EHTRAM-E-RAMAZAN ORDINANCE, 1981

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THE EHTRAM-E-RAMAZAN ORDINANCE, 1981 
(XXIII of 1981) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definition 
3. Prohibition of eating, etc, in public places 
4. Prohibition of serving eatables in certain public places 
5. Exemptions 
6. Cinema-houses, theatres, etc., to remain closed during Ramazan 
7. Power to enter and arrest 
8. Cognizance of offences and procedure 
9. Power to make rules 
10. Ordinance to override other laws 
 
TEXT 
THE EHTRAM-E-RAMAZAN ORDINANCE, 1981 
(XXIII of 1981) 
[25th June, 1981] 
An 
Ordinance 
to provide for measures observe the sanctity of the month of Ramazan 
Preamble.– Whereas, in view of the tenets of Islam, it  is necessary to provide for 
measures to observe the sanctity of the month of Ramazan; 
And whereas the President is satisfied that circumstance exist which render it 
necessary to take immediate action; 
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 89 of the 
Constitution, read the Provisional  Constitution Order, 1981 (C.M.L.A. Order No. 1 of 
1981), the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– 1) This Ordinance may be called the 
Ehtram-e-Ramazan Ordinance, 1981. 
(2) It extends to the whole of 
1
[the Punjab]. 
(3) It shall come into force at once.  
2. Definition.– In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject 
or context, “public place” include any hotel, restaurant, canteen, house, room, tent, 
enclosures, road lane, bridge or other place to which the public have access. 
3. Prohibition of eating, etc , in public places.– (1)  No person who, according to 
the tenets of Islam, is under an obligation to fast shall eat, drink or smoke in a public 
place during fasting hours in the month of Ramazan. 
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub -section (1) shall be 
punishable with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or 
with fine which may extend to 
2
[five thousand rupees], or with both. 
4. Prohibition of serving eatables in certain public places .– No proprietor, 
manager, servant, or other person in charge of a hotel, restaurant or canteen, or other 
public place, shall knowingly and willfully offers or serve or cause to be offered or 
served any eatable during fasting hours in the month of Ramazan to any person who, 
according to the tenets of Islam, is under an obligation to fast. 
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub -section (1) shall be 
punishable with simple imprisonment for a  ten which may extend to three months, or 
with fine which may extend to 
3
[fifty thousand rupees], or with both. 
5. Exemptions.– Nothing contained in section 4 shall apply in respect of -- 
(a) a canteen or kitchen maintained in a hospital for serving food to patient; 
4
[(b) A restaurant, or canteen, stall or wheel -barrow, or the holder of vending 
contract, within the premises of a railway sta tion or in a train or a 
restaurant or canteen within the premises of an airport, seaport,  or bus 
stand or in an aircraft;]  
                                                 
1Substituted for the word “Pakistan” by the Punjab Ehtram -E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017  (XXII of 2 017), published in the  
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.2 
2Substituted for the word s “five hundred rupees” by the Punjab Ehtram -E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXII of 2017), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.3. 
3Substituted for the words “five hundred rupees” by the Punjab Ehtram -E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXII of 2017), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.4. 
4Clause (b) Subs. by the Ehtram-e-Ramzan (Amendment), XXIX of 1981. 
(c) A kitchen or dining-car of a train; or 
(d) a kitchen or canteen meant for children within the premises of a primary 
school. 
6. Cinema-houses, theatres , etc., to remain closed during Ramazan .– (1) All 
cinema-houses, theatres  and similar other establishments  or institutions shall remain 
closed during the month of Ramazan from the time of sunset to the expiration of three 
hours thereafter. 
(2) If the proprietor, manager, servant or other person in cha rge of a cinema -
house, theatre or similar other establishment or institution contravenes the provisions of 
sub section (1), h e shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend 
to six months, or with fine which may extend to 
5
[fifty thousand rupees] or with both. 
7. Power to enter and arrest .– 
6
[(1) A Magistrate or an Assistant Commissioner, 
who has reason to believe that any offence punishable under this Ordinance has been 
committed by any person, may enter the public place and arrest such person.] 
(2) Where the Magistrate arresting any person under  sub-section. (1) is for 
the time being empowered to try in a summary way the offences specified in sub -
section (1) of section 260 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), such 
Magistrate may try such person at the place where lie is arrested in accordance with the 
provisions contained in sections 262 to 265 of the said Code.  
8. Cognizance of offences and procedure .– (1) Save as provided in sub section 
(2) of section 7 no court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this 
Ordinance except on a complaint in writing made by a person authorized to arrest under 
sub section (1) of that section or by the officer in charge of the police station in whose 
jurisdiction the offence is alleged to have been committed. 
(2) Any Magistrate empowered for the time being to try in a summary way the 
offences specified in sub section (1) of section 260 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 
1898 (Act V of 1898) may try any offence punishable under the Ordinance in 
accordance with the provisions contained in sections 262 to 265 of the said Code. 
(3) The officer in charge of the police station to which a person arrested is 
forwarded under sub section (3) of section 7 shall make a complain to a Magistrate 
within twenty four hours to the time on which such p erson is  brought to the police 
station. 
(4) The trial of an offence punishable under this Ordinance shall be taken up 
on a priority basis and shall be co ncluded as expeditiously as may be administratively 
possible. 
9. Power to make rules .– (1) The 
7
[Provincial Government ] may make rules for 
carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
provisions such rules may provide that in a canteen restaurant or dining car referred to 
in clause ( 1), (b), (c) or (d) of section 5 eatables or articles of smoking shall only be 
served at a place protected form public view by means of a curtain or otherwise and 
specify the classes of persons who may be admitted to any such canteen, restaurant, or 
dining car during fasting hours in the month of Ramazan. 
(3) A person contravening any rule made under sub section (1) shall be 
deemed to be guilty of an offence punishable under section 4 and shall be punishable 
accordingly. 
10. Ordinance to override other laws.– The provisions of this Ordinance shall have 
effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force. 
                                                 
5Substituted for the words “five thousand rupees” by the Punjab Ehtram -E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXII of 2017), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.5. 
6Substituted by the Punjab Ehtram -E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXII of 2017), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.6. 
7Substituted for the words “ Federal Government ” by the Punjab Eht ram-E-Ramazan (Amendment) Act 2017 (XXII of 2017), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 08 November 2017, pp 3145 - 3146, s.7.