{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-70f584160b0758ca", "title": "AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY OF THE PUNJAB ACT 2026", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/UGBWYgM0UWhUMw--", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:16:35Z", "legal_status": "not independently verified", "text_quality": "Complete stored UTF-8 TXT file recovered byte-for-byte from owned Drive. Source transcription retained verbatim; legal completeness, OCR accuracy and current consolidation unverified.", "text_sha256": "dd0fd8dc34dcfa6228c518e53db1796fd834690828a21572683ad7b3ac415975", "source_sha256": "dd0fd8dc34dcfa6228c518e53db1796fd834690828a21572683ad7b3ac415975", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-70f584160b0758ca:sha256:dd0fd8dc34dcfa6228c518e53db1796fd834690828a21572683ad7b3ac415975", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY OF THE PUNJAB ACT \r\n2026 \r\n(XVIII of 2026) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Establishment of the Authority \r\n4. Aquaculture area \r\n5. Composition of the Authority \r\n6. Powers and functions of the Authority \r\n7. Chief Executive Officer \r\n8. Registration, licensing and certification \r\n9. Services by the Authority \r\n10. Employees of the Authority \r\n11. Appointment by transfer and posting \r\n12. Liability for loss \r\n13. Committees \r\n14. Directions to the Authority \r\n15. Transfer of rights and liabilities \r\n16. Authentication of instruments of the Authority \r\n17. Fund \r\n18. Accounts \r\n19. Budget and accounts \r\n20. Audit \r\n21. Joint venture, outsourcing and procurements \r\n22. Leasing of aquaculture property \r\n23. Purchase of property \r\n24. Power to give directions \r\n25. Powers to remove sources of pollution \r\n26. Enforcement \r\n27. Enforcement procedure of the Authority \r\n28. Power of seizure \r\n29. Power of sealing \r\n30. Recovery of fines \r\n31. Appeals \r\n32. Failure to comply with the directions \r\n33. Powers to eject unauthorized occupants \r\n34. Damage to aquaculture property or infrastructure \r\n35. Obstructing the authorized officer \r\n36. Business without registration, license or certification \r\n37. Punishment for residuary offences \r\n38. Punishment for subsequent offence \r\n39. Cognizance of an offence \r\n40. Trial of offences \r\n41. Compounding of offence \r\n42. Public servants \r\n43. Indemnity \r\n44. Annual report \r\n45. Monitoring and Evaluation \r\n46. Power to make rules \r\n47. Power to frame regulations \r\n48. Act to prevail over other laws \r\n49. Removal of difficulties \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY OF THE PUNJAB ACT 2026 \r\n(XVIII of 2026) \r\n[25 February 2026] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for establishment of Aquaculture Authority of the Punjab. \r\nIt is necessary to establish Aquaculture Authority of the Punjab for development of \r\naquaculture sector, facilitation of private stakeholders and regulation of aquaculture \r\nindustry and market to improve food security, cr eate employment opportunities and \r\ngenerate revenue in the Punjab and the matters connected therewith and ancillary \r\nthereto. \r\nIt is hereby enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may b e cited as the \r\nAquaculture Authority of the Punjab Act 2026. \r\n(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions.– In the Act: \r\n(a) “Act” means the Aquaculture Authority of the Punjab Act 2026; \r\n(b) “Administrative Secretary” means Secretary to the Government, \r\nAquaculture and Fisheries Department; \r\n(c) “Authority” means the Aquaculture Authority of the Punjab established \r\nunder the Act; \r\n(d) “aquaculture” means culture of any species of fish, shell fish, shrimp, plant \r\nand animal in water; \r\n(e) “aquaculture area” means the aquaculture area notified under section 4 of \r\nthe Act; \r\n(f) “aquaculture industry” means a business relating to aquaculture including \r\ntheir hatcheries, feed and feeding, harvesting, preservation, distribut ion \r\nand marketing, related drugs and medicine, and factories processing, \r\nmanufacturing for fishing, shrimp nets and gears and establishment and \r\noperation of refrigeration units, refrigerated logistics, related markets, \r\nexport and import of fish, shrimp and aquaculture related implements, \r\nchemicals and technologies and all other related services; \r\n(g) “biosecurity in aquaculture” means the technical methods to prevent and \r\nlimit the spread of biological agents that occur, either naturally or \r\nartificially, in aquac ulture activities that can cause harm to humans, \r\nanimals and ecosystems; \r\n(h) “certification” means the certification under the Act; \r\n(i) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Authority; \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 04 February 2026; and was assented to by Governor of the Punjab \r\non 25 February 2026; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 25 February 2026, pp. 4553-4564. \r\n(j) “Chief Executive Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the \r\nAuthority; \r\n(k) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); \r\n(l) “District Collector” means the Collector of a District under the Punjab Land \r\nRevenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967); \r\n(m) “employee” means an employee of the Authority appointed by the \r\nAuthority under the Act; \r\n(n) “fee” means the fee leviable under the Act; \r\n(o) “feed” means any type of feed used for aquaculture and includes floating \r\nfeed, extruded feed, sinking feed, grower feed and stage-wise feed; \r\n(p) “Fund” means the Fund established under the Act; \r\n(q) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n(r) “Government Agency” includes: \r\n(i) a department, bureau, commission, authority, office or unit of the \r\nGovernment; \r\n(ii) a local government; and \r\n(iii) a company or corporation owned or controlled by the Government \r\nor a local government. \r\n(s) “hatchery” means and includes a facility where aquatic animal eggs are \r\nhatched and larvae are reared to the post-larvae stage; \r\n(t) “land” includes earth, water and air, above, below or on the surface and \r\nany improvements in the structure customarily regarded as land and \r\nbenefits arising out of land and things attached to earth or permanently \r\nfastened to earth; \r\n(u) “local government” means a local government as defined in the Punjab \r\nLocal Government Act 2025 (LXXX of 2025) or any othe r law for the time \r\nbeing in force; \r\n(v) “Member” means a Member of the Authority; \r\n(w) “person” means a natural or juridical person; \r\n(x) “pond farming” means and refers to pond farming which involves raising \r\naquatic animal or plant species in controlled artificial ponds under the Act; \r\n(y) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations; \r\n(z) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; \r\n(aa) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; and \r\n(bb) “standards” means the standards formulated by the Authority under \r\nthe Act. \r\n3. Establishment of the Authority .– (1) The Government may, by notification in \r\nthe official Gazette, establish an Authority to be known as Aquaculture Authority of the \r\nPunjab for the purposes of the Act. \r\n(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and \r\na common seal, with power to enter into a contract, acquire property with prior approval \r\nof the Government, dispose of immovable property and may, by its name, sue or be \r\nsued. \r\n(3) The headquarters of the Authority shall be at such pla ce and city as may \r\nbe notified by the Government. \r\n4. Aquaculture area.- The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, \r\ndeclare any land with its allied infrastructure encompassing whole value chain due to its \r\nsaline and brackish water or othe r criteria as may be prescribed by the rules, as the \r\naquaculture area for the purposes of the Act. \r\n5. Composition of the Authority.– (1) The Authority shall consist of the following: \r\n(a) Minister for Aquaculture and Fisheries. Chairperson \r\n(b) Administrative Secretary. Member \r\n(c) Secretary to the Government, Finance Department \r\nor his nominee not below the rank of an Additional \r\nSecretary. \r\nMember \r\n(d) Secretary to the Government, Law and \r\nParliamentary Affairs Department or his nominee \r\nnot below the rank of an Additional Secretary. \r\nMember \r\n(e) Secretary to the Government, Industries, \r\nCommerce and Investment Department or his \r\nnominee not below the rank of an Additional \r\nSecretary. \r\nMember \r\n(f) Member (Colonies) of the Board of Revenue. Member \r\n(g) nominee of the Chairman, Planning and \r\nDevelopment Board not below the rank of a Member. \r\nMember \r\n(h) Director General Fisheries, Punjab. Member \r\n(i) three Members of Provincial Assembly of the \r\nPunjab, including at least one female Member to \r\nbe nominated by the Chief Minister. \r\nMembers \r\n(j) five private members from relevant field. Members \r\n(k) Chief Executive Officer. Secretary/ \r\nMember \r\n(2) The Members at clauses (i) and (j) shall be appointed for a term of three \r\nyears, and they shall serve during the pleasure of the Chief Minister. \r\n(3) The Chairperson and in his absence, his nominated Member shall preside \r\nover a meeting of the Authority. \r\n(4) The Authority shall meet at least once in every quarter of a calendar year \r\non such date and at such time as the Chairperson may determine. \r\n(5) Seven Members shall constitute the quorum for a meeting of the \r\nAuthority, and decisions shall be made by the majority of its Members present and \r\nvoting, and in case of a tie, the person presiding over the meeting shall have a casting \r\nvote. \r\n(6) The Secretary of the Authority shall maintain complete record of the \r\nminutes and dec isions of the Authority in such manner as may be prescribed by the \r\nregulations. \r\n(7) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid merely by reason of \r\nany vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. \r\n \r\n6. Powers and functions of the Au thority.– (1) The Authority may perform such \r\nfunctions and exercise such powers as are necessary for carrying out the purpose s of \r\nthe Act. \r\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the Authority may: \r\n(a) formulate standards, procedures, processes , and issue guidelines in \r\nrelation to aquaculture farming, its processing, breeding, feeding, health \r\nmanagement and preservation or any other related field; \r\n(b) plan, promote, organize, re -organize and implement programs to develop \r\nand secure the aquaculture; \r\n(c) prescribe procedures and guidelines for setting up and accreditation of \r\naquaculture laboratories; \r\n(d) provide scientific advice and technical support to public and private \r\nsectors for the purposes of the Act; \r\n(e) establish a network of farmers, importers and expor ters of aquaculture to \r\nfacilitate quality control, international marketing, transportation and export; \r\n(f) encourage farmers, organize training programs and promote general \r\nawareness; \r\n(g) levy fee for registration, licensing, certification and other related services; \r\n(h) develop and promote aquaculture hatcheries, model farms, aquaculture \r\nfeeds, feed mills, model processing plants, aquaculture malls, research \r\nand training centers, laboratories with or without private investment; \r\n(i) certify aquaculture products for export as per notified standards to meet \r\ninternational quality standards; \r\n(j) conduct studies, research, undertake surveys, prepare feasibility reports, \r\ndevelop and promote aquaculture markets, assess potential gaps and \r\nprepare business plans for aquaculture; \r\n(k) engage a person for performances of any of its functions for effective \r\ndevelopment of aquaculture industry and related infrastructure; \r\n(l) prepare annual budget and implement annual development programs in \r\naquaculture for the aquaculture area; \r\n(m) acquire property or, with the approval of the Government, dispose of its \r\nimmovable property; \r\n(n) raise funds through borrowing, investments, leasing of assets or any other \r\nmeans and its utilization in the prescribed manner; \r\n(o) enter into and perform such contracts with local and inte rnational \r\norganizations, agencies or companies, including joint ventures, as may be \r\nnecessary for carrying out the purposes of the Act; \r\n(p) award contracts for projects or schemes to be undertaken, through the \r\nPunjab Procurement Regulatory Authority Act, 2009 (VIII of 2009 ), public \r\nfinancing or through the Punjab Public Private Partnership Act 2025 (XVII \r\nof 2025); \r\n(q) levy, collect or cause to be collected fees on the use of the aquaculture \r\nfacilities and such infrastructure, or such other facilities within the \r\naquaculture area and grant concessions in respect thereof; \r\n(r) establish committees, offices, units, sectors and wings and delegate such \r\npowers to such committees, offices, units, sectors and wings, as are \r\nnecessary for the efficient and effective performance of its functions under \r\nthe Act; \r\n(s) perform such other functions as the Government may assign to achieve \r\nthe objectives of the Act; \r\n(t) engage the private sector to invest in aquaculture businesses, \r\nfacilitate and promote value chain components of aquaculture \r\nindustry; \r\n(u) establish, lease and outsource the aquaculture farms, subject to sub -\r\nsection (2) of section 3, and allied facilities to private sector on such \r\nterms and conditions as determined by the Authority; \r\n(v) establish units for seed production, grow -out, preservation, \r\nprocessing, distribution and marketing of aquaculture with or without \r\nprivate investment; and \r\n(w) perform such other functions as may be necessary for the purposes of the \r\nAct. \r\n7. Chief Executive Officer .– (1) The Chief Minister may appoint the Ch ief \r\nExecutive Officer on such terms and conditions as the Chief Minister may determine or \r\nan officer not below the rank of BS -19 may be transferred and posted from Services \r\nand General Administration Department to the said post. \r\n(2) The person appointed by the Chief Minister under sub-section (1) shall be \r\na whole-time employee of the Authority and governed by the terms and conditions as \r\nmay be determined by the Chief Minister ; however, he shall serve during the pleasure \r\nof the Chief Minister. \r\n(3) The Chief Executive Officer shall exercise such powers as are assigned \r\nto him under the Act, delegated by the Authority or as may be prescribed by the \r\nregulations. \r\n(4) The Chief Executive Officer shall: \r\n(a) be the Principal Accounting Officer of the Authority; \r\n(b) be competent to enter into contracts on behalf of the Authority with \r\napproval of the Authority; \r\n(c) conduct all meetings and make decisions related to operations, \r\nmanagement and administration of the Authority; \r\n(d) subject to the control of the Authority, be responsible for \r\naccomplishing the objectives of the Act; and \r\n(e) grant, suspend or cancel the license, registration or certification under the \r\nAct: \r\nprovided that in case of cancellation of license, registration or \r\ncertification, an opportunity of being heard shall be provided in person or \r\nthrough video link to the concerned person. \r\n(5) Any person aggrieved of suspension or cancellation of license, \r\nregistration or certification under clause (e) of sub-section (4) may, within seven days of \r\nthe order file an appeal before the Appellate Committee to be notified by the Authority. \r\n8. Registration, licensing and certification .– (1) No person shall undertake or \r\ncarry on any aquaculture business or activity without registration, license or certificati on \r\nunder the Act: \r\n Provided that a person already carrying on aquaculture business shall, within six \r\nmonths of the commencement of the Act, apply for registration, license or certification. \r\n(2) Registration shall be required for an aquaculture farm, hatche ry, feed mill, \r\nprocessing plant, aquaculture mall, laboratory, or such other facility as may be \r\nprescribed, and shall be made once, in such manner and on payment of such fee, and \r\nsubject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations. \r\n(3) An aquaculture farm, hatchery, feed mill, processing plant, aquaculture \r\nmall, laboratory registered under sub -section (2) shall be required to get license for \r\nrunning of its business in such manner and on payment of such fee, for such period, \r\nand subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations. \r\n(4) Certification shall be required for aquaculture products intended for export \r\nor for such other purposes as may be prescribed by the regulations, and accreditation \r\nshall be requir ed for aquaculture laboratories, and both shall be issued or granted, as \r\nthe case may be, in such manner and on payment of such fee, for such period, and \r\nsubject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the regulations. \r\n9. Services by the Authority.– The Authority may provide advisory, technical or \r\nsuch other services for any aquaculture business or activity on payment of such fee and \r\nsubject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. \r\n10. Employees of the Authority .– (1) The Authority may appoint such employees, \r\nexperts or consultants and other staff in such manner and on such terms and conditions \r\nas may be prescribed. \r\n(2) Subject to the terms and conditions of appointment, the Authority may, at \r\nany time, terminate the services of an employee, expert or consultant and other staff by \r\nserving thirty days' prior notice or on payment of thirty days salary in lieu of the notice. \r\n11. Appointment by transfer and posting.– (1) The Chief Minister may, on the \r\nrequest of the Authority, transfer and post the services of a civil servant to the \r\nAuthority, on terms and conditions which shall not be less favourable than those \r\nadmissible to him immediately before his transfer and posting. \r\n(2) The employee transferred and posted under sub -section (1) shall \r\ncontinue to be an employee of the Government, and shall be liable to be transferred \r\nand posted back to the Government. \r\n12. Liability for loss .– Any person employed by or serving under the Aut hority \r\ncharged with the administration of the affairs of the Authority or acting on behalf of the \r\nAuthority or acting under a contract with the Authority, who is responsible for any loss, \r\nwaste, misappropriation or misapplication of any money or property b elonging to the \r\nAuthority which is a direct consequence of his negligence or misconduct in the \r\ndischarge of his duties, shall be liable to pay the loss suffered by the Authority, and the \r\nsame loss being determined by the Authority, after giving the person concerned a \r\nreasonable opportunity of being heard. \r\n13. Committees.– The Authority may constitute one or more committees consisting \r\nof its Members, employees and such other persons as it may deem fit and assign \r\nfunctions to such committees. \r\n14. Directions t o the Authority .– The Government may give general or special \r\ndirections to the Authority and the Authority shall comply with such directions. \r\n(2) The Authority shall immediately act to rectify any neglect in the \r\nperformance of its functions when informed by the Government. \r\n15. Transfer of rights and liabilities .– The Government and local governments or \r\nany other authority or agency may, for the purposes of the Act, transfer any assets, \r\nrights and liabilities in relation to the aquaculture infrastructure to the Authority on such \r\nterms and conditions as may be agreed between them. \r\n16. Authentication of instruments of the Authority.– All orders, decisions and \r\nother instruments of the Authority shall be authenticated by the signature of the Chief \r\nExecutive Officer or any other employee as authorized by the Authority. \r\n17. Fund.– (1) There shall be a Fund to be known as the Aquaculture Authority of \r\nthe Punjab Fund to be administered and controlled by the Authority in such manner as \r\nmay be prescribed by the rules. \r\n(2) The Fund shall consist of: \r\n(a) funds provided by the Government or the Federal Government; \r\n(b) loans or grants by the Government or the Federal Government; \r\n(c) funds obtained by the Authority under the Act; \r\n(d) grants and loans negotiated and raised, or otherwise obtained by the \r\nAuthority under the Act; \r\n(e) income from fee, charges, rentals and fines collected by the Authority and \r\nfrom the lease or sale of the property; and \r\n(f) any other sums received by the Authority. \r\n(3) The Authority shall meet all its expenses from the Fund. \r\n18. Accounts.– The Authority may open and maintain its accounts at such \r\nscheduled banks as it may thin k fit with the concurrence of Finance Department of the \r\nGovernment. \r\n19. Budget and accounts .– (1) The Authority shall maintai n proper accounts and \r\nother records relating to its financial affairs including its income and expenditure, and its \r\nassets and liabilities in such form and manner as may be prescribed. \r\n(2) After the conclusion of a financial year, the Authority shall, in t he manner \r\nprescribed, cause to be prepared for the financial year statements of account s of the \r\nAuthority, which shall include a balance sheet and an account of income and \r\nexpenditures. \r\n(3) The Authority shall approve its annual budget for a financial year in the \r\nprescribed manner. \r\n(4) No expenditure for which provision has not been made in the approved \r\nbudget shall be incurred without prior approval of the Authority. \r\n(5) The Authority may delegate subject to such conditions and restrictions as \r\nmay be specified in the order, any of its functions to Chief Executive Officer, committee \r\nor an employee except the function to: \r\n(a) frame and amend regulations; \r\n(b) constitute a committee; \r\n(c) formulate standards, procedures , processes and guideline s in relation to \r\nany aspect of aquaculture sector; and \r\n(d) approve the annual report, annual budget and audit accounts. \r\n20. Audit.– (1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts of \r\nthe Authority. \r\n(2) The Government, in addition to the audit under sub -section (1), shall \r\ncause the accounts of the Authority to be annually audited by a Chartered Accountant \r\nor a firm of Chartered Accountants. \r\n(3) The auditor appointed under sub -section (2) shall be provided such \r\naccess to books, accounts and other documents as may be considered necessary for \r\nthe audit of accounts. \r\n(4) The auditor shall submit the annual or any special audit report to the \r\nAuthority, and the Authority under intimation to the Government shall take appropriate \r\nremedial or other action in light of the audit report. \r\n21. Joint venture, outsourcing and procurements .– (1) The Authority may enter \r\ninto any joint venture agreement as a partner with any person or any national or \r\ninternational organization to manage, develop, maintain, build and , subject to sub -\r\nsection ( 2) of section 3, transfer any aquaculture farm, facilities including breeding, \r\nharvesting, marketing, processing, also including land, plot, estate or property vested in \r\nthe Authority. \r\n(2) The Authority may outsource any of its act ivities including development \r\nworks through the Punjab Public Private Partnership Act 2025 (XVII of 2025) or Punjab \r\nProcurement Regulatory Authority Act, 2009 (VIII of 2009). \r\n22. Leasing of aquaculture property .– The Authority may lease out any \r\naquaculture farm, hatchery, feed mill, processing plant and aquaculture mall, or any \r\nother facility or aquaculture resource, in such manner and subject to such terms and \r\nconditions, as may be prescribed. \r\n23. Purchase of property .– The Authority may purchase any land, building, \r\naquaculture farm or any other property by entering into an agreement with any person \r\nlegally competent to sell such property or enter into joint venture agreement for the \r\ndevelopment of such property or any other site, project, building and sche me, not \r\ncontrary to the applicable laws. \r\n24. Power to give directions .– (1) The Authority may require a Government \r\nDepartment or entity, within whose jurisdiction any particular locality or aspect of \r\ndevelopment covered by a project lies: \r\n(a) to execute a project in consultation with the Authority; \r\n(b) to take over and maintain any of the works and services in that area; \r\n(c) to provide any amenity in relation to the land which in the opinion of the \r\nAuthority ought to be provided; and \r\n(d) to enforce regulations on behalf of the Authority. \r\n(2) The expenditures incurred on the execution of any project or on the taking \r\nover or maintenance of any work, or the enforcement of regulations, under this section, \r\nshall be borne as may be agreed to between the Authority and the Government \r\nDepartment or entity and in the event of disagreement, as may be determined by the \r\nGovernment. \r\n25. Powers to remove sources of pollution .– The Authority shall have powers to \r\nundertake improvements of the environment of the aquaculture ar ea or any part \r\nthereof, and to check, replace, eliminate, remove, demolish, conserve, resettle or \r\nrelocate the sources of environmental pollution within such area. \r\n26. Enforcement.– (1) The Authority shall devise and implement enforcement plans \r\nregarding the observance of the rules, regulations in relation to standards, procedures, \r\nprocesses and guidelines related to aquaculture and may pass appropriate orders in \r\nthis regard. \r\n(2) The Authority may appoint officers for the implementation of the \r\nenforcement plans, in such manner as may be prescribed. \r\n(3) The officers appointed under sub -section (2) shall exercise such powers, \r\nin such manners and to such extent, as may be prescribed. \r\n27. Enforcement procedure of the Authority .– On the information received from \r\nany source, the officer appointed under section 26 by the Authority, subject to serving a \r\nshow cause notice and recording reasons in writing, may: \r\n(a) impose fine on the aquaculture business operator which may extend to \r\none million rupees but not less than fifty thousand rupees; \r\n(b) recommend suspension or cancellation of license granted under the Act; \r\nand \r\n(c) get registered first information report in the local Police Station. \r\n28. Power of seizure .– (1) An officer, oth er than the Chief Executive Officer, \r\nauthorized by the Authority may seize any vehicle, apparatus or other thing which \r\nappears to the officer to be used in contravention of the Act. \r\n(2) The officer shall prepare a statement describing the vehicle, apparatus or \r\nother thing seized and shall deliver a copy of the statement to the person from whom it \r\nis seized. \r\n(3) A person aggrieved by the seizure under sub -section (1), within seven \r\ndays of such seizure, may file an appeal before the Chief Executive Officer. \r\n(4) If the Chief Executive Officer confirms the seizure of the vehicle, \r\napparatus or other thing, it shall stand forfeited to the Authority. \r\n29. Power of sealing .– (1) An officer, below the level of Chief Executive Officer, \r\nauthorized by the Authority may, wherever it is necessary for the purposes of the Act, \r\nand at all reasonable times, enter upon any land or premises and make inspection, \r\nvaluation or enquiry and if he finds sufficient r easons to believe that any business or \r\nactivity is being carried out in violation of the Act, he may seal the premises or property. \r\n(2) The authorized officer shall not enter any boundary wall or any enclosed \r\ncourtyard or garden attached to a dwelling hou se, except with the consent of the \r\noccupant and for obtaining such consent, at least twenty -four hours’ notice in writing of \r\nhis intention to do so, has been given to the occupants. \r\n(3) Any person aggrieved by the order of sealing may, within seven days of \r\nsuch sealing, file an appeal before the Chief Executive Officer. \r\n30. Recovery of fines .– (1) The Authority shall recover the fine, fee or any other \r\namount, imposed or levied under the Act, as an arrears of land revenue and for the \r\npurpose, authorize an officer to exercise the powers of District Collector. \r\n(2) The fine imposed or the fee charged under the Act, the rules or the \r\nregulations shall be deposited with the Authority and shall form part of the Fund. \r\n31. Appeals.– (1) Any person aggrieved by an or der passed by the authorized \r\nofficer under the Act, may prefer an appeal to the Chief Executive Officer of the \r\nAuthority within seven days from the date of such order, who shall decide the appeal \r\nafter affording an opportunity of personal hearing or throug h video link to the parties, as \r\nfollows: \r\n(a) accept the appeal and set aside the order passed by the authorized \r\nofficer; or \r\n(b) modify the order passed by the authorized officer; or \r\n(c) uphold the order passed by the authorized officer. \r\n(2) Any person aggrieved from the order passed under sub section (1) may \r\nfile second appeal before the appellate committee to be notified by the Authority, within \r\nseven days from the date of such order, after affording an opportunity for personal \r\nhearing to the parties in person or through video link and that appellate committee may: \r\n(a) accept the appeal and set aside the order passed under sub -section (1); \r\nor \r\n(b) modify the order passed under sub-section (1); or \r\n(c) uphold the order passed under sub-section (1). \r\n(3) In case, aggrieved person chooses to appear for personal hearing \r\nthrough video link, the video link shall be organized by the concerned authorized officer \r\nin his office, where the aggrieved person shall appear to join the video link. \r\n32. Failure to comply with the directions .– If any person, without reasonable \r\ncause, fails to comply with any order issued by the Authority or its authorized officer, \r\nshall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year but not less \r\nthan three months or with fine which may exte nd to one million rupees but not less to \r\nfive hundred thousand rupees or both. \r\n33. Powers to eject unauthorized occupants .– (1) The Authority may summarily \r\neject or dispossess any unauthorized occupant of any part of the infrastructure or a \r\nproposed projec t site thereof and remove any structure thereon, and may use such \r\nlegal force, including Police or Punjab Enforcement and Regulatory Authority , as may \r\nbe necessary for the purpose of ejectment or dispossession and to recover the cost \r\nthereof from such unauthorized occupant under the applicable laws. \r\n(2) Any person resisting against the action under sub -section (1) shall be \r\npunishable with imprisonment which may extend to five years but not less than three \r\nyears and with fine up to ten million rupees but not less than one million rupees. \r\n34. Damage to aquaculture property or infrastructure .– (1) Any person who \r\nwillfully causes damage, or allows damage to be caused to any property which vests in, \r\nor managed by the Authority, or which is to be acquired by the Authority, or unlawfully \r\nconverts it to his own or any other person's use, shall be punished with imprisonment \r\nfor a term which may extend to seven years but not less than three years and with fine \r\nwhich may extend to ten million rupees but not less than one million rupees. \r\n(2) Any person who discharges any dangerous chemical, inflammable, \r\nhazardous or offensive substance in any drain, or sewer, water course or public land \r\nvested in, managed, or controlled by the Authority in such manner as causes or is likely \r\nto cause danger to the aquaculture or related infrastructure, or obstructs or tampers \r\nwith any way, street, drain or sewer pipe or pavement or tampers with any pipe, \r\napparatus or appliance for the supply of water or sewerage system or lays out a dr ain \r\nor alters any drain earmarked for aquaculture infrastructure, shall be liable to \r\nimprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years but not less than three years \r\nand with fine which may extend to ten million rupees but not less than one million \r\nrupees. \r\n(3) The damage or loss incurred by the Authority due to offences committed \r\nby the offender under sub -sections (1) and (2) shall be recovered from the offender at \r\nthe rate determined by the authorized officer of Authority and in case, the offender \r\nrefuses to pay such damage or loss, he shall be subject to imprisonment for a minimum \r\nperiod of one year in addition to any other punishment imposed upon him under the \r\nAct. \r\n35. Obstructing the authorized officer .– (1) Any person, who obstructs an \r\nauthorized officer in the performance of his duties, shall be liable to imprisonment, for a \r\nterm which may extend to one year but not less than six months and with fine which \r\nmay extend to one million rupees but not less than five hundred thousand rupees. \r\n(2) Any person, who unlawfully removes, alters or interferes, in any manner \r\nwith any equipment or vehicle seized or any premises or property sealed under the Act, \r\nshall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may exte nd to one year but not less \r\nthan six months and with fine which may extend to one million rupees but not less than \r\nfive hundred thousand rupees. \r\n36. Business without registration, license or certification .– If any person carries \r\nout aquaculture business or activity without registration, license or certification under \r\nthe Act and in violation of the provisions of the Act, shall be liable to imprisonment for a \r\nterm which may extend to three years but not less than one year and with fine which \r\nmay extend to three million rupees but not less than one million rupees. \r\n37. Punishment for residuary offences .– Any provision of the Act for the \r\ncontravention of which no specific penalty is provided shall be punishable with \r\nimprisonment for a term which may extend to two years but not less than one year and \r\nwith fine which may extend to one million rupees but not less than five hundred \r\nthousand rupees. \r\n38. Punishment for subsequent offence .– If any person, after having been \r\npreviously convicted of an offence under the Act, subsequently commits the same \r\noffence under the Act, he shall be punished with double of the maximum imprisonment \r\nand double of the maximum fine provided for such offence under the Act. \r\n39. Cognizance of an offence.– (1) Subject to sub-section (2), an offence under the \r\nAct shall be cognizable and bailable. \r\n(2) An offence punishable under sections 33, 34 and 38 of the Act shall be \r\nnon-bailable. \r\n40. Trial of offences .– (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code, but \r\nsubject to sub-section (3), the court may summarily try an offence punishable under the \r\nAct. \r\n(2) If the court is of the opinion that the nature of the offence does not justi fy \r\nsummary trial, it may conduct proceedings in accordance with provisions of Chapter XX \r\nof the Code. \r\n(3) An offence punishable under the Act shall be tried by a Magistrate \r\nappointed under section 30 of the Code. \r\n41. Compounding of offence.– The Authority may by an order empower any of its \r\nemployee to compound an offence under the Act except offence under section 38 of the \r\nAct, at any stage on such terms and conditions and value of compensation, as may be \r\nprescribed. \r\n42. Public servants .– The Chairperson, M embers, employees, experts and \r\nconsultants of the Authority shall, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any \r\nof the provisions of the Act, be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of \r\nsection 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). \r\n43. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie against \r\nthe Authority, Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer, any Member, employee, expert or \r\nconsultant of the Authority in respect of anything done or intended to be done in good \r\nfaith, under the Act. \r\n44. Annual report.– (1) The Authority shall, within three months of the close of a \r\nfinancial year, submit to the Government an annual performance report. \r\n(2) The annual performance report shall consist of: \r\n(a) the statement of accounts and audit reports of the Authority; \r\n(b) a comprehensive statement of the work and activities of the Authority \r\nduring the preceding financial year and its proposed projects and \r\nschemes; and \r\n(c) such other matters as may be prescribed or as the Authority may consider \r\nappropriate. \r\n(3) The Government shall, within three months of the receipt of the annual \r\nreport from the Authority, cause it to be laid in Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. \r\n45. Monitoring and Evaluation.– (1) The Government shall, at least once in a year, \r\nconduct or cause to be conducted, the performance audit of the Authority to assess and \r\nevaluate the performance of the Authority in accomplishing the objectives of the Act. \r\n(2) The Government may, on the basis of the performance audi t, issue such \r\ndirections to the Authority, as may be necessary, for accomplishing the objectives of the \r\nAct and the Authority shall implement such directions. \r\n46. Power to make rules. – The Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. \r\n47. Power to frame regulations. – (1) Subject to the Act, the Authority may, by \r\nnotification, frame regulations to give effect to the provisions of the Act. \r\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub -section (1), the regulations may \r\nprovide for: \r\n(a) procedure for transaction of business of the Authority; \r\n(b) terms and conditions of service of the employees of the Authority; \r\n(c) standards and guidelines in relation to any aquaculture business or \r\nactivity; \r\n(d) limits of additives, contaminants, toxic substance, heavy metals \r\npesticides, veterinary drugs, residues and related matters in the \r\naquaculture; \r\n(e) marking, packaging, labelling, advertising and warranty of aquaculture \r\nproducts; \r\n(f) registration, licensing and certification procedures; \r\n(g) inspection of aquaculture business, safe and hygienic storage and \r\ntransportation; \r\n(h) recognition and accreditation of laboratories and scale of fee for a \r\nlaboratory test; \r\n(i) search of premises, vehicle or person for taking and handling samples of \r\nany aquaculture product; \r\n(j) finances, accounts, budget and reporting procedures; \r\n(k) procedure for appointment of the employees of the Authority; and \r\n(l) delegation of financial powers. \r\n48. Act to p revail over other laws .– In the event of any conflict or inconsistency \r\nbetween the provisions of the Act and the provisions of any other law, the provisions of \r\nthe Act shall prevail to the extent of such inconsistency or conflict. \r\n49. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision \r\nof the Act, the Government, at any time, may make such orders or give such directions \r\nas are necessary to achieve the purposes of the Act. \r\n_______", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-70f584160b0758ca:sha256:dd0fd8dc34dcfa6228c518e53db1796fd834690828a21572683ad7b3ac415975:chars-0-1776:92ac8578750efe1a9290512446b1086d91be9b29fed1bb3d7fb89d5cb32888fb", "character_start": 0, "character_end": 1776, "utf8_byte_start": 0, "utf8_byte_end": 1776, "passage_sha256": "92ac8578750efe1a9290512446b1086d91be9b29fed1bb3d7fb89d5cb32888fb", "reader_fragment": "p-0-1776-92ac8578750efe1a" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-70f584160b0758ca:sha256:dd0fd8dc34dcfa6228c518e53db1796fd834690828a21572683ad7b3ac415975:chars-1776-3576:89c828076cb774ac2d299e3912e817401da90d26ed96a5daed2d1a756d491905", 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