, a lobourer or a destitute 
who may be entitled to stay at a Panah Gah for a night or for such 
period as may be prescribed by the regulations or as may be 
determined by the Authority.  
3. Establishment of the Authority. − (1) The Government shall, by notifi cation 
in the official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as the Punjab Panah Gah 
Authority to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
                                                      
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 12 January 2022; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 12 
January 2022; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 12 January 2022, pp. 3401-3406. 
 
 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with power, subject to t he provisions of this Act, to acquire and 
hold property, both movable and immovable, and may, by the said name, sue and be 
sued. 
(3) The Authority shall not dispose of any immovable property without prior 
approval of the Government. 
4. Powers and functions  of the Authority. ‎−‎‎ The Authority shall, in such 
manner as may be prescribed by the regulations, perform the following functions: 
(a) establish, maintain, monitor, operate and construct Panah Gahs; 
(b) identify potential partners to run the existing Panah Gahs; 
(c) handover complete or partial service delivery to partners in one or 
more Panah Gahs;  
(d) control, and oversee the administration and functioning of the Panah 
Gahs; 
(e) execute the policies made by the Government for the  provision of  
Panah Gahs; 
(f) determine the term s and conditions and enter into agreements for 
handing over the established or constructed buildings of Panah Gahs 
to potential partners; 
(g) issue necessary instructions, directions or guidelines to any person or 
body who is engaged in the functioning of Panah Gahs;  
(h) formulate and ensure minimum standards, code of conduct and standard 
operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by the persons or 
organizations engaged to run Panah Gahs; 
(i) undertake projects for the purposes of this Act; 
(j) approve the annual report about the key performance indicators, 
operations of the Panah Gahs and gaps  in the implementation of the 
Panah Gahs for submission to the Government;  
(k) accept donations such as land, vehicles, equipment, money or human 
resource for smooth functioning of the Panah Gahs; 
(l) acquire property, both movable and immovable  to undertake  any 
works, incur any expenditure and enter into contracts for this purpose; 
(m) seek assistance for the establishment of Panah Gahs  or for the 
execution and operations of all Panah Gahs fro m any person, or any 
Department or agency of the Government; and 
(n) take such other measures and perform such other functions as may be 
assigned to it by the Government for carrying out the purposes of the 
Act. 
5. Composition of the Authority. ‎−‎ (1) The Authority shall consist of fifteen 
members including the Chairperson. 
(2) The non-official members shall be appointed by the Government. 
 
 
(3) The Authority shall have the following members: 
(a) Additional Chief Secretary or Secretary to      
the Government,  Home Department, as the 
case may be; 
member 
(b) Secretary to the Government, Finance 
Department; 
member 
(c) Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare 
and Bait-ul-Maal Department; 
member 
(d)  Secretary to the Government, Primary and           
Secondary Healthcare Department; 
member 
(e) Secretary to the Government, Specialized 
Healthcare and Medical Education 
Department; 
member 
(f) Secretary to the Government, Local 
Government and Community Development 
Department; 
member 
(g) eight non-official members; and  members 
(h)  Director General  member/ 
secretary 
(4) The non-official members of the Authority shall hold office for a period 
of three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for another term. 
(5) A non-official member of the Authority may, by writing under his hand, 
resign from his office. 
(6) A non -official member of the Authority shall cease to hold office if he 
remains absent from three consecutive meetings of the Authority or from all the 
meetings of the Authority for a co ntinuous period of three months, whichever is 
longer. 
6. Qualification of non -official members. ‎−‎ A person may be considered for 
appointment as a non-official member of the Authority if he: 
(a) is a Pakistani citizen of sound mind and not less than thirty five years of 
age; 
(b) has not been convicted by a court on charges of corrupt practices, 
moral turpitude or misuse of power or authority under any law; 
(c) is not an un-discharged insolvent; 
(d) does not have any conflict of interest with the purposes of  the Authority 
or any financial interest in any project or scheme, directly or indirectly, 
launched by the Authority; and 
(e) is a renowned social worker, technocrat, businessman or 
philanthropist. 
7. Meetings of the Authority. ‎−‎ (1) The Authority shall m eet at least once in 
three months at such time and place, and shall observe such procedure in regard to 
 
 
transaction of its business and meetings as may be prescribed by the regulations 
and until so prescribed as the Authority may determine. 
(2) The meeting s of the Authority shall be  presided over by the 
Chairperson and in the absence of the Chairperson, by a member elected for the 
purpose by the members present. 
(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Authority shall be one third of the total 
number of members including two non-official members. 
(4) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid by reason of any 
vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. 
8. Chairperson.‎−‎ (1) The Chairperson shall be appointed by the Government 
from amongst the non-official members of the Authority for a non -extendable term of 
three years. 
 (2) The Chairperson shall perform such functions as may be entrusted to 
him by the Authority from time to time. 
 (3) The Chairperson shall draw such remuneration, perks and privileges as 
the Government may determine. 
9.  Removal of Chairperson or members. ‎−‎ The Government may remove the 
Chairperson or a non-official member from office if he: 
(a) fails to discharge his duties or becomes incapable of discharging his 
duties under this Act; 
(b) has become insolvent; 
(c) has been convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude; and 
(d) has knowingly acquired or continued to hold without the permission in 
writing of the Government directly or indirectly or through a partner any 
share or interest in any contract or employment with or on behalf of the 
Authority in any land or property which in his knowledge is likely to 
beneficial for him as a result of operation of the Authority. 
10.  Director General.− (1) The Government shal l, on such terms and conditions 
as it may determine, appoint the Director General of the Authority. 
(2) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive of the Authority and 
shall: 
(a) be a whole time officer of the Authority; and 
(b) perform such duties as may be prescribed or as may be 
assigned or delegated to him by the Authority. 
(3) In case the office of Director General is vacant for any reason, the 
Government may make such temporary arrangements for the discharge of functions 
of the Director General as may be deemed appropriate. 
11. Delegation of powers .− The Authority may delegate to the Chairperson, a 
member, Director General or an officer of the Authority any of its powers, duties or 
functions, except the powers to: 
 (a) approve the annual budget; 
 
 
(b) approve the annual performance report; 
 (c) frame regulations; and 
 (d) make policy decisions. 
12. Appointments.‎−‎‎ (1) The Authority may, in such manner as may be 
prescribed by the regulations, appoint such officers, advisors and employees as it 
considers necessary for efficient performance of its functions and determine the 
terms and conditions of service. 
(2) The Authority may acquire the services of such officers, advisors and 
employees on deputation from any agency as it deems necessary. 
13. Regional Boards.‎−‎ (1) The Authority shall, with approval of the Government, 
notify a Regional Board for each Division of the Punjab. 
(2) A Regional Board shall consist of eleven members including the 
Chairman. 
(3) A Regional Board shall have the following members: 
(a) Commissioner of the Division concerned; member 
(b) one officer of the Primary and Secondary 
Healthcare Department of the Government as 
may be nominated by th e Commissioner of 
the Division concerned 
member 
(c) one Medical Superintendent of a hospital of 
the Government to be nominated by the 
Commissioner of the Division concerned; 
member 
(d) one officer of the Local Government and 
Community Department of the Government to 
be nominated by the Commissioner of the 
Division concerned; 
member 
(e) six non-official members; and members 
(f) Divisional Director, Social Welfare and   Bait -
ul-Maal Department of the Government. 
member/ 
Secretary 
(4) A non -official member of a Regional Board shall be appointed by the 
Chief Minister for a period of three years, and shall be eligible for reappointment for 
another term. 
(5) The Chairman of a Regional Bo ard shall be appointed by the Chief 
Minister from amongst the non -official members of the Regional Board for a non -
extendable term of three years, and the Chairman shall perform such functions as 
may be assigned by the Authority. 
(6) The Chairman or a non-official member may, by writing under his hand, 
resign from his office. 
 
 
(7) The provisions regarding qualification, appointment and removal of the 
Chairman and members  of the Regional Boards shall be same as provided for 
qualification, appointment and removal for Chairperson and members of the 
Authority under this Act. 
(8) The Regional Boards shall perform such functions as may be assigned 
by the Authority. 
14. Public servants.‎− All persons acting or purporting to act under this Act shall 
be deemed to be public servants within the meanings of section 21 of the Pakistan 
Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
15. Liability for loss. ‎−‎ Any person employed by or serving under the Authority, 
charged with the administration of the affairs of the Authority, acting on behalf of the 
Authority or acting under a contract with the Authority, shall be responsible for  any 
loss, waste, misappropria tion of any money or property belonging to the Authority; 
and shall be liable to compensate the Authority as determined by it after affording 
reasonable opportunity of being heard. 
16. Funds.‎−‎‎ (1) The Authority shall maintain two separate funds, both at 
Provincial and Divisional levels, one for the funds received from Government and 
second for the donations received.  
(2) The Fund s shall vest in the Authority at the provincial level and shall 
vest in the Regional Board at the divisional level and shall be utilized by the Authority 
or the Regional Board, as the case may be, in connection with its functions under 
this Act.  
(3) The Funds shall consist of: 
(a) budgetary allocations; 
(b) grants made by the Federal Government,  the Government, or 
any other autho rity or agency including international agencies 
and donors; 
(c) donations received from individuals, philanthropists, private 
organizations and overseas Pakistanis; and 
(d) all such moneys as may be determined from time to time by the 
Government. 
 (4) The Funds shall be kept in such custody, utilized and regulated in such 
manner as may be prescribed by the rules.  
17. Accounts.‎− The Authority shall cause its accounts to be kept in such form 
and manner as may be prescribed by the regulations. 
18. Budget.‎−‎ The Authority shall prepare and approve every year, in such form 
and manner and at such time as may be prescribed by the regulations, a budget in 
respect of the next financial year showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of 
the Authority. 
 
 
19. Audit.‎− (1) The public accounts of the Authority or Regional Board, whatever 
the case may be, shall be audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan and the 
donations’‎accounts‎by‎a‎firm‎of‎Chartered‎Accountants. 
(2) The Authority shall also make such arrangement s for pre -audit or 
concurrent audit of accounts as may be necessary. 
20. Performance Audit.‎− (1) The Authority within its establishment shall develop 
quality standards for running the Panah Gahs. 
 (2) The Government may, at any time, direct to have the pe rformance 
audit of the Authority or Regional Board, whatever the case may be, by a person or 
agency appointed by the Government. 
21. Annual report. ‎−‎ (1) The Director General shall, within three months of the 
end of a financial year, submit the annual per formance report to the Authority 
enumerating all activities, developmental initiatives undertaken, the targets achieved 
during the previous financial year and the future plans. 
(2) The Authority shall publish the report for public information and submit 
it to the Government and the Government shall lay it before Provincial Assembly of 
the Punjab within ninety days of its receipt. 
22. Indemnity.‎−‎ No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie 
against the Authority, the Director General, any member, officer, servant, expert or 
consultant of the Authority, in respect of anything done or purported to be done in 
good faith under this Act. 
23. Power to make rules. ‎−‎‎ The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
24. Power to frame regulations. ‎−‎ The Authority may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, frame regulations for carrying out the purposes of this Act.