PARKS AND HORTICULTURE AUTHORITY ACT 2012

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THE PARKS AND HORTICULTURE AUTHORITY ACT 2012 
(XLVII of 2012) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of the Authority 
4. Powers and functions of the Authority 
5. Heritage Park 
6. Board of Directors 
7. Director General  
8. Employees of the Authority 
9. Directions to the Authority 
10. Use of public parks, green belts and green areas 
11. Access to private property 
12. Installation of billboards, sky signs and outdoor advertisements 
13. Advertisements on vehicles 
14. Regulations regarding green areas 
15. Maintenance of public parks, green belts and green areas 
16. Duty on private persons to maintain green belts 
17. Continuation of contracts 
18. Fund 
19. Budget and accounts 
20. Audit 
21. Prohibitions 
22. Attempts and abetments 
23. Offences, penalties and procedures 
24. Complaints of illegal or unauthorized use 
25. Powers of Authority and its officers with regard to offences 
26. Power to enter and survey 
27. Recovery of dues 
28. Police assistance 
29. Act to have overriding effect 
30. Power to make rules 
31. Regulations 
32. Ownership of public parks, green belts or green area 
33. Summary ejection of unauthorized occupant or user 
34. Annual report 
35. Protection of action taken under the Act 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PARKS AND HORTICULTURE AUTHORITY ACT 2012 
(XLVII of 2012) 
[30th July 2012] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of Parks and Horticulture Authority in the Punjab. 
Preamble.– Whereas it is expedient to establish the Parks and Horticulture Authority 
in the Punjab for the regulation, development and maintenance of public p arks, 
green belts and green areas in the Punjab; regulation of billboards, sky signs and 
outdoor advertisements; to promote open and unrestricted views of the Punjab; and, 
to provide for the connected matters; 
 It is enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Parks and Horticulture Authority Act 2012. 
(2) It extends to the district of Lahore but the Government may, by 
notification, extend it to any other area of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act– 
(a) “Act” means the Parks and Horticulture Authority Act 2012; 
(b) 
2
[* * * * * * * * * * *   ] 
(c) “Authority” means the Parks and Horticulture Authority established 
under section 3 of the Act; 
(d) “billboard” includes an advertisement fixed, placed or displayed on a 
structure other than a building; 
(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Authority; 
(f) “casual use”  means any temporary and occasional use but does not 
include its use as parking place on a regular basis; 
(g) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (V of 1898); 
(h) “Director General” means the Director General of the Authority; 
                                                           
1This Act was originally passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 7th June, 2012 and sent to the Governor of the 
Punjab for assent but it was returned for reconsideration. The Provincial Assembly after reconsideration again passed the Bill 
on 18th July 2012 and sent to the Governor for his assent on 19th July 2012. Since, the Governor has not assented to the Bill 
within the stipulated period of ten days, the same is deemed to have been assented to in terms of clause (3) of Article 116 of 
the Constitution; and published in the Punjab Gazette Extraordinary dated 30th July, 2012, pages 409-416. 
2Omitted  by the  Parks and Hor ticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 201 7 (XXIII of 201 7), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.2 
(i) “empowering authority” means any authority, local government or other 
entity empowered to allow the use of a public park, green belt or g reen 
area in any manner or grant pe rmission for installation of a billboard, 
sky sign, o utdoor advertisement or advertisement prior  to the 
commencement of the Act; 
(j) “Fund" means the Parks and Horticulture Authority Fund; 
(k) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(l) “green area”  means any space notified by the Government as green 
area which is required to be kept green other than a public park or 
green belt and includes a notified play ground; 
(m) “green belt” means an area notified by the Government as green belt 
other than a p ublic park which is  kept as an open space in any localit y 
or area either in pursuance of a development plan or otherwise; 
(n) “Heritage Park” means any area having historical , traditional or cultural 
value notified as such under section 5 of the Act; 
(o) “outdoor advertisement” means a streamer, board, poster, banner, or 
any other thing placed, painted,  pasted or installed on a public or 
private building or property  so that it is visible from a public place and 
which is intended to inform the reader of the availability of a service, 
product or outlet or otherwise promote a person or a message; 
3
[(oa)  “person” includes a body owned or controlled by the Federal 
Government or the Government or any other Provincial Government, or 
a company, association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or 
not;] 
(p) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules 
4
[or regulations ] made 
under the Act; 
(q) “private land authority” means any natural or legal person engaged in 
the development of land or maintenance of an area or provision of 
municipal services other than a public land authority; 
(r) “public land authority” includes a  statutory or executive body 
established by the Government for development of land  or engaged in 
the development of land  or maintenance of an area or provision of 
municipal services; 
(s) “public park” includes a park or space reserved for use as a public park 
and notified by the Government as a public park;  
(t) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; 
(u) “sky sign”  means a sign installed on a  building for its view from a 
distance; and 
                                                           
3Inserted  by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXIII of 2017), published in th e Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.2 
4Inserted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2015 ( IV of 2015) , published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 24 February 2015, p. 2413, s.2. 
 
(v) “vehicle” includes mechanically propelled vehicle and  a human or 
animal driven carriage. 
3. Establishment of the Authority.– (1) The Government may, by notification, 
establish an Authority for the district of Lahore to be called the Parks and Horticulture 
Authority. 
(2) The Government may, by notification, either establish a separate 
Authority for an area to which th e Act is extended  to be called the Parks and 
Horticulture Authority  of that area or may direct the Authority mentioned in sub -
section (1) to perform the functions under the Act in respect of such other area. 
(3) An Authority  shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with power to enter into agreement, acquire, hold, manage, and 
dispose of property, and to sue and be sued in its name. 
4. Powers and functions of the Authority.– The Authority shall: 
(a) develop and maintain public parks, green belts and green areas; 
(b) regulate the use of public parks, green belts and green areas; 
(c) regulate the installation of billboards, s ky s igns, out -door 
advertisements on private or public property; 
(d) establish and maintain botanical gardens; 
(e) organize shows and exhibitions pertaining to horticulture, aviculture 
and cultural entertainment; 
(f) protect trees and other vegetation; 
(g) create awareness about horticulture and promote gardening; 
(h) acquire l and for the development of any public park, green belt, or 
green area; 
(i) procure machinery, equipment or material as may be required for the 
proper discharge of its functions;  
(j) grant a service contract for the maintenance of public parks, green belts 
or green areas to a company owned by it or to any other private or public 
limited company; 
(k) constitute committees for performing specific functions of the Authority;  
and 
(l) perform s uch other functions as may be ancillary, or as may be 
prescribed. 
5. Heritage Park.– (1) The Government may, by notification, declare a n area as 
Heritage Park to conserve the heritage  or culture and to preserve, conserve and 
develop the flora and fauna for the present and future generations. 
(2) The Heritage Park shall be maintained and developed by the Authority 
in the prescribed manner. 
6. Board of Directors.– (1) The Board o f Directors shall take the policy 
decisions of the Authority.  
(2) The Board shall consist of the following:– 
(a) Chief Minister or any other person 
nominated by the Chief Minister; Chairperson 
(b) Minister for Housing or any other person 
nominated by the Minister for Housing; Vice Chairperson 
(c) two members of the Provincial Assembly of Members 
the Punjab 
5
[including at least one female  
member] nominated by the Speaker 
of the Assembly; 
(d) the elected head of the local government of the Member 
area for which the Authority is established; 
(e) Secretary to the Government,  Member 
Housing Department or his nominee; 
(f) Secretary to the Government, Member 
Finance Department or his nominee; 
(g) Secretary to the Government, Member 
Local Government and Community  
Development Department or his nominee; 
6
[(gg) Commissioner of the Division concerned; Member] 
(h) District Coordination Officer of the area for Member 
which the Authority is established; 
(i) Director General of the Development Authority Member 
of the area for which the Authority 
is established; 
(j) two environmentalists 
7
[including at least one  Members 
female environmentalist] nominated 
by the Government; 
(k) one horticulture expert nominated by Member 
the Government 
(l) one representative of the concerned Member 
Chamber of Commerce & Industry; and 
(m) Director General Member/Secretary 
8
[(2a)  The Government shall, while appointing members mentioned in 
clauses (k) and (l) of subsection (1) appoint at least one woman from any of those 
categories.] 
                                                           
5Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated: 12 March 2014, pp. 2733-2744, s.2 read with the Schedule, item 60.  
6Inserted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment ) Act 2015 (IV of 2015), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 24 February 2015, p. 2413, s.3. 
7Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated: 12 March 2014, pp. 2733-2744, s.2 read with the Schedule, item 60.  
8Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 
dated: 12 March 2014, pp. 2733-2744, s.2 read with the Schedule, item 60.  
 
(3) The Government shall nominate the members of the Board , other than 
ex-officio members, for a period of three years. 
(4) The Chair person may, co-opt any other person as m ember of the 
Board for a meeting or for a specified period. 
(5) Six members shall constitute the quorum for a meeting of the Board. 
(6) The Board shall take decisions by th e majority of its members present 
and voting, and in case of a tie, the person presiding the meeting shall have a 
casting vote. 
(7) The Chairperson or, in his absence,  the Vice Chairperson , shall 
preside over a meeting of the Board , and in case of absence of the Chairperson and 
Vice Chairperson a member nominated by the Chairperson shall preside over the 
meeting. 
(8) The Authority shall cause to be recorded the minutes of the 
proceedings of every meeting of the Board and of every meeting of a committee 
established by the Board. 
(9) The Secretary of the Board shall maintain a complete record of the 
minutes and the decisions of the Board in the prescribed manner. 
(10) The proceedings of a meeting of the Board shall not be invalid merely 
on account of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Board. 
7. Director General.– (1) The Government shall appoint the  Director General of 
the Authority. 
(2) The Director General shall exercise such powers as are assigned to 
him by the Board or as may be prescribed. 
(3) The Director General shall– 
(a) be a whole-time employee of the Authority; 
(b) hold office during the pleasure of the Government; 
(c) be the principal accounting officer of the Authority; and 
(d) be competent to enter into contracts on behalf of the Authority. 
(4) The Government shall determine the terms and conditions of the 
service of the Director General. 
(5) Notwithstanding the expiration of the term of Director General, the 
Government may ask him to continue to hold office for a further period of thr ee 
months or till his successor enters upon his office, whichever is earlier. 
(6) Nothing contained in this section shall preclude the Government from re-
appointing the Director General to hold that office for a period not exceeding three years 
at a time. 
(7) The Director General may resign  by tendering resignation to the 
Government or may be removed by the Government in the prescribed manner. 
(8) The Director General may, subject to the approval of the Board– 
(a) delegate any of his financial powers to an officer of the Authority; 
(b) appoint an advisor or a consultant for a period not exceeding one year; 
and 
(c) appoint a legal advisor of the Authority for a period not exceeding one 
year. 
8. Employees of the Authority.– (1) The Authority may, subject to th e approval 
of the Board, employ such officers, officials, workme n, gardeners, waterme n and 
other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its 
functions under the Act. 
(2) The Authority may provide for the grant of such allowance s, leave, 
pension, gratuity, provident fund and other benefits and facilities as may be 
prescribed. 
(3) The employees of the Authority shall be deemed to be public servants 
within the meanings of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
9. Directions to the Authority .– (1) The Government may give general or 
special directions to the Authority and the Authority shall comply with such directions. 
(2) The Authority shall immediately act to re ctify any neglect in the 
performance of its function s when informed by a local government or a land 
authority. 
10. Use of p ublic parks, green belts  and g reen areas .– (1) If any  person 
intends to use a public park, green belt or green area for any purpose other than the 
normal use of the place, he shall make an application to the Authority. 
(2) If the intended use affects the rights of the neighbours or residents of 
the area in general , the Authority shall invite objections from the m and decide the  
objections before taking a decision. 
(3) The Authority shall not grant permission if the intended use affects the 
rights of the neighbours or residents of the area to the free and uninterrupted  use of 
the roads abutting the p ublic park, g reen belt or g reen area or results in the 
conversion of th e public park or gree n area or g reen belt into any other thing or 
changes the general outlook of the locality. 
(4) The Authority shall not grant permission for a period exceeding fifteen 
days if the intended use is likely to bring, directly or indirectly, any financial benefit to 
the applicant or any other person. 
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in th e Act, the Authority shall not 
grant permission for using  any public park, g reen be lt or green area as a parking 
place. 
(6) 
9
[Notwithstanding anything contained in subsectio n (3) and subsection 
(4), the Authority may, for such initial or extended period and on payment of such fee 
as the Authority may prescribe, grant permission for the deployment of an allocated 
area of a public park for provision of food, playing facilities,  sale of plants, 
horticultural equipment, books or for any other purpose if that activity does not 
adversely affect the ambience, character and outlook of the public park.] 
                                                           
9Substituted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXIII of 2017), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.3 
 
(7) Where the Authority gives permission for  use of a p ublic park, green 
belt or green area, it shall issue a permission order indicating the duration and nature 
of the permission and t he order shall be duly displayed at a prominent place of the 
public park, green belt or green area. 
11. Access to private property .– (1) Where a green bel t or g reen area lies 
between a property and a service lane or public road, the owner of the property may, 
subject to the permission by  the Authority , use the green belt for accessing  his 
property in a reasonable manner but the permission shall be restricte d to the extent 
of acquiring access and shall in no manner be deemed to allow the use of any part of 
the green belt for any other purpose or the use of the entire green belt or green area 
abutting the property for purposes of access. 
(2) Notwithstanding an ything contained in sub -section (1), a person shall 
not, in any manner , use or change the nature of any green belt for the purpose of 
acquiring access to a service lane from the main road. 
12. Installation of billboards, sky signs and outdoor advertisements.– (1) If 
any person intends to install  a b illboard, sky sign or outdoor  advertisement in any 
manner on private or public propert y or p ublic park,  green belt or green area, he 
shall make an application in the prescribed manner to the Authority. 
(2) If the billboard, sky sign or outdoor  advertisement affects the rights of 
the neighbors or residents of the area in general or road users , the Authority shall 
invite objections from them and decide the objections before taking a decision. 
(3) The Authority shall not grant permission if the installation of the billboard, 
sky sign or outdoor advertisement affects the rights of road users to safe and secure 
usage or view of the residents or provision of light and air, or the view or sanctity of a 
historical monument. 
(4) The p ermission for installation of billboard, sky sign or outdoor  
advertisement shall include such safety measure s as may be determined by the 
Authority or as may be prescribed, and shall not, in any case, exceed 
10
[such period 
as the Authority may determine or as may be prescribed.] 
(5) A person shall not install or continue installation of a billboard, sky sign 
or outdoor advertisement except in accordance with the permission of the Authority. 
(6) Where the Authority gives pe rmission for installation of a billboard, s ky 
sign or outd oor advertisement , it shall issue  a permission  number w hich shall be 
displayed on the billboard, sky sign or outdoor advertisement. 
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1) and while acting 
in accordance wi th the  provisions of sub -sections (2) to (6), the Authority may 
identify public places for installation of billboards, sky signs, and outdoor 
advertisements and may allow the installation of billboards, sky signs, and outdoor 
advertisements at these places on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
                                                           
10Substituted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2 017 (XXIII of 2017), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.4 
(8) The Authority may charge such fees  for the grant of permission for 
installation of a billboard, sky sign or outdoor advertisement  as the 
11
[Authority] may 
approve. 
12
[(9) The Authority may lease, in the  prescribed manner, any of its sites or 
poles, for outdoor advertisement, for such initial or extended period and on such 
terms and conditions as the Authority may determine or as may be prescribed.] 
13. Advertisements on vehicles .– (1) A person shall not display any 
advertisement on any vehicle or any other moveable property  except with the prior 
permission of the Authority. 
(2) The Authority may charge such fees as for the grant of permission to 
display advertisements on vehicles as the Government may approve.  
(3) The Authority shall not grant permission to display an advertisement on 
a vehicle for a period exceeding twelve months.  
(4) The Authority shall issue a permission number for display on the 
advertisement. 
(5) The Authority shall not give permiss ion for an advertisement which is 
against public morals or promotes an activity or product the performance or sale of 
which, is barred by law. 
14. Regulations regarding green areas.– (1) The Authority shall determine the 
extent of a planned area to be reserved and maintained as a public park, green belt or 
green area. 
(2) A p ublic land authorit y or a  private land authority  shall obtain prior 
sanction of the Authority for any development plan. 
(3) The Authority may obtain a copy of the development plan or land use plan 
of a public land authority or a private land authority which contains detailed specifications 
of the areas reserved as public parks, green areas or green belts and the public or private 
land authority shall, within thirty days, provide the development plan or land use plan to 
the Authority. 
(4) The Authority shall determine– 
(a) the level of green belts from the road  and the method and way of their 
planting and maintenance; 
(b) the percentage of a p ublic park that may be reserved for parking and  
provision of food; 
(c) the maintenance and usage of a public park; and 
(d) the maintenance and usage of a green area. 
15. Maintenance of public parks, green belts and g reen areas .– (1) The 
Authority shall undertake beautification  and maintenance  of areas required to be 
kept green by a public land authority. 
                                                           
11Substituted for the word “Government” by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXIII of 2017), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.4 
12Inserted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXIII of 2017), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3147 - 3148, s.4 
 
(2) The Authority may maintain and beautify the areas required to be ke pt 
green by any p rivate land authority  or may require the p rivate land authority to 
maintain and beautify the same. 
(3) Where the Authority maintains or beautifies a public park, green belt or 
green area situated in a privately developed area, it may charge maintenance charges 
from the private land authority which was required to maintain the public park, green 
area or green belt. 
16. Duty on private persons to maintain green belts.– (1) The Authority may 
require the resident or own er of a property to maintain a g reen belt between his 
property and the public road. 
(2) The Authority may recover a fixed charge in  accordance with a 
schedule of charges from the owner of the property for maintaining a g reen belt 
which the owner has failed to maintain in accordance with its directions. 
(3) If the Authority finds that a green belt has been raised by an owner or 
occupier of a property abutting to it or has b een bricked over or concretized, it may 
require the said owner or the occupier to remove the construction and bring it to the 
level notified by it and if the person does not comply with the directions of the Authority 
within a reasonable time, the Authority may recover the cost of removal in accordance 
with a schedule of costs.  
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section ( 3), the Authority 
may remove a construction fro m a green belt or bring the level of a green belt to the 
prescribed level at its own cost. 
17. Continuation of contracts .– (1) All contracts , permissions and leases 
granted by an empowering  authority for the use of any public park , g reen belt or  
green area or  the in stallation or placement of any bill board, sky sign or outdoor 
advertisement on public or private property prior to the enforcement of th e Act, shall 
be subject to, and governed by, the provisions of the Act. 
(2) The Authority shall not cancel any contr act or withdraw any permission 
mentioned in sub -section (1)  without providing an opportunity of hearing to the 
affected person. 
18. Fund.– (1) There shall be a Fund to be known as Parks and Horticulture Authority 
Fund. 
(2) The Fund shall consist of– 
(a) grants made by the Government or other authorities or agencies; 
(b) charges collected by the Authority for maintenance of public parks, 
green belts and green areas; 
(c) fees imposed by the Authority; and  
(d) income from any other source. 
(3) The Fund shall be maintained and invested in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
(4) The Fund shall be utilized to meet the expenses of the Authority in 
connection with its functions under the Act. 
(5) The Authority shall not obtain loan and shall not incur debt. 
19. Budget and accounts .– (1) The Director General shall, before the  
commencement of a financial year, prepare a statement of the estimated receipts and 
expenditure of the Authority for the financial year and submit it to the Board for 
approval. 
(2) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other records relating 
to its financial affairs including its income and expenditures and its assets and 
liabilities in such form and manner as may be prescribed.  
(3) As soon as may be, after the end of each financial year, the Authority, 
in the manner prescribed, shall cause to be prepared for that financial year 
statements of account of the Authority , which shall include a balance -sheet and an 
account of income and expenditure. 
20. Audit.– (1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts 
of the Authority. 
(2) The Government, in addition to the audit under sub -section (1), may 
cause the annual accounts of the Authority audited, in the prescribed manner, by a 
Chartered Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants. 
21. Prohibitions.– (1) A person shall not use any green belt or green area for any 
purpose except casual use without prior permission in writing of the Authority. 
(2) No person shall discharge an y waste water or sewage on any public 
park, green belt or green area. 
(3) No person shall throw or dispos e of any litter or garbage in any p ublic 
park, green belt or green area. 
(4) No person shall install or exhibit any billboard, s ky sign, outdoor 
advertisement or advertisement or allow the installation and e xhibition of any 
billboard, sky sign, outdoor advertisement or advertisement in any property under his 
control without the permission of the Authority. 
13
[(5) A person shall not cut, damage or remove any tree on public land or any 
place outside a private premises without prior permission in writing of the A uthority, 
except the routine or reasonable trimming of a tree outside the private premises by the 
occupant himself or under intimation to him.] 
(6) A person shall not take any part in the publication, installation or 
display of any billboard, sky sign, outdoor advertisement, advertisement, or which is 
indecent or against public morality or which may incite public disorder. 
22. Attempts and abetments .– A person who attempts to contravene, or abets 
the contravent ion of any order made under th is Act shall be d eemed to have 
contravened that order. 
                                                           
13Substituted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority  (Amendment) Act 2016 ( LV of 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 6 December 2016, pp. 2901-2902, s.2. 
 
23. Offences, penalties and procedures.– 
14
[(1) A person who contravenes any 
provision of the Act, for which no other punishment is provided, shall be liable to 
punishment of imprisonment which may extend to six months or fine which may 
extend to five hundred thousand rupees but which shall not be less than ten 
thousand rupees or with both.] 
15
[(1A) A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (5) of section 
21, shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment which  may extend to fifteen days 
but which shall not be less than three days and fine which may extend to two 
hundred thousand rupees but which shall not be less than twenty thousand rupees.] 
(2) If a person  continues to commit an act in violation of any order of the 
Authority, he shall, in addition to  any other punishment under the  Act, be liable to 
punishment of fine which may extend to five thousand  rupees for each day the  
offence continues. 
(3) If a person , being convicted under the  Act, again commits an off ence 
under the Act, he shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to one year or fine which may extend to one million rupees or both. 
(4) If a person  fails to obtain and display a permission required to be 
displayed under the Act, he shall be liable to punishment of fine which may extend to 
twenty five thousand rupees.  
(5) An offence under the  Act shall be non -bailable but the police shall not 
take cognizance of the  offence except on the information received from an 
authorized officer of the Authority. 
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section ( 5), the Authority 
may instead of filing information before the police, file a complaint before a 
Magistrate authorized to take cognizance of an offence under the Act. 
(7) The procedure for the tri al of offences under the  Act shall be the same 
as is laid down in the Code for summary trial. 
24. Complaints of  illegal or unauthorized use.– Any person may file a 
complaint in the prescribed format  to the Authority regarding the ill egal use of any 
public park or green belt or green area or any other violation of th e Act and the 
Authority on receipt of such a complaint shall inquire into the same and shall take 
such action as may be necessary under the Act. 
25. Powers of Authority and its officers with regard to offences .– (1) Any 
officer of the Authority , or a person authorized by the Authority may take all such 
actions as may be necessary for enforcement of the Act, rules or regulations including 
removal of encroachments, cessation of hazardous or unauthorized trade in a p ublic 
park, green area or green belt, removal of unauthorized billboards, sky signs, outdoor 
advertisements or  advertisements, and removal or cessation of unauthorized 
construction or stoppage of unauthorized land use in or on a public park, green belt or 
green area. 
                                                           
14Substituted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2016 (LV o f 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 6 December 2016, pp. 2901-2902, s.3. 
15Inserted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2016 (LV of 2016), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 6 December 2016, pp. 2901-2902, s.3. 
(2) Any officer of the Authority authorized in this behalf, along with such 
other persons as may  be necessary, may enter at a reasonable time and after due 
notice, any 
16
[*] premises for removal of a billboard or s ky sign or outdoor 
advertisement and remove the same. 
(3) Where the Authority has removed any construction or b illboard, sky 
sign, outdoor advertisement or advertisement, it shall confiscate the debris of the  
construction, billboard, s ky si gn, outdoor advertiseme nt or advertisement and may 
recover the cost of removal and disposal from the person who owns or occupies the 
same. 
26. Power to enter and survey .– Any person authorized by the Authority may 
enter and survey any premises or land at a reasonable time and after due notice of 
inspection and survey for the purposes of the Act, rules or regulations. 
27. Recovery of dues .– A sum due to the Authority shall be recoverable as 
arrears of land revenue. 
28. Police assistance.– The police shall render such assistance as the Authority 
may require in the discharge of its functions under the Act. 
29. Act to have overriding effect .– The provisions of the Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law. 
30. Power to ma ke r ules.– The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for giving effect to the provisions of the Act. 
17
[31. Regulations.– Subject to the Act and the rules, the Board may, by notification 
in the official Gazette, make regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Act.] 
32. Ownership of public parks, green belts or g reen area.– The ownership of 
Heritage Park and any area notified as a public park, green belt or green area shall 
vest in the Authority. 
33. Summary ejection of una uthorized occupant or user .– The Director 
General or an officer authoriz ed by the Authority may eject any person in 
unauthorized occupation of any land or property vested in the Authority and may use 
such force as may be necessary to remove the unauthorized occupant or user. 
34. Annual report.– (1) The Authority shall, within three months of the close of a 
financial year, submit to the Government an annual report. 
(2) The report shall consist of– 
(a) the statement of accounts of the Authority; 
(b) a comprehensive statement of the work and activities of the Authority 
during the preceding financial year; and  
                                                           
16The word “private” was omitted by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (Amendment) Act 2015 (IV of 2015), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 24 February 2015, p. 2413, s.4. 
17Substituted by the Parks and Horticu lture Authority (Amendment) Act 2015 (IV of 2015), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 24 February 2015, p. 2413, s.5. 
 
(c) such other matters as may be prescribed and as the Authority may 
consider appropriate.  
35. Protection of action taken under the Act.– (1) No suit, prosecution or other 
legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is, in good faith, 
done or intended to be done in pursuance of any order made under the Act. 
(2) No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government  or 
the Authority for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything which is, in 
good faith, done or intended to be done in pursua nce of any order made under the  
Act.  
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law , the Director 
General or an y other employee of the Authority shall not be personally liable in civil 
proceedings for any action taken for enforcement of the Act.