PUNJAB CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 2005

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THE PUNJAB CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 2005 
(II of 2005) 
CONTENTS 
PART I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Act not in derogation of any other law 
PART II 
LIABILITY ARISING FROM DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS 
4. Liability for defective products 
5. Defective in construction or composition 
6. Defective in design 
7. Defective because of inadequate warning 
8. Defective because of non-conformity to express warranty 
9. Proof of manufacturer’s knowledge 
10. Restriction on grant of damages 
11. Duty of disclosure 
12. Prohibition on exclusions from liability 
PART III 
LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF DEFECTIVE AND FAULTY SERVICES 
13. Liability for faulty or defective services 
14. Standard of provision of services 
15. Restriction on grant of damages 
16. Duty of disclosure 
17. Prohibition on exclusions from liability 
PART IV 
OBLIGATIONS OF MANUFACTURERS 
 
18. Prices to be exhibited at the business place 
19. Receipt to be issued to the purchaser 
20. Return and refund policy 
PART V 
UNFAIR PRACTICES 
21. False, deceptive or misleading representation 
22. Prohibition on bait advertisement 
PART VI 
THE POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY 
23. Powers of Authority 
23-A. Powers of Government 
PART VII 
CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL 
24. Consumer Protection Council 
PART VIII  
DISPOSAL OF CLAIMS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSUMER COURTS 
25. Filing of Claims 
26. Consumer Courts 
27. Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts 
28. Settlement of Claims 
29. Settlement at pretrial stage 
30. Procedure on receipt of complaint 
31. Order of Consumer Court 
32. Penalties 
33. Appeal 
34. Finality of Order 
35. Dismissal of frivolous or vexatious claims 
PART IX 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
36. Aid to the Consumer Court 
37. Immunity 
38. Power to make rules 
39. Power to remove difficulties 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 2005 
(II of 2005) 
[25th January, 2005] 
An 
Act 
to provide for protection and promotion of the rights and interests of the consumers. 
Preamble.– Whereas, it is expedient to provide for protection a nd promotion of the 
rights and interests of the consumers, speedy redress of consumer complaints and for 
matters connected therewith; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:– 
PART I 
PRELIMINARY 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called  the 
Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005. 
(2)  It shall extend to the whole of the Province of the Punjab. 
(3)  It shall come into force at once. 
2.  Definitions.– In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,– 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Consumer Protection Act 2005; 
2
[(b)  “Authority” means the officer as provided in sub -section (1) of section 
23 of the Act;] 
(c) “consumer” means a person or entity who– 
(i)  buys or obtains on lease any product for a consideration and 
includes any user of such product but does not include a person 
who obtains any product for resale or for any commercial 
purpose; or 
(ii)  hires any services for a consideration and includes any 
beneficiary of such services; 
3
[Explanation: for the purposes of sub-clauses (i) and (ii): 
(a) the expression “buys or obtains on lease any product” and 
“hires any services” includes offline or online transactions 
                                                 
1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 13 January 2005; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 19 January 
2005; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 25 January 2005, pp. 2565 to 2573. 
2Substituted by the Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 20 25 (LIV of 20 25), published in the Punjab Gazet te 
(Extraordinary), dated: 25 June 2025, pp. 5233-5234, s. 2(i). 
3Substituted by the Punjab Consumer Protection (Ame ndment) Act 20 25 (LIV of 20 25), published in the Punjab Gazet te 
(Extraordinary), dated: 25 June 2025, pp. 5233-5234, s. 2(ii). 
 
through electronic means or teleshopping or direct selling or 
multi-level marketing; and 
(b) the expression “commercial purpose” does not include use by 
a consumer of products bought and used by him only for the 
purpose of his livelihood as a self-employed person.] 
 
(d) “damage” means all damage caused by a product or service including 
damage to the product itself and economic loss arising from a deficiency 
in or loss of use of the product or service; 
(e) “entity” means an organization that has a legal identity apart from its 
members; 
(f)  “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; 
(g)  “laboratory” means a laboratory established or recognized by the 
Provincial Consumer Protection Council and includes any such laboratory 
or organization established by or under any law for the time being in force, 
which is maintained, financed, aided or recognized by the Government for 
carrying out analysis or test of any goods with a view to determining 
whether such goods suffer from any defect; 
(h)  “manufacturer” includes a person or entity who– 
(i) is in the business of manufacturing a product for purposes of 
trade or commerce; 
(ii) labels a product as his own or who otherwise presents himself 
as the manufacturer of the product; 
(iii)  as a seller exercises control over the design, construction or 
quality of the product that causes damage; 
(iv)  assembles a product by incorporating into his product a component 
or part manufactured by another manufacturer; and 
(v)  is a seller of a product of a foreign manufacturer and assumes or 
administers warranty obligations of the product, or is affiliated 
with the foreign manufacturer by way of par tial or complete 
ownership or control; or modifies or prepares the product for sale 
or distribution; 
(i)  “manufacturing a product” means producing, fabricating, constructing, 
designing, remanufacturing, reconditioning or refurbishing a product;  
(j)  “product” has the same meaning as assigned to the word “goods” in the 
Sale of Goods Act, 1930, and includes products which have been 
subsequently incorporated into another product or an immovable but 
does not include animals or plants or natural fruits and oth er raw 
products, in their natural state, that are derived from animals or plants;  
(k)  “services” includes the provision of any kind of facilities or advice or 
assistance such as provision of medical, legal or engineering services 
but does not include– 
(i) the rendering of any service under a contract of personal 
service; 
 
(ii) the rendering of non -professional services like astrology or 
palmistry; or 
(iii) a service, the essence of which is to deliver judgment by a court 
of law or arbitrator; 
(l)  “reasonably anticipated alteration or modification” means a change in a 
product that a product manufacturer should reasonably expect to be 
made by an ordinary person in the same or similar circumstances and a 
change arising from ordinary wear or tear, but does not include– 
(i)  changes to or in a product because the product does not receive 
reasonable care and maintenance; or 
(ii)  alteration, modification or removal of an otherwise adequate 
warning; or 
(iii) the failure of the seller to provide an adequate warning  to the 
consumer where the same had been provided by the 
manufacturer and he could do no more; and 
(m)  “reasonably anticipated use” means a use or handling of a product that the 
product manufacturer should reasonably expect of an ordinary person in 
the same or similar circumstances. 
3.  Act not in derogation of any other law.– The provisions of this Act shall be in 
addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in 
force. 
PART II 
LIABILITY ARISING FROM DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS 
4. Liability for defective products.– (1) The manufacturer of a product shall be 
liable to a consumer for damages proximately caused by a characteristic of the 
product that renders the product defective when such damage arose from a 
reasonably anticipated use of the product by a consumer. 
(2)  A product shall be defective only if– 
(a)  it is defective in construction or composition as provided in section 5; 
(b) it is defective in design as provided in section 6; 
(c)  it is defective because an adequate  warning has not been given as 
provided in section 7; and 
(d)  it is defective because it does not conform to an express warranty of 
the manufacturer as provided in section 8. 
5.  Defective in construction or composition.– A product shall be defective in 
construction or composition if, at the time the product was manufactured, a material 
deviation was made from the manufacturers’ own specifications, whether known to the 
consumer or not. 
6.  Defective in design.– (1) A product shall be defective in design if , at the time 
the product left its manufacturer’s control– 
 
(a)  there existed an alternative design for the product that was capable of 
preventing the damage to a consumer; and 
(b)  the likelihood and gravity of damage outweighed the burden on the 
manufacturer of adopting such alternative design and any adverse effect of 
such alternative design on the utility of the product. 
(2)  When the manufacturer has used reasonable care to provide adequate 
warning to the users or handlers of the product, it shall be c onsidered in evaluating 
the likelihood of damage arising from the design of a product. 
7.  Defective because of inadequate warning.– (1) A product shall be defective if 
an adequate warning about the product that it possessed a characteristic that could 
cause damage, has not been provided at the time the product left its manufacturer’s 
control or the manufacturer has failed to use reasonable care to provide an adequate 
warning of such characteristic and its danger to users and handlers of the product: 
Provided that a manufacturer shall not be required to provide an adequate 
warning about his product when– 
(a)  the ordinary user or handler of the product could know, with the 
ordinary knowledge common to the community, that the product has 
dangerous characteristics which could cause damage; or 
(b)  the user or handler of the product already knows or should be 
reasonably expected to know that the product has characteristics which 
were dangerous and could cause damage. 
(2)  A manufacturer of a product who, after t he product has left his control, 
acquires knowledge about the dangerous characteristics of the product that could 
cause damage, or who would have acquired such knowledge had he acted as a 
reasonably prudent manufacturer, shall be liable for damage caused b y his 
subsequent failure to use reasonable care to provide an adequate warning of such 
characteristic and its danger to users and handlers of the product. 
8.  Defective because of non -conformity to express warranty .– A product 
shall be defective when it does not conform to an express warranty made at any time 
by the manufacturer about the product if the express warranty has induced the 
claimant to use the product and the claimant’s damage was proximately caused 
because the express warranty was untrue. 
9.  Proof of manufacturer’s knowledge.– (1) Notwithstanding anything contained 
in section 6, a manufacturer of a product shall not be liable for damage proximately 
caused by a characteristic of product’s design if the manufacturer proves that at the time 
the product left his control– 
(a) he did not know and, in the light of the then existing and reasonably 
available scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known 
the design characteristic that caused the damage or the danger of such 
characteristic; or 
(b)  he did not know and, in the light of the then existing and reasonably 
available scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known 
of the alternative design identified by the consumer under section 6 (1); 
or 
 
(c)  the alternative design identified by the consumer under section 6 (1) was 
not feasible in the light of the then existing and reasonably available 
scientific and technological knowledge or then existing economic 
practicality. 
(2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in section 7(1) or 7(2), a manufacturer 
of a product shall not be liable for damage if the manufacturer proves that, at the time 
the product left his control, he did not know and, in the light of the then existing and 
reasonably available scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known of 
the characteristic that caused the damage or the danger of such characteristic. 
10.  Restriction on grant of damages .– Where the consumer has not suffered 
any damage from the product except the loss of utility, the manufactur er shall not be 
liable for any damages except a return of the consideration or a part thereof and the 
costs. 
11.  Duty of disclosure .– (1) Where the nature of the product is such that the 
disclosure of its component parts, ingredients, quality, or date of manufacture and 
expiry is material to the decision of the consumer to enter into a contract for sale, the 
manufacturer shall disclose the same. 
(2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), the Government 
may, by general or special order, require such disclosure in any particular case. 
12.  Prohibition on exclusions from liability.– The liability of a person by virtue of 
this part to a consumer who has suffered damage shall not be limited or excluded by the 
terms of any contract or by any notice. 
PART III 
LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF DEFECTIVE AND FAULTY SERVICES 
13.  Liability for faulty or defective services .– A provider of services shall be 
liable to a consumer for damages proximately caused by the provision of services 
that have caused damage. 
14.  Standard of provision of services .– (1). Where the standard of provision of 
a service is regulated by a special law, provincial or federal, the standard of services 
shall be deemed to be the standard laid down by such special law. 
(2)  Where the standard of a service has not been provided for in any law or 
by the professional or trade body concerned, the standard shall be that which at the 
time of the provision of the service, a consumer could reasonably expect to obtain at 
that time in Pakistan. 
15. Restriction on grant of damages .– Where the consumer has not suffered 
any damages from the provision of service except lack of benefit, the service provider 
shall not be liable for any damages except a return of the consideration or a part 
thereof and the costs. 
16.  Duty of disclosure.– (1) Where the nature of the service is such that the 
disclosure of the capabilities or qualifications of the provider of the service or the 
quality of the products that he intends to use for provision of the service is mater ial to 
 
the decision of the consumer to enter into a contract for provision of services, the 
provider of services shall disclose the same. 
(2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), the Government 
may, by general or special order, require such disclosure in any case. 
17.  Prohibition on exclusions from liability.– The liability of a person by virtue of 
this Part to a person who has suffered damage shall not be limited or excluded by the 
terms of any contract or by any notice. 
PART IV 
OBLIGATIONS OF MANUFACTURERS 
18.  Prices to be exhibited at the business place .– Unless a price catalogue is 
available for issue to customer, the manufacturer or trader shall display prominently in 
his shop or display-centre a notice specifying the retail or wholesale price, as the case 
may be, of every goods available for sale in that shop or display-centre. 
19.  Receipt to be issued to the purchaser .– Every manufacturer or trader who 
sells any goods shall issue to the purchaser a receipt showing– 
(a) the date of sale; 
(b)  description of goods sold; 
(c)  the quantity and price of the goods; and 
(d)  the name and address of the seller. 
20.  Return and refund policy .– Return and refund policy of a seller shall be 
disclosed to the buyer clearly before the transactio n is completed by means of a sign 
at the point of purchase. 
PART V 
UNFAIR PRACTICES 
21.  False, deceptive or misleading representation .– No person shall make a 
false, deceptive or misleading representation that– 
(a) the products are of a particular kind, s tandard, quality, grade, quantity, 
composition, style or model; 
(b)  the products have particular history or particular previous use; 
(c)  the services are of a particular kind, standard or quality; 
(d)  the services are provided by a person having a requi site skill or 
qualification or experience; 
(e)  the products were manufactured, produced, processed or reconditioned 
at a particular time; 
(f)  the products or services have any sponsorship, approval, endorsement, 
performance, characteristics, accessories, uses or benefits; 
(g)  the products are new or reconditioned or have been in use for a 
particular period of time only; 
 
(h)  the seller or producer of products or provider of services has any 
sponsorship, approval, endorsement or affiliation; 
(i) the products or services are necessary for somebody’s well being; 
(j)  concerns the existence, exclusion or effect of any condition, guarantee, 
right or remedy; and 
(k)  concerns the place of origin of products. 
22.  Prohibition on bait advertisement .– (1) No perso n shall, in trade, advertise 
or supply at a specified price products or services which that person– 
(a)  does not intend to offer for supply; or 
(b)  does not have reasonable grounds for believing that they can be supplied 
at that price for a period that i s, and in quantities that are, reasonable 
having regard to the nature of the market in which the person carries on 
business and the nature of the advertisement. 
(2)  Any person who has advertised products or services for supply at a 
specified price shall offer such products or services for supply at that price for a period 
that is, and in quantities that are reasonable having regard to the nature of the market in 
which the person carries on business and the nature of the advertisement. 
PART VI 
THE POWERS OF THE AUTHORITY 
23.  Powers of Authority.– 
4
[(1) The Deputy Commissioner of a concerned district 
or any other officer, as may be notified in the official Gazette by the Government, on 
its own motion or on a complaint filed to him, in writing, by any person,  against the 
violation of the provisions of sections 11, 16, 18 and 19 of the Act, may, after having 
been satisfied and after affording an opportunity of being heard, impose a fine on the 
violator which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees, but shall not be less 
than one thousand rupees or equal to hundred percent value of the product or 
service, whichever is lesser, which may be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.] 
(2)  The Authority may file a claim for declaring a product defective under 
sections 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 or a service as faulty or defective under section 13 without 
proof of any damage actually suffered by a consumer but likely to be suffered 
keeping in view the general standard of that service. 
(3)  The Authority may file a claim before th e Consumer Court for declaring 
any act on the part of any person as being in contravention to Part IV of this Act 
without proof of any damage actually suffered but likely to be suffered due to the said 
contravention. 
(4)  The Authority on receipt of a complaint or a reference from the Consumer 
Protection Council or on his own motion, may hold an inquiry as to defects in products or 
services or practices which contravene any of the provisions of this Act. No prior notice 
shall be required to be given to a manufacturer or provider of services for the purposes of 
holding an inquiry. 
                                                 
4Substituted by the Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 20 25 (LIV of 20 25), published in the Punjab Gazet te 
(Extraordinary), dated: 25 June 2025, pp. 5233-5234, s. 3. 
 
(5)  The Authority, while holding an inquiry, may direct the police or any other 
officer or authority of the Government to gather such evidence as it deems necessary or 
to perform function in accordance with law which have an impact on the inquiry. 
(6)  The Authority may delegate his powers under this Act through a 
notification to any officer of the Government with its prior approval. 
(7)  Any person aggrieved by the order passed under sub-section (1) may file 
an appeal before the Government within thirty days of such order. 
5
[23-A. Powers of Government .– (1) The Government may, by general or special 
order and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the  
powers conferred upon the Authority under this Act except the power of imposition of 
fine under section 23(1). 
(2)  The Government may, from time to time, issue directions to the Authority 
with regard to the performance of the functions of the Authority under this Act. 
(3)  The Government may, at any stage, modify or set aside any order or 
action of the Authority subject to such condition or conditions as it may deem fit.] 
PART VII 
CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL 
24.  Consumer Protection Council .– (1) The Gove rnment shall set up a 
Consumer Protection Council in the Province. 
(2)  The Government may set up Consumer Protection Councils in one or 
more districts which shall report to the Provincial Consumer Protection Council. 
(3)  The Consumer Protection Councils shall have such other functions as 
may be assigned to them by the Government by notification in the official Gazette. 
(4)  The Provincial Consumer Protection Council shall gather such 
information and data as may be necessary in order to remove unreasonably  
dangerous products and faulty and defective services from trade or commerce. 
(5)  Each Consumer Protection Council shall have an adequate 
representation of consumers and associations of trade, industry and services, as the 
case may be, duly registered under the law for the time being in force; provided that the 
representation of consumers on the Council, other than any ex-officio members, shall 
not be less than fifty per cent of its total membership. 
PART VIII 
DISPOSAL OF CLAIMS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CONSUMER COURTS 
25.  Filing of Claims .– A claim for damages arising out of contravention of any 
provisions of this Act shall be filed before a Consumer Court set up under this Act. 
                                                 
5Inserted by the Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 2006 (XI of 2006) , published in the Punjab Gazet te 
(Extraordinary), dated: 17 October 2006, pp. 1383-1384, s. 3. 
 
6
[26. Consumer Courts .– (1) The Lahore High Court shall, by notification, 
designate a District Judge or an Additional District Judge in each district, having 
specific area of jurisdiction, as Consumer Court to try cases under the Act: 
Provided that the Lahore High Court may notify one or more such Courts in 
a district and in case of m ore than one Consumer Courts in a district, the senior 
judge of such Courts shall act as the administrative judge of the Consumer Courts 
in that district. 
 
(2) All cases pending in the defunct Consumer Courts before the 
commencement of the Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Act 2025 shall 
stand transferred to the Consumer Courts of respective specific areas, designated 
under sub-section (1), which may continue the proceedings from the point where 
it were left or may take additional evidence if so requir ed. 
(3) All employees of the defunct Consumer Courts shall stand 
transferred to their parent Department. ] 
27.  Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts .– Subject to the provisions of this Act, the 
Consumer Court shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints withi n the local limits 
of whose jurisdiction– 
(a) the defendant or each of the defendants, where there are more than one, 
at the time of filing of the claim, actually and voluntarily resides or carries 
on business or personally works for gain; or 
(b) any of the defendants where there are more than one, at the time of the 
filing of the claim, actually and voluntarily resides, or carries on 
business, or personally works for gain; provided that in such a case the 
permission is granted by the Consumer Court or the defendants who do 
not reside, or carry on business, or personally work for gain, as the 
case may be, acquiesce in such institution; or 
(c)  the cause of action wholly or in part arises. 
28.  Settlement of Claims .– (1) A consumer who has suffered damage, or  
Authority in other cases, shall, by written notice, call upon a manufacturer or provider 
of services that a product or service is defective or faulty, or the conduct of the 
manufacturer or service provider is in contravention of the provisions of this Act  and 
he should remedy the defects or give damages where the consumer has suffered 
damage, or cease to contravene the provisions of this Act. 
(2)  The manufacturer or service provider shall, within fifteen days of the 
receipt of the notice, reply thereto. 
(3)  No claim shall be entertained by a Consumer Court unless the 
consumer or the Authority has given notice under sub -section (1) and provides proof 
that the notice was duly delivered but the manufacturer or service provider has not 
responded thereto. 
                                                 
6Substituted by the Punjab Consumer Pr otection (Amendment) Act 20 25 (LIV of 20 25), published in the Punjab Gazet te 
(Extraordinary), dated: 25 June 2025, pp. 5233-5234, s. 4. 
 
 
(4)  A claim by the consumer or the Authority shall be filed within thirty days 
of the arising of the cause of action: 
Provided that the Consumer Court, having jurisdiction to hear the claim, may 
allow a claim to be filed after thirty days within such time as it may allow if it is satisfied 
that there was sufficient cause for not filing the complaint within the specified period: 
Provided further that such extension shall not be allowed beyond a period of 
sixty days from the expiry of the warranty or guarantee p eriod specified by the 
manufacturer or service provider and if no period is specified one year from the date 
of purchase of the products or providing of services. 
29.  Settlement at pretrial stage.– Any party to the dispute may, at the pretrial stage, 
make a firm written offer of settlement stating the amount offered for settlement and if 
the offer is accepted by the opposing party, the Consumer Court shall pass an order in 
terms of the settlement: 
Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in any oth er law for the time 
being in force, the party refusing the offer of settlement shall pay actual costs of 
litigation, including lawyer’s fees, in case the final order of the Consumer Court is 
passed against that party: 
Provided further that the court’s appr oval regarding settlement shall be 
required in the following matters– 
(i)  claims of a minor; 
(ii)  claims of a legally incapacitated person; and 
(iii)  claims involving collective rights. 
30.  Procedure on receipt of complaint .– (1) The Consumer Court sha ll, on 
receipt of a claim if it relates to any products,– 
(a)  forward a copy of the claim to the defendant mentioned in the claim 
directing him to file his written statement within a period of fifteen days or 
such extended period not exceeding fifteen days; 
(b)  where the defendant, on receipt of claim referred to him under clause (a), 
denies or disputes the allegations contained in the claim, or omits or fails 
to present his case within the time specified, as the case may be, the 
Consumer Court shall proc eed to settle the consumer dispute in the 
manner specified hereafter; 
(c)  where the claim alleges that products are defective and do not conform 
to the accepted industry standards, the Consumer Court may decide 
the dispute on the basis of the evidence rel ating to the accepted 
industry standards and by inviting expert evidence in this regard; 
(d)  where the dispute cannot be determined without proper analysis or test 
of products, the Consumer Court shall obtain sample of the products 
from the complainant, s eal it and authenticate it in the manner 
prescribed and refer the sample to a laboratory along with a direction to 
make analysis or test, whichever may be necessary, with a view to 
finding out if such products suffer from any defect and to report its 
findings to the Consumer Court within a period of thirty days of the 
 
receipt of the reference or within such period as may be extended, not 
exceeding fifteen days by the Consumer Court; and 
(e)  the Consumer Court may require the claimant to deposit to the credit of the 
Consumer Court such fees as may be specified, for payment to the 
laboratory for carrying out the necessary analysis or test and the fee so 
deposited by the claimant shall be payable by the defendant if the test or 
analysis support the version of the claimant.  
(2)  The Consumer Court shall, if the claim relates to any services,– 
(a)  forward a copy of such claim to the defendant directing him to file his 
written statement within a period of fifteen days or such extended 
period not exceeding fiftee n days as may be granted by the Consumer 
Court; and 
(b)  on receipt of the written statement of the defendant, if any, under 
clause (a), proceed to settle the dispute on the basis of evidence 
produced by both the parties: 
Provided that if the defendant doe s not deny or dispute the allegations made 
in the complaint or fails to present his case within the specified period, the dispute 
shall be settled on the basis of the evidence brought by the claimant. 
(3)  For the purposes of this section, the Consumer Cou rt shall have the 
same powers as are vested in civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 
(Act XX of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:– 
(a) the summoning and enforcing attendance of any defendant or witness 
and examining him on oath; 
(b)  the discovery and production of any document or other material object 
which may be produced as evidence; 
(c)  the receiving of evidence on affidavits; 
(d)  issuing of any commission for the examination of any witness; and 
(e)  any other matter which may be prescribed. 
(4)  Every proceeding before the Consumer Court shall be deemed to be a 
judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal 
Code 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), and section 195 and Chapte r XXXV of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898): 
Provided that the personal presence of the claimant before the Consumer 
Court shall not be required till the defendant has put up appearance before it. 
(5)  The Consumer Court shall decide the  claim within six months after the 
service of summons on the respondent. 
31.  Order of Consumer Court.– If, after the proceedings conducted under this Act, 
the Consumer Court is satisfied that the products complained against suffer from any of 
the defects specified in the claim or that any or all of the allegations contained in the 
claim about the services provided are true, it shall issue an order to the defendant 
directing him to take one or more of the following actions, namely:– 
(a) to remove defect from the products in question; 
 
(b)  to replace the products with new products of similar description which 
shall be free from any defect; 
(c)  to return to the claimant the price or, as the case may be, the charges 
paid by the claimant; 
(d)  to do such other things as may be necessary for adequate and proper 
compliance with the requirements of this Act; 
(e)  to pay reasonable compensation to the consumer for any loss suffered 
by him due to the negligence of the defendant; 
(f) to award damages where appropriate; 
(g) to award actual costs including lawyers’ fees incurred on the legal 
proceedings; 
(h)  to recall the product from trade or commerce; 
(i)  to confiscate or destroy the defective product; 
(j)  to remedy the defect in such period as may be deemed fit; or  
(k)  to cease to provide the defective or faulty service until it achieves the 
required standard. 
32.  Penalties.– (1) Where a manufacturer fails to perform or in any way infringes the 
liabilities provided in sections 4 to 8, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18 to 22, he shall be punished with 
imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to hundred 
thousand rupees or with both in addition to damages or compensation as may be 
determined by the court. 
(2)  Where a defendant or the claimant fails or omits to comply with any order 
made by the Consumer Court, such defendant or the claimant shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for a term not less than one month which may extend to three years, or 
with fine not less than five thousand rupees which may  extend to twenty thousand 
rupees or with both. 
33.  Appeal.– Any person aggrieved by any final order of the Consumer Court may 
file an appeal in the Lahore High Court within 30 days of such order. 
34.  Finality of Order.– Every order of the Consumer Court, if no appeal has been 
preferred against such order under the provisions of this Act, shall become final. 
35.  Dismissal of frivolous or vexatious claims .– Where a claim is found to be 
frivolous or vexatious, the Consumer Court shall dismiss the claim and  impose fine 
on the claimant up to an amount not exceeding ten thousand rupees for having 
willfully instituted a false claim and shall award appropriate compensation to the 
defendant from the amount of fine so realized. 
PART IX 
MISCELLANEOUS 
36.  Aid to the Consumer Court.– All agencies of the Government shall act in aid 
of the Consumer Court in the performance of its functions under this Act. 
 
37.  Immunity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any 
functionary under this Act, acting under the direction of the Consumer Council or the 
Government for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this 
Act. 
38.  Power to make rules .– The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
39. Power to remove difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of 
the provisions of this Act, the Government may make such order, not inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to it t o be necessary or expedient for 
removing such difficulty.