PUNJAB SAAF PANI AUTHORITY ACT 2024

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THE PUNJAB SAAF PANI AUTHORITY ACT 2024 
(IX of 2024) 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Re-constitution of the Authority 
4. Functions and powers of the Authority 
5. Meetings of the Authority 
6. Chairperson 
7. Chief Executive Officer 
8. Registration and licensing of drinking water filtrations, purification plants 
and facilities 
9. Transfer of public sector drinking water filtrations, purification plants and 
facilities to the Authority 
10. Appointment of advisors and consultants 
11. Committees 
12. Appointments in the Authority 
13. Immunity 
14. Fund 
15. Budget, audit and accounts 
16. Appointment of Inspectors 
17. Penalties 
18. Cognizance of offences and trial 
19. Bar of jurisdiction 
20. Act to have overriding effect 
21. Annual report 
22. Power to make rules 
23. Power to frame regulations 
24. Transfer and vesting of assets and liabilities 
25. Removal of difficulties 
26. Repeal and savings 
 
 
  
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB SAAF PANI AUTHORITY ACT 2024 
(IX of 2024) 
[17 October 2024] 
An 
Act 
to provide for establishment of the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority. 
It is necessary to re -constitute the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority as the Punjab  Saaf 
Pani Authority to ensure the availability of safe drinking water for the  people in the 
Punjab and the matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto. 
 Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:  
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Saaf Pani Authority Act 2024.  
(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab.  
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– In the Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority Act 2024;  
(b) “Authority” means the Punjab Saaf Pani  Authority re-constituted under 
section 3 of the Act; 
(c) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Authority; 
(d) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); 
(e) “employee” means an employee of the Authority; 
(f) “facilities” m eans the premises, installation , equipment, storage, 
packaging, static or mobile, piped or otherwise supply n etwork, material 
registered and licensed under the Act; 
(g) “Fund” means the Fund of the Authority provided under the Act; 
(h) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; 
(i) “local government” means a local government established under the l aw 
for the time being in force; 
(j) “member” means the member of the Authority;  
(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or the regulations; 
(l) “province” means the province of the Punjab; 
(m) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; and  
(n) “rules” means the rules made under the Act.  
3. Re-constitution of the Authority .– (1) On the commencement of th e Act, the 
Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority established under the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority Act 
2019 (XII of 2019) shall stand re-constituted as the Punjab Saaf Pani Authority. 
                                            
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 11 October 2024; and was assented to by Governor of the Punjab 
on 16 October 2024; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 17 October 2024, pp.1093-1100. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, with perpetual succession and 
a common seal, with powers, subject to the provisions of th e Act, to acquire and hold 
property, both movable and immovable, and may, by the said name, sue and be sued.  
(3) The Authority shall not dispose of its immovable property without prior 
approval of the Government. 
(4) The Authority shall comprise of: 
(a) a person to be appointed as Chairperson by the 
Government. Chairperson 
(b) Secretary to the Government, Planning and 
Development Board. Member 
(c) Secretary to the Government, Finance 
Department. Member 
(d) Secretary to the Government, Housing, Urban 
Development and Public Health Engineering 
Department. Member 
(e) Secretary to the Government, Local Government 
and Community Development Department. Member 
(f) Chief Executive Officer. Secretary/Member 
(g) three non-official members to be appointed by the 
Government. Members 
(5) The non -official members, as provided under clause (g) of sub -section 
(4), shall hold office for a period of three years and shall be eligible for re -appointment 
for another term.  
(6) A non-official member may resi gn by writing under his hand addressed 
to the Government through the Authority.  
(7) The Government may remove a non -official member without assigning 
any reason.  
(8) A non -official member shall cease to hold office if he absents himself 
from three consecutive meetings of the Authority. 
(9) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid because of any 
vacancy or defect in its constitution. 
4. Functions and powers of the Authority.– (1) The Authority shall:  
(a) provide safe drinking water to the people in the Punjab at suitable 
dispensing points; 
(b) undertake or engage in such activities as are necessary for sustainable, 
efficient and affordable safe drinking water; 
(c) conduct surveys, studies and research  for provision of safe drinking 
water; 
(d) devise strategy, plan and actionable parameters for the survey of water 
contamination and for the provisi on of safe drinking water by  installation 
of water filtration and purification plants; 
(e) reduce, suspend or disconnect the water supply in the event of 
contravention of the pr ovisions of the Act or the rules or regulations 
made thereunder subject to affording an opportunity of hearing; 
(f) design, fabricate, construct, install, build, commission, test, operate and 
maintain or cause to design, fabricate, construct, install, build, 
commission, test, operate and maintain schemes and water filtra tion 
plants for drinking water; 
(g) develop or cause to develop infrastructure as needed to provide drinking 
water, including setting up of bottling plants and testing laboratories; 
(h) educate and invo lve the community in the development of filtration 
plants and water supply schemes to devise suitable arrangements for 
improving access to safe drinking water; 
(i) carry  out  improvements, management, administration, supervision, 
execution and control of work s and projects for  providing safe drinking 
water; 
(j) devise and develop a model of designing, supervising, monitoring and 
evaluating the execution of safe drinking water projects and thei r quality 
assurance system; 
(k) increase participation in international coll aborative projects relating safe 
drinking water; 
(l) register and issue license to the drinking water filtrations, purification 
plants and facilities for provision of safe drinking water; 
(m) maintain or cause to maintain a record including an electronic database 
of all registrations, licenses, inspections, and matters  related or ancillary 
thereto; 
(n) prescribe standards for safe drinking water; 
(o) provide drinking water-related sanitation services; 
(p) impose, collect and enforce rates, fees and other charges regarding the 
services provided by it with the approval of the Government; 
(q) regulate drinking water filtrations, purification plants and facilities , 
whether public or private;  
(r) establish training institute relating to its functions and their regulation, 
governance and administration; and 
(s) any other function as may be assigned by the Government.  
(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing functions, t he Authority may also 
perform the following functions:  
(a) liaise on, coordinate and co -work with duly registered  companies, 
bodies, associations, societies, corporations, authorities, agencies, 
trusts, charities, organizations, institutes, whether in Pakistan or 
elsewhere, engaged in safe drinking water activities; 
(b) aid and benevolent charitable, national or other ins titutions which are 
engaged in providing safe drinking water and which, in the opinion of the 
Authority, warrant support; 
(c) sale of safe drinking water subject to such fee and in the manners as 
may be prescribed; 
(d) organize conferences, audio -visual programs or prepare, print, publish, 
broadcast and issue or cause to prepare, print, publish, broadcast and 
issue papers, surveys, journals, magazines, periodical reports, arti cles, 
bulletins, short message service, newsletters, materials, graphics, 
statistics, advisories for circulation and communication, through any 
appropriate means, including electronic means, for information, 
guidance, awareness, and education of the general public; 
(e) provide a platform for research and development regarding the provision 
of safe drinking water; 
(f) prepare or cause to prepare databank, spatial data infrastructure, and 
disruptive technologies’ model for the transparency and optimization of 
service delivery in the discharge of its functions under the Act; 
(g) execute specific drinking water supply projects of the Government or the 
concerned local governments; and 
(h) capacity building of its human resource  and partners to carry o ut its 
functions under the Act. 
5. Meetings of the Authority.– (1) The meetings of the Authority shall be held at 
its head office situated in Lahore or at any other place as the Chairperson may decide.  
(2) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over by the Chairperson 
and i n his absence , it shall be presided over by the member nominated by the 
Chairperson and if so not possible then by a member elected by the members present 
at a meeting.   
(3) Five members of the total members present or through video-link or tele-
conference, shall constitute the quorum for the meetings of the Authority.  
(4) Subject to the quorum, the decisions of the Authority shall be taken by a 
majority of the members present and voting and in case of tie, the Chairperson or the 
member presiding over the meeting, as the case may be, shall have a casting vote.  
(5) The Secretary of the Authority shall maintain or cause to be maintained 
the record of each meeting of the Authority, including the minutes of the meetings.   
6. Chairperson.– (1) The Chairperson of the Authority shall be appointed by the 
Government on such terms and conditions as may be determined by it.   
(2) The Chairperson  shall hold office for a non -extendable period of three 
years from the date of his appointment and shall not be eligible for re-appointment.  
(3) Subject to the provisions of th e Act, the Chairperson shall perform such 
functions as may be entrusted to him by the Authority.   
(4) The Government may remove the Chair person without assigning any 
reason subject to serving one months’ notice or one month’s salary in lieu thereof. 
(5) The Chairperson may resign by writing under his hand and addressed to 
the Government subject to serving one months’ notice or one month’s salary in l ieu 
thereof. 
7. Chief Executive Officer .– (1) There shall be a Chief Executive Officer of the 
Authority who shall be appointed , on the recommendation of the Authority,  by the 
Government on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Government.  
(2) The Chief Executive Officer shall have the general and active 
management of the business of the Authority and shall see that all orders and 
resolutions of the Authority are carried into effect.  
(3) The Chief Executive Officer may, after approval of the Authority, execute 
contracts, deeds, and other instruments on behalf of the Authority  in accordance with 
the prevailing financial rules of the Government of the Punjab.  
(4) The Chief Executive Officer shall also exercise such powers and perform 
such functions as may be prescribed by regulations or assigned by the Authority.  
(5) In addition to the powers and functions mentioned in sub -sections (2), 
(3) and (4), the Chief Executive Officer shall:  
(a) prepare and submit to the Authority a strategic plan for the operation, 
management and functioning of the Authority and annual updates of the 
plan concerning the major functions and operations of the Authority;  
(b) prepare and submit to the Authority proposals with respect to such 
grants and allotments, contracts, other financial assistance, and 
designation of positions as are necessary or appropriate to carry out t he 
purposes of the Act; 
(c) after receiving an approved proposal from the Authority, make such 
grants and allotments, enter into such contracts, award such other 
financial assistance, make such payments in lump sum or installments, 
and in advance or by way of reimbursement, and in the case of financial 
assistance otherwise authorized under the Act with necessary 
adjustments on account of overpayments and underpayments, and 
designate such positions as are necessary or appropriate to carry out 
the effective functioning of the Authority; 
(d) prepare and submit to the Authority a proposal regarding, the regulations 
and such other standards, policies, procedures, programs, and initiatives 
as are necessary or appropriate for management and operations of the 
Authority, and after receiving and reviewing of an approved proposal 
shall establish and administer such standards, policies, procedures a nd 
programs as may be approved; 
(e) prepare and submit to the Authority an annual report on actions taken to 
achieve the goal s of the authority under the Act, including an 
assessment of the progress made toward achieving those goals and the 
actions to be taken in the coming year toward achieving those goal; and 
(f) prepare and submit to the Authority an annual report, and such interim 
reports as may be necessary, describing the major actions with respect 
to the officers of the Authority, and with respect to implemented 
standards, policies, procedures, programs, and initiatives. 
8. Registration and licensing of drinking water filtrations, purification plants 
and facilities.– (1) The Authority may register and issue licenses for private drinking 
water filtrations, purification plants and facilities for such a fee, as may be approved by 
the Government , to ensure the provision of safe drinking water  in suc h manner as 
may be prescribed by the Authority. 
(2) A water filtration, purification plant and facility  registered and licensed 
under sub-section (1) shall c omply with the prescribed national and provincial water 
quality standards of safe drinking. 
9. Transfer of public sector drinking water filtrations, purification plants and 
facilities to the Authority .- On the commencement of the Act, all public sector 
drinking water filtrations, purification plants and facilities owned by the Government, 
local government, public sector company or any entity owned or controlled by the 
Government shall stand transferred to the Authority. 
10. Appointment of advisors and consultants.– The Authority may employ  
qualified advisors and consultants to transact any business or to do any act required 
to be transacted or done in the exercise of powers or performance  of its functions 
under the Act on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Authority. 
11. Committees.– (1) The Authority may constitute such committees as may be 
necessary for efficiently discharging its duties and performing its functions under the 
Act. 
(2) The members of the Authority shall not be the members of the 
committee constituted under sub-section (1). 
12. Appointments in the Authority.– (1) The Authority may appoint such officers 
and other employees as it may deem fit for the performance of its functions under th e 
Act, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Government. 
(2) The Government, if considered expedient, may make rules prescribing, 
service structure, welfare, training, regularization, pension and other matters 
connected therewith and ancillary thereto regarding the officers and other employees 
of the Authority. 
(3) In case of grant of pension to the officers and other employees of the 
Authority, it shall be borne by the Authority. 
(4) The Authority shall review the performance of its officers and other 
employees every year  and may grant such increments and bonuses to them as may 
be approved in the Authority's annual budget. 
13. Immunity.– (1) No suit or prosecution shall lie:  
(a) against the Authority f or any act which , in good faith , is done  or 
purported to be done by the Authority under the Act; or  
(b) against the Chair person, a member of the Authority, officer,  and other 
employee of the Authority for any act which , in good faith , is done or 
purported to be done by him under the Act.  
(2) Any expense incurred by such person as is referred to in sub -section (1) 
in any suit or prosecution brought against him before any court in respect of any act 
which is done by him under the Act or  on the direction of the Authority shall, if the 
Court holds that the act was done in good faith, be paid out of the funds of the 
Authority.  
14. Fund.– (1) There shall be  a Fund to be known as the Punjab Saaf Pani  
Authority Fund which shall be administered and controlled by the Authority.  
(2) The Fund shall consist of:  
(a) budgetary releases from the Government;  
(b) grants made by the Federal Government, the Government or any other 
authority or agency, including internation al or national agencies, 
development partners and donors;  
(c) all such sums of money as may be determined from time to time by the 
Government;  
(d) all such sums of money as may be received by the Authority in the 
exercise, discharge and performance of its powers, functions and 
duties, including fees and penalties or any other sum received under 
the Act;  
(e) fee received through sale of safe drinking water;  
(f) donations, if received from Pakistanis, including expatriate Pakistanis;  
(g) any profits earned by the Authority; and 
(h) income from any other source.  
(3) The Fund shall be kept in such custody, utilized and regulated in such 
manner as may be prescribed by the Government.  
(4) There shall be paid out of the Fund, all such sums of money required to 
defray the expenditure incurred by the Authority in the exercise, discharge and 
performance of its powers, functions and duties. 
15. Budget, audit and accounts.– (1) The Authority shall prepare, in such form 
and at such time in each financial year, as may be prescribed, its budget for the next 
financial year, showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Authority.  
(2) The Authority shall cause its accounts to  be kept in such form and 
manner as may be prescribed by the Government.  
(3) The books of accounts of the Authority shall be kept at the head office of 
the Authority.  
(4) In addition to the requirement of the Government, the Authority shall also 
have its annual audit done by an independent chartered accountant to be appointed 
by the Authority.  
16. Appointment of Inspectors.– (1) The Authority may appoint or designate as 
many Inspectors as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act. 
(2) An Inspector shall have such qualifications and experience as may be 
prescribed, but a person who has any financial interest in any matter regulated under 
the Act shall not be appointed or designated as the Inspector. 
(3) The Inspectors shall perform such duties as may be assigned to it by the 
Authority.  
17. Penalties.– (1) A person in charge of a registered and  licensed drinking water 
filtration, purification plant or  facility who contravenes any provision of the Act, the 
rules, the regulations or any order made under the Act by the Authority or any 
direction issued by the Government, shall, on conviction, be sentenced to 
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one  year or with fine which may extend 
to two hundred thousand rupees or with both.  
(2) A person who t ampers with or damages any drinking water filtration  
plant or purification plant or facility owned by the Authority shall, on conviction, be 
sentenced to imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine 
which may extend to two hundred thousand rupees or with both.  
(3) If a drinking water filtration, purification plant and facility  which 
contravenes any of the provisions of the Act is a company, every director, manager, 
secretary or other officer or agent of such company shall be deemed guilty of such 
contravention.  
18. Cognizance of offences and trial.– (1) An offence under the Act shall  be 
cognizable and bailable.  
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in 
force, an offence under the Act shall be triable by the Magistrate of the First Class  in 
the manners provided in Chapter XXII of the Code.  
 
19. Bar of jurisdiction.– No order made in exercise of any power conferred by or 
under the Act shall be called in question in any Court e xcept in the manner s as may 
be prescribed by the Government.  
20. Act to have overriding effect .– The provisions of the Act shall have effect 
notwithstanding anything contrary contained in any other law for the time being in 
force.  
21. Annual report.– (1) The Authority shall submit an annual report of its activities 
to the Government at the end of each financial year.  
(2) The Governmen t shall lay the annual report of the Authority in the 
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab within ninety days of its receipt from the Authority.  
22. Power to make rules .– Subject to the provisions of th e Act, the Government 
may make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act.   
23. Power to frame regulations .– Subject to the provisions of th e Act and the 
rules made thereunder, the Authority may make regulations as may be necessary for 
carrying out the purposes of the Act.  
24. Transfer and vesting of assets and liabilities .– Any entity or authority of the 
Government or any company of the Government, having similar objects as that of the 
Authority, may, by adopting the method provided by its constituent law or articles of 
association, transfer its asset s and assign its liabilities to the Authority, wholly or 
partially, which shall, upon acceptance by the Authority, vest in the Authority. 
25. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision 
of the Act, Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of 
the Act, as may appear to it to be necessary for the purpose of removing such 
difficulty.  
26. Repeal and savings .– (1) The Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority Act 2019 (XII of 
2019) is hereby repealed. 
(2) On the commencement of the Act, all schemes, projects, or works 
started by the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority under the  repealed Punjab Aab -e-Pak 
Authority Act 2019 (XII of 2019) but not completed, shall stand transferred to  the 
Authority and be executed under the provisions of the Act.  
(3) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority Act 2019 
(XII of 2019), all rules, regulations, appointments and orders made, notifications 
issued, land acquired, schemes prepared or executed, rates and fees impose d, 
penalties or other charges levied, contracts entered into, bank accounts opened or 
fixed deposits made, suits instituted by or against the Punjab Aab -e-Pak Authority or 
any other right accrued, or liability incurred or action taken or proceedings initia ted, 
shall, so far as they are consistent with the provisions of th e Act, continue in force and 
be deemed to have been made, imposed, levied, entered into, opened, instituted, 
prepared, executed, accrued or incurred, taken and initiated by the Authority under the 
Act. 
_______