{ "schema_version": "qanun-law-text/1", "id": "punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d", "title": "PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG AUTHORITY ACT 2016", "source_collection": "Punjab", "content_kind": "stored_law_text", "content_extent": null, "source_url": "https://punjabcode.punjab.gov.pk/en/show_article/BDFXYFNnV24-", "version": null, "source_snapshot": "2026-08-06T16:50:58Z", "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": "aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642", "source_sha256": "aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642", "text_version_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642", "quality_flags": [], "encoding": "UTF-8", "text": "THE PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG \r\nAUTHORITY ACT 2016 \r\n(XXXII of 2016) \r\nCONTENTS \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement \r\n2. Definitions \r\n3. The Authority \r\n4. Disqualification of the members \r\n5. Functions \r\n6. Allocation of laboratories \r\n7. Director General \r\n8. Experts \r\n9. Expert opinion \r\n10. Clarification of opinion \r\n11. Re-examination of samples \r\n12. Fund \r\n13. Bank account \r\n14. Budget and accounts \r\n15. Audit \r\n16. Appointment of employees \r\n17. Public servants \r\n18. Delegation of powers \r\n19. Conflict of interest \r\n20. Offence \r\n21. Appeal \r\n22. Recovery of dues \r\n23. Annual performance report \r\n24. Monitoring and evaluation \r\n25. Other laws \r\n26. Rules \r\n27. Regulations \r\n28. Repeal \r\n \r\nTEXT \r\n1\r\nTHE PUNJAB AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND DRUG AUTHORITY ACT 2016 \r\n(XXXII of 2016) \r\n[24 May 2016] \r\nAn \r\nAct \r\nto establish the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority for forensic examination \r\nand testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug. \r\n The Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority is being established f or \r\nforensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug; to render an \r\nexpert opinion in respect of the ingredients and quality of fertilizer, pesticide, food or \r\ndrug; and, to deal with other related matters. \r\nBe it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: \r\n1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the \r\nPunjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Act 2016. \r\n(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. \r\n(3) It shall come into force at once. \r\n2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: \r\n(a) “Authority” means the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority \r\nestablished under section 3 of the Act; \r\n2[(aa) “alternative medicine” means any preparation, substance, or system of \r\ntherapy and healing including but not limited to home opathic, herbal, \r\nayurvedic, siddha, unani, naturopathic, or traditional medicine, health -\r\nenhancing product and phytomedicine which has been derived from \r\nplant, animal or mineral ingredient alone or its combination, intended \r\nfor human use and claiming thera peutic effect but does not contain \r\nchemically defined synthetic ingredient; \r\n(ab) “animal feed ” means any ingredient, mixture, or product prepared or \r\nintended to be fed to animals such as livestock or poultry, whether \r\ndomesticated or captive, including feed ingredient, compound feed, \r\nfeed additive, premix, concentrate, or carrier with nutrient substance \r\nand includes any substance used for promoting animal health, growth, \r\nor productivity through ingestion by the animal; \r\n(ac) “biological medicine ” includes med icinal product whose active \r\nsubstance is biological in origin and is produced from living organism, \r\ncell, or tissue, or produced by biotechnology method including but not \r\nlimited to vaccine, blood -derived product, gene therapy, cell therapy, \r\n \r\n1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 18 May 2016; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on \r\n23 May 2016; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 24 May 2016, pp. 5485-5492. \r\n2Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Am endment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(a). \r\nrecombinant protein, monoclonal antibody, and which requires special \r\nconsideration for manufacturing, testing , and release beyond those \r\napplicable to chemically synthesised substance; \r\n(ad) “biomedical device ” includes any instrument, apparatus, implement, \r\nmachine, implant, reagent, software, material or other similar or related \r\narticle, whether used alone or in combination, intended by its \r\nmanufacturer principally for human being or animal for one or more of \r\nthe following specific medical purposes: \r\n(i) diagnosis, preven tion, monitoring, treatment or alleviation of a \r\ndisease; \r\n(ii) investigation, replacement, modification or support of the anatomy \r\nor of a physiological process; \r\n(iii) supporting or sustaining life and which does not primarily achieve \r\nits principal intended action by pharmacological, immunological or \r\nmetabolic means, though it may be assisted in its function by \r\nsuch means or any other item which the Government may, by \r\nnotification in the official Gazette, declare as biomedical device;] \r\n(b) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); \r\n3[(ba) “cosmetics” includes any substance or mixture of substances, \r\nmanufactured, sold or represented to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or \r\nsprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or \r\nany part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or \r\naltering the appearance, and includes any article intended for use as a \r\ncomponent of a cosmetic but does not include a soap;] \r\n(c) “concerned authority” includes an officer of the Gov ernment or a police \r\nofficer holding an inquiry or investigation; \r\n(d) “Director General” means Director General of the Authority; \r\n(e) “drug” means the drug as defined in the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of \r\n1976) and includes any material purported to be a drug; \r\n(f) “employee” includes an expert, officer or official of the Authority; \r\n(g) “expert” includes a foreign expert working in a forensic science facility \r\nand whose evidence is admissible in the country of his origin; \r\n(h) “fertilizer” means the fertilizer as def ined in the Punjab Fertilizers \r\n(Control) Order, 1973 (VII of 1973) and includes any material purported \r\nto be fertilizer; \r\n(i) “food” means the food as defined in the Punjab Food Authority Act \r\n2011 (XVI of 2011) or the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance , 1960 (VII of \r\n1960) and includes any material purported to be food; \r\n(j) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; \r\n(k) “member” means a member of the Authority and includes the \r\nChairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Authority; \r\n(l) “offence” means an act or omission made punishable under any law; \r\n \r\n3Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(b). \r\n \r\n4[(la) “orthopaedic implant” means any biomedical device that is intended to \r\nbe placed into, or fixed onto human bone or join t tissue for the \r\npurpose of supporting, reinforcing or substituting bone, joints or \r\nrelated connect ive tissue and includes plates, screw, intramedullary \r\nnail, joint prostheses, fixation device, spinal implant , and other similar \r\narticle;] \r\n (m) “pesticide” means the pesticide as defined in the Agricultural Pesticides \r\nOrdinance, 1971 (II of 1971) and includes any material purported to be \r\npesticide; \r\n(n) “police officer” means a police officer appointed under the Police Order, \r\n2002 (22 of 2002), or any other person exercising the powers of a \r\npolice officer under any other law; 5[***] \r\n(o) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations6[;] \r\n7[(oa) “raw material” means any substance, material, or component, whether \r\nnatural, processed, or partly processed, used in manufacturing, \r\nprocessing, formulation, or preparation of a product, whether food, \r\ndrug, me dical device, cosmetics, animal feed, fertilizer, or any other \r\nregulated goods, and which may affect the quality, safety, or fitness for \r\nuse of the finished product; \r\n(ob) “soil” means the upper layer of the earth‟s crust comprising mineral \r\nparticles, organic matter, water, air, and living organism which serves \r\nas natural medium for growth of a plant, supports terrestrial ecosystem, \r\nand acts as a reservoir for water and nutrient and includes agricultural, \r\nhorticultural, and forest soil whether in natural, cu ltivated, or modified \r\nform; and \r\n(oc) “water contamination ” means the presence in surface water or \r\ngroundwater including irrigation water, drinking water or industrial \r\ndischarge receiving water of chemical, biological or physical \r\nsubstance, element or compo und at concentration above permissible \r\nlimit under provincial or national water quality standards or which may \r\npose a risk to human health, animal health, environment or agricultural \r\nproductivity.] \r\n(2) A word or an expression used in th e Act and not defined s hall mean \r\nthe same as in the Code. \r\n3. The Authority .– (1) The Government shall, by notification, establish an \r\nAuthority to be called `the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority‟. \r\n(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession \r\nand a common seal, with power to enter into contracts, acquire or dispose of \r\nproperty, and may, by the said name, sue or be sued. \r\n \r\n4Inserted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(c). \r\n5Omitted for the word \"and\" by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and \r\npublished in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(d). \r\n6Substituted by the Punjab A griculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(d). \r\n7Added by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III o f 2026); and published in the Punjab \r\nGazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.2(e). \r\n8\r\n[(3) The Authority shall consist of the Chairperson who shall be the Chief \r\nMinister or a Minister nominated by the Chief Minister and the following members: \r\n(a) Vice Chairperson; \r\n(b) Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare or Advisor to the Chief \r\nMinister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare; \r\n(c) Minister for Agriculture; \r\n(d) Minister for Food; \r\n9[(e) Secretary to the Government, Home Department;] \r\n (f) Chairman, Planning and Development Board of the Government; \r\n(g) Secretary to the Government, Finance Department; \r\n(h) Secretary to the Government, Primary and Secondary Healthcare \r\nDepartment; \r\n(i) Secretary to the Government, S pecialized Healthcare and Medical \r\nEducation Department; \r\n(j) Secretary to the Government, Agriculture Department; \r\n(k) Secretary to the Government, Food Department; \r\n(l) Director General, Punjab Forensic Science Agency; \r\n(m) not more than five scientists inclu ding at least one female scientist, if \r\navailable, in the relevant field from public or private sector; and \r\n(n) Director General (Member/Secretary). \r\n(4) If a member mentioned at clauses (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k) of \r\nsubsection (3) is unable to attend a meeting for reasons beyond his control, he may \r\ndepute an officer of his department not below the rank of an Additional Secretary to \r\nattend the meeting.] \r\n(5) The Government shall appoint the Vice Chairperson and members, \r\nother than the ex-officio members, for each term of three years. \r\n(6) The Vice Chair person or a member, other than an ex-officio member, \r\nshall not be appointed as a member for more than two consecutive terms. \r\n(7) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid merely by reason \r\nof any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. \r\n(8) Seven members shall constitute the quorum for a meeting of the \r\nAuthority, and the decision of the Authority shall be taken in terms of the majority of \r\nthe members present and voting. \r\n(9) The Authority shall meet at least once in three months. \r\n(10) A meeting of the Authority shall be held on such date and time as the \r\nChairperson may determine. \r\n \r\n8Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2016 (XLIII of 2016), and published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 October 2016, pp. 2443-2444, s.2. \r\n9Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.3. \r\n(11) The Chairperson shall approve the agenda of a meeting of the \r\nAuthority. \r\n(12) The Chairperson and , in his absence, the Vice Chairperson shall \r\npreside a meeting of the Authority and in the absence of both, the meeting shall be \r\npresided by the member nominated for the pu rpose by the Chairperson and if not so \r\nnominated, by the member elected to preside the meeting by the members present. \r\n(13) The Director General shall maintain or cause to be maintained the \r\nrecord of each meeting of the Authority, including the minutes of the meetings, in the \r\nprescribed manner. \r\n4. Disqualification of the members.– No person shall be appointed or continue \r\nas the member, who: \r\n(a) is or, at any time, has been convicted of an offence involving moral \r\nturpitude; \r\n(b) is or, at any time, has been adjudicated as an insolvent; or \r\n(c) is found to be a lunatic or of unsound mind; or \r\n(d) is in a situation of irreconcilable conflicting interest with the Authority. \r\n5. Functions.– (1) The Authority may perform such functions and exercise such \r\npowers as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. \r\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality o f the functions mentioned in \r\nsubsection (1), the Authority shall: \r\n10[(a) make policies for carrying out forensic examination and testing of \r\nfertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, \r\nalternative m edicine, biological m edicine, orthopaedic implant, animal \r\nfeed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials, and \r\nestablish and manage the testing facilities for the purpose; \r\n(b) accredit, in the prescribed manner, the facilities for forensic \r\nexamination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, \r\nbiomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, \r\northopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and \r\nassociated raw materials; \r\n (c) provide expert opinion with regard to the forensic examination and \r\ntesting of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, c osmetics, biomedical \r\ndevice, alternative medicine, biological medicine, orthopaedic implant, \r\nanimal feed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials; \r\n(d) procure, operate and maintain scientific instruments for forensic \r\nexamination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, \r\nbiomedical device, alternative m edicine, biological medicine, \r\northopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and \r\nassociated raw materials; \r\n(e) propose advancement in forensic techniques and suggest the use of \r\nsuitable sc ientific instruments for forensic examination and testing of \r\nfertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, \r\nalternative m edicine, biological m edicine, orthopaedic implant, animal \r\n \r\n10Substituted by the Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (Amendment) Act 2025 (III of 2026); and published in the \r\nPunjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 06 January 2026, pp. 3719-3722, s.4. \r\nfeed, soil, water contamination and associated raw materials; \r\n(f) seek information or clarification from the persons responsible for the \r\ncollection or handling of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, c osmetics, \r\nbiomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, \r\northopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and \r\nassociated raw materials in the prescribed manner; \r\n(g) approve procedures for collection, preservation and handling of \r\nsamples for forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, \r\nfood, drug, c osmetics, biomedical device, alternative medicine, \r\nbiological medicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, s oil, water \r\ncontamination and associated raw materials; \r\n(h) with the approval of the Director General, collect samples for \r\nforensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, \r\ncosmetics, biomedical device, alternative medicine, biological \r\nmedicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water, and associated \r\nraw m aterials from any manufacturer, distributor, retailer, wholesaler, \r\nimporter, exporter or reseller as per annual sampling regime or as the \r\nneed may be, to address public health challenges; \r\n(i) maintain r ecord of forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, \r\npesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, biomedical device, alternative \r\nmedicine, biological medicine, orthopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, \r\nwater contamination and associated raw materials including the record \r\npertaining to the identity of the person connected with, or accused of, \r\nan offence in the prescribed manner; (j) promote general awareness \r\non matters relating to forensic examination and testing of fertilizer, \r\npesticide, food and drug; \r\n(j) promote general awareness on m atters relating to forensic \r\nexamination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, \r\nbiomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, \r\northopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and \r\nassociated raw materials; \r\n(k) specify the timelines for retention of samples and results of forensic \r\nexamination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food, drug, cosmetics, \r\nbiomedical device, alternative medicine, biological medicine, \r\northopaedic implant, animal feed, soil, water c ontamination and \r\nassociated raw materials;] \r\n(l) ensure complete ind ependence and impartiality of all the laboratories \r\nadministered or accredited by it; \r\n(m) maintain its operational autonomy and neutrality and shall guard \r\nagainst any extraneous or external interference or influence in the \r\ndischarge of its functions under the Act; \r\n(n) undertake research and development in the relevant and allied fields; \r\n(o) be responsible for obtaining and maintaining international accreditation \r\nfor its laboratories; and \r\n(p) perform any other functions ancillary to the above functions or suc h \r\nfunctions as the Government may, by notification, assign. \r\n(3) The Authority shall be deemed as: \r\n(a) a drug testing laboratory under the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976); \r\n(b) a food laboratory for purposes of the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 \r\n(XVI of 2011) or the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 (VII of 1960); \r\n(c) a fertilizer testing laboratory under the Punjab Fertilizers (Control) \r\nOrder, 1973 (VII of 1973); and \r\n(d) a pesticides laboratory under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, \r\n1971 (II of 1971). \r\n6. Allocation of laboratories.– The Government may, by notification, allocate a \r\nlaboratory or any testing or other facility of the Government connected with the \r\nforensic examination and testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug to the Authority \r\non such terms and conditions as the Government and the Authority may determine. \r\n7. Director General .– (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Government shall \r\nappoint the Director General from amongst a panel of qualified experts possessing \r\nsuch qualifications and expe rience and selected in the prescribed manner and until \r\nso prescribed, as the Government may determine. \r\n(2) The Director General shall be an expert in one or more disciplines of \r\nforensic science relevant to fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug in accordance with the \r\nprescribed standards. \r\n(3) The Director General shall hold office for a renewable term of three \r\nyears. \r\n(4) The Government shall determine the terms and conditions of service of \r\nthe Director General and they shall not be varied during his term of office. \r\n(5) The Government may, after notice and inquiry in the prescribed \r\nmanner, remove the Director General during the tenure of his office on the ground of \r\ninefficiency, corruption or inability to perform functions owing to medical or other \r\nreasons. \r\n(6) The Director General shall be the chief executive officer of the \r\nAuthority and, subject to the general supervision and direction of the Authority, shall \r\nexercise such administrative and financial powers of the Authority as the Authority \r\nmay delegate to him or as may be prescribed. \r\n8. Experts.– (1) The Authority, for the discharge of its functions under this Act, \r\nmay appoint experts in such manner and on such terms and conditions, including the \r\nmarket-based salary, as it may, through regulations, determine. \r\n(2) The Authority shall not appoint a person as expert unless he is \r\nqualified to conduct forensic examination or testing of fertilizer, pesticide, food or \r\ndrug. \r\n(3) A person appointed by the Authority as an expert shall be deemed as: \r\n(a) an expert appointed under section 510 of the Code; \r\n(b) a person specially skilled in forensic examination or testing of fertilizer, \r\npesticide, food or drug under Article 59 of the Qanun -e-Shahadat \r\nOrder, 1984 (X of 1984); \r\n(c) a Government analyst under the Drugs Act, 1976 (XXXI of 1976) and \r\nthe Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971 (II of 1971); \r\n(d) a public analyst under the Punjab Food Authority Act 2011 (XVI of \r\n2011) and the Punjab Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 (VII of 1960); and \r\n(e) an Agricultural Chemist under the Punj ab Fertilizers (Control) Order, \r\n1973 (VII of 1973). \r\n(2) The Authority shall not entrust forensic examination or testing of \r\nfertilizer, pesticide, food or drug to a person who has been convicted of an offence of \r\ngiving false evidence. \r\n9. Expert opinion.– (1) A court, tribunal or concerned authority may send to the \r\nAuthority, a sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug connected with investigation \r\nor proceedings before it for examination and expert opinion. \r\n(2) The Authority shall authenticate and send the e xpert opinion to the \r\ncourt, tribunal or concerned authority in the prescribed manner. \r\n(3) The expert opinion shall carry the name and designation of the expert \r\nwho conducted the examination or test of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug. \r\n10. Clarification of opinion .– (1) If an expert opinion is not clear, the court, \r\ntribunal or concerned authority may refer it to the Authority for clarification on a \r\nspecific question. \r\n(2) The Authority shall, on receipt of the reference, send the clarification on \r\nthe question to the concerned court, tribunal or authority. \r\n(3) If the condition of the sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food or drug or any \r\nother fact does not allow submission of a clear answer to the question, the Authority \r\nshall state its inability to answer the question. \r\n11. Re-examination of samples .– (1) A person aggrieved by the opinion of the \r\nexpert, may for sufficient cause, submit for re -examination an application before the \r\ncourt, tribunal or concerned authority before which the opinion is rendered or the \r\ncourt or tribunal before which the opinion is submitted by the concerned authority. \r\n(2) If the court, tribunal or concerned authority is satisfied that there are \r\nsufficient grounds for reconsideration of the opinion, it may, for reasons to be \r\nrecorded in writing, direct the Authority to re -examine the sample of fertilizer, \r\npesticide, food or drug. \r\n(3) The Director General shall, on receipt of the direction, constitute a \r\npanel of three or more experts to re -examine the sample of fertilizer, pesticide, food \r\nor drug or refer the same to any other forensic examination facility for examination \r\nand opinion. \r\n(4) The Director General shall submit the finding of the team of experts or \r\nthe forensic facility to the court, tribunal or the concerned authority. \r\n12. Fund.– (1) There shall be established a F und to be known as the Punjab \r\nAgriculture, Food and Drug Authority Fund to be administered and controlled by the \r\nAuthority. \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) grants and loans negotiated and raised, or otherwise obtained, by the \r\nAuthority with the prior approval of the Government; \r\n(d) fee, charges, rentals, fines and other moneys collecte d by the \r\nAuthority; \r\n(e) income from the lease or sale of the property; \r\n(f) funds from floating bonds, shares, debentures, certificates, or other \r\nsecurities issued by the Authority; and \r\n(g) all other sums received by the Authority. \r\n(3) The Authority shal l meet all its expenses from the Fund and shall \r\nexercise prudence in its expenditures from the Fund. \r\n13. Bank account.– The Authority may open and maintain its accounts at such \r\nscheduled banks as may be prescribed, and until so prescribed, as the Authority \r\nmay determine. \r\n14. Budget and accounts.– (1) The Director General shall prepare the budget of \r\nthe Authority for each financial year commencing on first day of July of an year and \r\nending on thirtieth day of June of the succeeding year. \r\n(2) The Director Gen eral shall place the budget for approval before the \r\nAuthority at least forty five days prior to the commencement of a financial year. \r\n(3) The accounts of the Authority shall be maintained in such manner as \r\nmay be prescribed. \r\n15. Audit.– (1) The Auditor Gen eral of Pakistan shall conduct audit of the \r\naccounts of the Authority. \r\n(2) The Authority shall appoint a firm of chartered accountants, which is \r\nplaced in category „A‟ by State Bank of Pakistan, for the annual audit of the accounts \r\nof the Authority. \r\n(3) The auditors appointed under subsection (2) shall submit the report to \r\nthe Authority and the Authority may take such action and make such decisions as \r\nmay be necessary in the light of the audit report. \r\n16. Appointment of employees .– (1) Subject to the prior approval of the \r\nAuthority, the Director General may appoint such employees as may be necessary \r\nfor the efficient performance of functions of the Authority on such terms and \r\nconditions and on such market based remuneration as the Authority may, through \r\nregulations, prescribe. \r\n(2) The Authority shall not transfer or lend any of its employees to any \r\nother organization or the Government and shall not accept by transfer or on \r\ndeputation any officer or official of any such organization or the Government. \r\n(3) A Go vernment agency including police and anti -corruption \r\nestablishment shall not initiate any enquiry or investigation against the official \r\nconduct of any of the employees without prior approval or complaint of the Authority. \r\n17. Public servants.– All persons acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any \r\nprovision of this Act, shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of \r\nsection 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). \r\n18. Delegation of powers.– The Authority may delegate to the Direc tor General, \r\na committee of the Authority, a member or any employee of the Authority any of its \r\nfunctions except the following functions: \r\n(a) adaptation or amendment or repeal of regulations; \r\n(b) approval of annual budget of the Authority; \r\n(c) consideration and decision on the audit reports; \r\n(d) approval of the standards and procedures for operation of the \r\nAuthority; and \r\n(e) fill a vacancy in a committee of the Authority. \r\n19. Conflict of interest .– (1) A member shall not, directly or indirectly, receive \r\nany profit from his position as the member except the reasonable expenses incurred \r\nby the member in the performance of duties under this Act. \r\n(2) The pecuniary interests of the immediate family members or close \r\npersonal or business associates of a member sha ll also be considered to be the \r\npecuniary interest of the member. \r\n(3) A member shall be in conflict of interest if the member: \r\n(a) is an employee, or a paid consultant of a business entity that has, or of \r\na trade association of business entities that have, a substantial interest \r\nin any of the functions of the Authority; \r\n(b) owns, controls, or has, directly or indirectly, more than ten per cent \r\nequity in a business entity that has a substantial interest in any of the \r\nfunctions of the Authority; \r\n(c) receives more than twenty-five per cent of his individual income from a \r\nbusiness entity that has a substantial interest in any of the functions of \r\nthe Authority; and \r\n(d) benefits either directly or indirectly, financially or otherwise, from being \r\nthe member. \r\n(4) A member shall disclose a potential, real or perceived conflict of \r\ninterest as soon as he becomes aware of the potential conflict before the Authority or \r\nany of its committees seized of the matter. \r\n(5) If a member is not certain about the situation of the co nflict of interest, \r\nthe member shall place the matter before the Authority for advice and the decision of \r\nthe Authority on conflict of interest shall be final. \r\n(6) A member shall not take part in the proceedings of the Authority in \r\nwhich any question of conflict of interest of the member is on the agenda. \r\n(7) The disclosure of conflict of interest and the decision of the Authority \r\nshall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. \r\n20. Offence.– (1) If an employee knowingly or negligently renders false, inco rrect \r\nor misleading opinion before a court, tribunal or the concerned authority, he shall be \r\npunished with imprisonment which may extend to three years but which shall not be \r\nless than one month and with fine which may extend to five hundred thousand \r\nrupees but which shall not be less than twenty five thousand rupees. \r\n(2) An offence under this section shall be triable by a Court of Sessions. \r\n(3) The Court shall not take cognizance of an offence under this Act \r\nexcept on a complaint in writing of the Director General in the prescribed manner. \r\n21. Appeal.– A person aggrieved by an order or sentence passed by a Court of \r\nSessions under section 20 of this Act may, within thirty days, prefer an appeal to \r\nLahore High Court. \r\n22. Recovery of dues.– (1) The Authority shall recover the fine, fee or any other \r\namount, imposed or levied under this Act, the rules or the regulations, as an arrear \r\nof land revenue and, for the purpose, authorize an employee to exercise the powers \r\nof Collector under the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1967 (XVII of 1967). \r\n(2) The fee charged under th e Act, the rules or the regulations shall be \r\ndeposited in the Fund of the Authority. \r\n23. Annual performance report.– (1) The Authority shall prepare and forward to \r\nthe Government by 3 0th September each ye ar, the annual performance report \r\nrelating to performance of its functions with respect to forensic examination or testing \r\nof samples of fertilizer, pesticide, food and drug during the preceding financial year. \r\n(2) The Government shall, as soon as possible , submit the report before \r\nthe Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. \r\n24. Monitoring and evaluation .– (1) The Government shall, at least once in a \r\nyear, conduct or cause to be conducted, the performance audit of the Authority to \r\nassess and evaluate the perfor mance of the Authority in accomplishing the \r\nobjectives of this Act. \r\n(2) The Government shall evaluate the reports mentioned in subsection (1) \r\nof section 23 and subsection (1) of this section and shall issue such directions to the \r\nAuthority as may be neces sary for accomplishing the objectives under th e Act and \r\nthe Authority shall implement the directions. \r\n25. Other laws.– The provisions of this Act shall be read in conjunction with and \r\nnot in derogation from any other law for the time being in force but in case of any \r\ninconsistency or conflict, the provisions of th e Act shall prevail to the extent of the \r\ninconsistency or conflict. \r\n26. Rules.– The Government may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the \r\npurposes of this Act. \r\n27. Regulations.– Subject to this Act and the rules, the Authority may frame \r\nregulations to give effect to the provisions of the Act. \r\n28. Repeal.– The Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority Ordinance, 2016 \r\n(XI of 2016) is hereby repealed.", "passage_offset_convention": "zero-based Unicode code points and UTF8 bytes; end exclusive", "passages": [ { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-0-1723:190cd9c77d5a6044d1fec9d1320a9f9ea8c554d10f5691a9e589d049bffb8d1f", "character_start": 0, "character_end": 1723, "utf8_byte_start": 0, "utf8_byte_end": 1731, "passage_sha256": "190cd9c77d5a6044d1fec9d1320a9f9ea8c554d10f5691a9e589d049bffb8d1f", "reader_fragment": "p-0-1723-190cd9c77d5a6044" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-1723-3460:5e0ea26e35f7ca5d978ebbc58f3e9bcb500c09f59fb058a21b528b96e1fd7233", "character_start": 1723, "character_end": 3460, "utf8_byte_start": 1731, "utf8_byte_end": 3480, "passage_sha256": "5e0ea26e35f7ca5d978ebbc58f3e9bcb500c09f59fb058a21b528b96e1fd7233", "reader_fragment": "p-1723-3460-5e0ea26e35f7ca5d" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-3460-5257:03531cd233de6304eb1605a8af4c87d31128ef6c82d10af85176876dbf3a3046", "character_start": 3460, "character_end": 5257, "utf8_byte_start": 3480, "utf8_byte_end": 5301, "passage_sha256": "03531cd233de6304eb1605a8af4c87d31128ef6c82d10af85176876dbf3a3046", "reader_fragment": "p-3460-5257-03531cd233de6304" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-5257-7033:0f5fa8444478cc224409baed6b74ced3c4484e0d727aefedc36c78173317a0db", "character_start": 5257, "character_end": 7033, "utf8_byte_start": 5301, "utf8_byte_end": 7117, "passage_sha256": "0f5fa8444478cc224409baed6b74ced3c4484e0d727aefedc36c78173317a0db", "reader_fragment": "p-5257-7033-0f5fa8444478cc22" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-7033-8780:288ade1b279c7ccb01c781596fbefff0e52254da7bf66141e6d9f0424f07cd5c", "character_start": 7033, "character_end": 8780, "utf8_byte_start": 7117, "utf8_byte_end": 8886, "passage_sha256": "288ade1b279c7ccb01c781596fbefff0e52254da7bf66141e6d9f0424f07cd5c", "reader_fragment": "p-7033-8780-288ade1b279c7ccb" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-8780-10544:d3f21696cae6e3fff9eb642e36a09223776fd066ec966517b6dc809edc3c606e", "character_start": 8780, "character_end": 10544, "utf8_byte_start": 8886, "utf8_byte_end": 10650, "passage_sha256": "d3f21696cae6e3fff9eb642e36a09223776fd066ec966517b6dc809edc3c606e", "reader_fragment": "p-8780-10544-d3f21696cae6e3ff" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-10544-12312:67016af4c2576903bd98db4a2e657e70616053caa59250cd7071bf28ca3b9e5b", "character_start": 10544, "character_end": 12312, "utf8_byte_start": 10650, "utf8_byte_end": 12418, "passage_sha256": "67016af4c2576903bd98db4a2e657e70616053caa59250cd7071bf28ca3b9e5b", "reader_fragment": "p-10544-12312-67016af4c2576903" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-12312-14057:3c3b9298549ede3c297bd77b5e9717b8213f1646d776784b52b7e08d052476d7", "character_start": 12312, "character_end": 14057, "utf8_byte_start": 12418, "utf8_byte_end": 14167, "passage_sha256": "3c3b9298549ede3c297bd77b5e9717b8213f1646d776784b52b7e08d052476d7", "reader_fragment": "p-12312-14057-3c3b9298549ede3c" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-14057-15823:351f8ba7352dda6da8b36e67888caa365132a045dbc4320ea593e6fd09e3c5b8", "character_start": 14057, "character_end": 15823, "utf8_byte_start": 14167, "utf8_byte_end": 15933, "passage_sha256": "351f8ba7352dda6da8b36e67888caa365132a045dbc4320ea593e6fd09e3c5b8", "reader_fragment": "p-14057-15823-351f8ba7352dda6d" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-15823-17606:f6ec9cd4cc404bf94e4a4069e2471fc48ba3c594b88b67fa17bd774b815f2344", "character_start": 15823, "character_end": 17606, "utf8_byte_start": 15933, "utf8_byte_end": 17716, "passage_sha256": "f6ec9cd4cc404bf94e4a4069e2471fc48ba3c594b88b67fa17bd774b815f2344", "reader_fragment": "p-15823-17606-f6ec9cd4cc404bf9" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-17606-19370:12031819cdd67fec878b8c3b1ea76a70778551ee1130f2a70bcb67ba7b105491", "character_start": 17606, "character_end": 19370, "utf8_byte_start": 17716, "utf8_byte_end": 19484, "passage_sha256": "12031819cdd67fec878b8c3b1ea76a70778551ee1130f2a70bcb67ba7b105491", "reader_fragment": "p-17606-19370-12031819cdd67fec" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-19370-21115:ffb33ac2840212c68299ddeb0bd6ee38969da2befcf61db0cd07dfe46ef1a65e", "character_start": 19370, "character_end": 21115, "utf8_byte_start": 19484, "utf8_byte_end": 21231, "passage_sha256": "ffb33ac2840212c68299ddeb0bd6ee38969da2befcf61db0cd07dfe46ef1a65e", "reader_fragment": "p-19370-21115-ffb33ac2840212c6" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-21115-22853:995c61a59f7c5c54ad5815634a7d4006b4efba1b6f2ba9f471037c8cb8fdcc34", "character_start": 21115, "character_end": 22853, "utf8_byte_start": 21231, "utf8_byte_end": 22975, "passage_sha256": "995c61a59f7c5c54ad5815634a7d4006b4efba1b6f2ba9f471037c8cb8fdcc34", "reader_fragment": "p-21115-22853-995c61a59f7c5c54" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-22853-24592:683c2e2897a0ac19e26ba4d1e99992f88f429c0ac5b5c622f49cab2589efdfee", "character_start": 22853, "character_end": 24592, "utf8_byte_start": 22975, "utf8_byte_end": 24716, "passage_sha256": "683c2e2897a0ac19e26ba4d1e99992f88f429c0ac5b5c622f49cab2589efdfee", "reader_fragment": "p-22853-24592-683c2e2897a0ac19" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-24592-26378:5f06d1001935e18860dfce225444defd4f004116932f428d173e9723d45fccf0", "character_start": 24592, "character_end": 26378, "utf8_byte_start": 24716, "utf8_byte_end": 26514, "passage_sha256": "5f06d1001935e18860dfce225444defd4f004116932f428d173e9723d45fccf0", "reader_fragment": "p-24592-26378-5f06d1001935e188" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-26378-28125:766fd0ea95fec306dc2e18a8d490d84ef9143c89a736bb41e035e4dfcab30d77", "character_start": 26378, "character_end": 28125, "utf8_byte_start": 26514, "utf8_byte_end": 28267, "passage_sha256": "766fd0ea95fec306dc2e18a8d490d84ef9143c89a736bb41e035e4dfcab30d77", "reader_fragment": "p-26378-28125-766fd0ea95fec306" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-28125-29855:683eba50a9c0e5310254f6bf1637129747f53e747fae201a6dfb865b633e6b84", "character_start": 28125, "character_end": 29855, "utf8_byte_start": 28267, "utf8_byte_end": 29999, "passage_sha256": "683eba50a9c0e5310254f6bf1637129747f53e747fae201a6dfb865b633e6b84", "reader_fragment": "p-28125-29855-683eba50a9c0e531" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-29855-31597:20a86304278b2a042e4cdc86d999c0b439d9589dcd4a1af6620f5aaba1b870f0", "character_start": 29855, "character_end": 31597, "utf8_byte_start": 29999, "utf8_byte_end": 31749, "passage_sha256": "20a86304278b2a042e4cdc86d999c0b439d9589dcd4a1af6620f5aaba1b870f0", "reader_fragment": "p-29855-31597-20a86304278b2a04" }, { "passage_id": "law:punjab-code-9214e29cc5d4473d:sha256:aafe6b3b226574f972038d51cd3c9cca84e7f74c3cf30d262430e10d6122b642:chars-31597-32244:49672f71cd7fc13ac1d5e81f095c73682ac42912585577765dbf1406d6b91996", "character_start": 31597, "character_end": 32244, "utf8_byte_start": 31749, "utf8_byte_end": 32404, "passage_sha256": "49672f71cd7fc13ac1d5e81f095c73682ac42912585577765dbf1406d6b91996", "reader_fragment": "p-31597-32244-49672f71cd7fc13a" } ] }