{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-767371087642f667", "title": "PUNJAB COUNCIL OF THE ARTS ACT, 1975", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/ATQGNAY4W2k-", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:53:26Z", "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": "cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283", "source_sha256": "cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE PUNJAB COUNCIL OF THE ARTS ACT, 1975 \r\n(XXIV of 1975) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. Establishment of the Council \r\n4. Board of Governors \r\n5. Executive Committee \r\n6. Quorum \r\n7. Functions of the Executive Committee \r\n8. Executive Director \r\n9. Headquarters \r\n10. Functions \r\n11. Funds \r\n12. Audit of Accounts \r\n13. Powers to take over Arts Councils and other Cultural Bodies \r\n14. Power to make rules \r\n15. Power to make Regulations \r\n16. Repeal of Punjab Ordinance No. II of 1975 \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB COUNCIL OF THE ARTS ACT, 1975 \r\n(XXIV of 1975) \r\n[31st March, 1975] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto provide for the establishment of the Punjab Council of the Arts. \r\nPreamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment of a Punjab \r\nCouncil of the Arts for the patronage, promotion and development of the arts and \r\nculture and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; \r\n It is hereby enacted as follows:– \r\n1. Short title extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the \r\nPunjab Council of the Arts, 1975. \r\n(2) It extends to the whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions.– In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or \r\ncontext:– \r\n(a) “Board” means the Board of Governors of the Council constituted \r\nunder Section 4; \r\n(b) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board; \r\n(c) “Council” means Punjab Council of the Arts established under Section \r\n3; \r\n(d) “Executive Committee” means the Executive Committee of the Council; \r\n(e) “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Council; \r\n(f) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; and \r\n(g) “patron” means the patron of the Council. \r\n3. Establishment of the Council .– (1) As soon as may be after the \r\ncommencement of this Act, the Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, establish a Council to be called the Punjab Council of the Arts. \r\n (2) The Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession \r\nand a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both \r\nmovable and immovable, and shall sue and be sued, by the said name. \r\n4. Board of Governors.– (1) The management, overall control and supervision \r\nof the affairs of the Council shall vest in a Board of Governors consisting of the \r\nfollowing members, namely:– \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 18 th February 1975; as assented to the Governor of the Punjab on 31 st \r\nMarch, 1975; and, published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 31st March, 1975, pages 237-G to 237-L. \r\n(a) The Chief Minister, Government of the Punjab: Patron; \r\n(b) The Minister incharg e of Information, Culture and Tourism, \r\nGovernment of the Punjab: Chairman; \r\n(c) Secretary to Government, Department of Information, Culture and \r\nTourism: Vice- Chairman; \r\n(d) five members \r\n2\r\n[including at least two female members] of the \r\nProvincial Assembly of the Punjab; \r\n(e) a nominee of the Federal Ministry of Education; \r\n(f) Secretary to Government, Finance Department; \r\n(g) Chairman, Lahore Museum, Lahore; \r\n(h) Director, Public Relations, Government of the Punjab; \r\n(i) Principal, National College of Arts, Lahore; \r\n(j) “Head” Department of Fine Arts, University of the Punjab, Lahore; \r\n(k) all Executive Heads of Divisional Councils of Arts; and \r\n(l) sixteen persons \r\n3\r\n[including at least five women] to be nominated by the \r\nChairman from amongst outstanding scholars and artists in the fields of \r\nperforming arts, plastic arts and literature, including four women and \r\nalso including four persons to be nominated in consultation with \r\nrepresentative Associations of artists, duly recognized by the \r\nGovernment. \r\n(2) The Board shall have power to co-opt members from amongst persons \r\nwho are specialists in their respective fields for advice on particular projects and \r\nmatters under consideration. \r\n (3) The members of the Board, excepting the ex -officio members, shall \r\nhold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for re-nomination. \r\n (4) A member of the Board, excepting the ex -officio member, may, by \r\nwriting under his hand addressed to the Chairman, resign his office. \r\n (5) The Chairman may remove any member of the Board nomin ated by \r\nhim without assigning any reason. \r\n (6) Any casual vacancy in the office of a member of the Board shall be \r\nfilled by a person nominated by the Chairman and the person so nominated shall \r\nhold office for the un-expired period of the term of his predecessor. \r\n5. Executive Committee .– The Council shall have an Executive Committee \r\nconsisting of the following members:– \r\n(a) Secretary to Government, Information, Culture and Tourism \r\nDepartment: Chairman; \r\n \r\n2Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representatio n of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014; and published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated 12.3.2014, pages 2733-2744, s.2 and Schedule, at serial No.15. \r\n3Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representati on of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014); and published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated 12.3.2014, pages 2733-2744, s.2 and Schedule, at serial No.15. \r\n(b) Director, Public Relations, Government of the Punja b: Vice -\r\nChairman; \r\n(c) four eminent artists and scholars to be nominated by the Chairman \r\nfrom amongst the members of the Board; \r\n(d) two members of the Punjab Provincial Assembly to be nominated by \r\nthe Chairman from amongst the members of the Board; \r\n(e) Secretary to Government, Finance Department or his nominee; and \r\n(f) Executive Director of the Council: Member-Secretary. \r\n6. Quorum.– (1) Four members, including the Chairman or the Vice -Chairman, \r\nshall constitute quorum at the meeting of the Executive Committee. \r\n (2) In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall preside at the \r\nmeetings of the Executive Committee and shall exercise all powers of the Chairman. \r\n7. Functions of the Executive Committee .– (1) The business of the Council \r\nshall be cond ucted by the Executive Committee or by such member or members \r\nauthorized by the Executive Committee to act on its behalf in the manner approved \r\nby it. \r\n (2) The Executive Committee shall have power to incur all expenditure out \r\nof the funds of the Council fo r execution of its business and activities in accordance \r\nwith the aims and objects of the Council. \r\n (3) The Executive Committee may delegate its powers to the Chairman or \r\nthe Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee or a sub -committee to be appointed \r\nby the Chairman of the Executive Committee. \r\n (4) The Executive Committee shall have power to create post and appoint \r\npersons thereto to carry out its duties and functions on such terms and conditions as \r\nit may determine. \r\n (5) The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times in a year. \r\n8. Executive Director.– (1) There shall be an Executive Director who shall be \r\nappointed by the Chairman of the Council on such terms and conditions as the \r\nChairman may determine from time to time. \r\n (2) The Executive Director shall be the Chief Executive of the Council and \r\nshall be responsible to the Board and the Executive Committee for carrying out the \r\nobjectives of the Council. \r\n (3) The Executive Director shall act as Secretary to the Board and to the \r\nExecutive Committee. \r\n (4) The Executive Director, if he is not a Government employee, may \r\nresign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman. \r\n9. Headquarters.– The headquarters of the Council shall be at Lahore. \r\n10. Functions.– The Council shall– \r\n(a) advise the Government on all matters of policy relating to artistic and \r\ncultural activity; \r\n(b) adopt measures for improving knowledge, understanding and practice \r\nof the arts; \r\n(c) co-ordinate, evaluate and supervise the activities of the Arts Councils \r\nand such other artistic, cultural and literary organizations as are in \r\nreceipt of subsidy or grant directly or indirectly from the Federal or the \r\nProvincial Government; \r\n(d) set up Divisional and District Arts Councils; \r\n(e) plan, establish and manage art academies, folk museums, exhibition \r\nhalls, art galleries, auditoria and similar other institutions; \r\n(f) organize cultural ensembles, exhibitions of plastic art s and crafts, \r\ncultural fairs and festivals and similar other activities; \r\n(g) help establish and organize provincial/local Artists Equities; \r\n(h) arrange registration of cultural organizations with a view to extending \r\nassistance to them and regulating their activities; and \r\n(i) perform any other function in the field of the arts, culture entrusted to it \r\nby the Government. \r\n4\r\n[Provided that no art shall be patronized by the Council which has the \r\ntendency to inculcate or advance eroticism, indecency, immorality or \r\nobscenity.] \r\n11. Funds.– The Funds of the Council shall be derived from the following \r\nsources, namely:– \r\n(i) grants from the Federal Government; \r\n(ii) grants from the Provincial Government; \r\n(iii) contributions and donations from individuals, local bodies, \r\ncorporations, institutions, organizations and agencies; \r\n(iv) income derived from the activities of the Council; and \r\n(v) any other source approved by the Executive Committee. \r\n12. Audit of Accounts .– The account of the Council shall be audited in such \r\nmanner as Government may direct from time to time. \r\n13. Powers to take over Arts Councils and other Cultural Bodies .– (1) \r\nGovernment may, as and when required in public interest, take over premises, \r\nfunctions, assets and liabilities of an Arts Council or any other body engaged in \r\ncarrying out literary, cultural or artistic activities. \r\n5\r\n[Provided that no order of such acquisi tion shall be made without giving and \r\nopportunity of being heard to the person or persons or body running the Arts Council \r\nwhose property is sought to be acquired.] \r\n \r\n4Added by the Punjab Council of the Arts (Amendmen t) Ordinance, 1984 (XI of 1984); and published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated 13.12.1984, s.2. \r\n5Added by the Punjab Council of the Arts (Amendment) Ordinance, 1984 (XI of 1984); and published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated 13.12.1984, s.2. \r\n \r\n6\r\n[(1-A) Where any land, building or other property of an Arts Council or any \r\nother body engaged in carrying out literary, cultural or artistic activities, is taken over \r\nby the Government under sub -section(1), the amount of compensation to be \r\nawarded shall be determine by the collector on the basis of the factors and \r\nconsideration laid down in the Land Acquisition Act, 1894(I of 1894).] \r\n (2) Where it appears to the Council that an organization engaged in artistic \r\nor cultural activity, which is in receipt of any grant directly or indirectly from the \r\nFederal or Provincial Government is conducting its activities in a manner contrary to \r\nthe policy laid down by the Council or is in any other way mis -managing its affairs, \r\nthe Council may and where the Government so directs, shall hold an enquiry into the \r\naffairs of such organization and submit a report to the Government along with its \r\nrecommendations for consideration and such action as Government may deem fit in \r\nthat behalf. \r\n14. Power to make Rules .– Government may, by notification in the official \r\nGazette, make Rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. \r\n15. Power to make Regulations .– The Council may make such regulations as it \r\nmay consider necessary for carrying the provisions of this Act into effect. \r\n16. Repeal of Punjab Ordinance No. II of 1975.– The Punjab Council of the Arts \r\nOrdinance, 1975 (Ordinance No. II of 1975), is hereby repealed. \r\n \r\n6Added by the Punjab Council of the A rts (Amendment) Ordinance, 1984 (XI of 1984); and published in the Punjab Gazette \r\n(Extraordinary), dated 13.12.1984, s.2.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-0-1745:25b0d02762fb76cf23d7f6ea0a321fa92c36d4821c390dc4082a583676ad5d38", "character_start": 0, "character_end": 1745, "utf8_byte_start": 0, "utf8_byte_end": 1783, "passage_sha256": "25b0d02762fb76cf23d7f6ea0a321fa92c36d4821c390dc4082a583676ad5d38", "reader_fragment": "p-0-1745-25b0d02762fb76cf" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-1745-3518:f6d5cc4928bafefc3d387371e8386590fddd8b5104248a73182eb67ea17b9d0f", "character_start": 1745, "character_end": 3518, "utf8_byte_start": 1783, "utf8_byte_end": 3566, "passage_sha256": "f6d5cc4928bafefc3d387371e8386590fddd8b5104248a73182eb67ea17b9d0f", "reader_fragment": "p-1745-3518-f6d5cc4928bafefc" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-3518-5290:46c403c16e1bfa8ca3fb678d3eed3e76321b3cd40554ca29551e0b60c25bb5d3", "character_start": 3518, "character_end": 5290, "utf8_byte_start": 3566, "utf8_byte_end": 5342, "passage_sha256": "46c403c16e1bfa8ca3fb678d3eed3e76321b3cd40554ca29551e0b60c25bb5d3", "reader_fragment": "p-3518-5290-46c403c16e1bfa8c" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-5290-7051:aa60837c053ccc0f18d56f7c5eaebf6974a4020a28e6602c272a6aa6d42a5f90", "character_start": 5290, "character_end": 7051, "utf8_byte_start": 5342, "utf8_byte_end": 7109, "passage_sha256": "aa60837c053ccc0f18d56f7c5eaebf6974a4020a28e6602c272a6aa6d42a5f90", "reader_fragment": "p-5290-7051-aa60837c053ccc0f" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-7051-8800:83fc48df8a0b30e0d76b877acd7e7a82d0cd592efc50c0b714572164c24dabb6", "character_start": 7051, "character_end": 8800, "utf8_byte_start": 7109, "utf8_byte_end": 8864, "passage_sha256": "83fc48df8a0b30e0d76b877acd7e7a82d0cd592efc50c0b714572164c24dabb6", "reader_fragment": "p-7051-8800-83fc48df8a0b30e0" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-8800-10588:7248af7ef3aef59f05b066e7cf964e6a4bad7e0d2fbf9bca09acdd07f7654130", "character_start": 8800, "character_end": 10588, "utf8_byte_start": 8864, "utf8_byte_end": 10660, "passage_sha256": "7248af7ef3aef59f05b066e7cf964e6a4bad7e0d2fbf9bca09acdd07f7654130", "reader_fragment": "p-8800-10588-7248af7ef3aef59f" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-767371087642f667:sha256:cf170adea20934cc1861d6bea9f8133e19f214bf4b6337a24526730f67fea283:chars-10588-12084:5a4515a4bfc21cb490e7f68a1e150a757ed402517a52f03daaa51710372943c8", "character_start": 10588, "character_end": 12084, "utf8_byte_start": 10660, "utf8_byte_end": 12162, "passage_sha256": "5a4515a4bfc21cb490e7f68a1e150a757ed402517a52f03daaa51710372943c8", "reader_fragment": "p-10588-12084-5a4515a4bfc21cb4" } ] }