PUNJAB PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE ACT 2016

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THE PUNJAB PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST 
VIOLENCE ACT 2016  
(XVI of 2016) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Measures for the implementation of the Act 
4. Complaint to Court 
5. Right to reside in house 
6. Interim order 
7. Protection order 
8. Residence order 
9. Monetary order 
10. Duration and alteration of orders 
11. District Women Protection Committee 
12. Functions of the Committee 
13. Protection Centres and shelter homes 
14. Women Protection Officer 
15. Power to enter 
16. Assistance on request 
17. Assistance to officers 
18. Penalty for obstructing a Protection Officer 
19. Penalty for filing false complaint 
20. Penalty for breach of orders 
21. Cognizance and summary trial 
22. Appeal 
23. Right to information 
24. Certain persons to be public servants 
25. Performance audit 
26. Act not in derogation of other laws 
27. Training 
28. Annual report 
29. Rules 
30. Immunity 
31. Power to remove difficulties 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB PROTECTION OF WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE ACT 2016 
(XVI of 2016) 
[29th February 2016] 
An 
Act 
to establish an effective system of protection, relief and rehabilitation of women 
against violence. 
Since the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, while guaranteeing 
gender equality, enables the State to make any special provision for the protection of 
women, it is necessary to protect women against violence including domestic 
violence, to establish a protection system for effective service delivery to women 
victims and  to create an enabling environment to encourage and facilitate women 
freely to play their desired role in the society, and to provide for ancillary matters; 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent and commence ment.– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act 2016. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by 
notification, specify and different dates may be so  specified for various areas in the 
Punjab. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act: 
(a) "aggrieved person" means a female who has been subjected to 
violence by a defendant; 
2[(aa) “Authority” means the Punjab Women Protection Authority established 
under section 3 of the Punjab Women Protection Authority Act 2017 (X 
of 2017);] 
(b) "Committee" means a District Women Protection Committee 
established under the Act; 
(c) “Code” means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898);  
(d) “Court” means the Family Court established unde r the Family Courts 
Act, 1964 (XXXV of 1964); 
(e) “dependent child” means a male child who is below the age of twelve 
years of age and includes any adopted, step or foster child; 
                                                
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 24 February 2016; assented to by the Governor of the 
Punjab on 26  February 2016; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated:  29 February 2016, pp. 4053-
4063. 
2Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
(f) 3[“Deputy Commissioner ”] means the 4[Deputy Commissioner] of the 
district; 
(g) “District Women Protection Officer” means the District Women 
Protection Officer appointed under the Act; 
(h) 5[“domestic violence” means the violence committed by the defendant 
with whom the aggrieved person is living or has lived in a house or 
visits the house when  they are related to each other by consanguinity, 
marriage, adoption or in terms of employment;] 
(i) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(j) “house” includes a place where the aggrieved person lives in a 
domestic relationship irrespective of right to owne rship or possession 
of the aggrieved person, defendant or joint family  6[,or lives or visits 
such place as a domestic worker]; 
(k) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under the Act; 
(l) “Protection Centre” means a Violence against Women Centre 
established 7[or declared] under the Act; 
(m) “protection system” means the protection system constituted under the 
Act and includes a Committee, a Protection Centre and a shelter home 
established under the Act; 
(n) "defendant" means a person against whom relief has been soug ht by 
the aggrieved person; 
(o) “resident” means a woman residing in a shelter home or a dependent 
child of such woman residing with her in the shelter home or a child 
residing in a shelter home;  
(p) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; 
8[(pp) “Secretary” means Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare and 
Bait-ul-Maal Department;] 
(q) “shelter home” means a premises established or licensed by the 
Government under the Act to provide board and lodging and 
rehabilitation services to the aggrieved persons, other  women and their 
children;  
                                                
3Substituted for the words ‘District Coordination Officer’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 
2022 (XXXVIII of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.2. 
4Substituted for the words ‘District Coordination Officer’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 
2022 (XXXVIII of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.2. 
5Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
6Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
7Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
8Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
(r) “violence” means any offence committed against the human body of 
the aggrieved person including abetment of an offence, domestic 
violence, sexual violence, psychological abuse, economic abuse, 
stalking or a cybercrime; 
Explanations.– In this clause: 
(1) “economic abuse” means denial of food, clothing and shelter in 
a domestic relationship to the aggrieved person by the 
defendant in accordance with the defendant’s income or taking 
away the income of the aggrieved person without her consent by 
the defendant; and 
(2) “psychological violence includes psychological deterioration of 
aggrieved person which may result in anorexia, suicide attempt 
or clinically proven depression resulting from defendant’s 
oppressive behavior or limiting fr eedom of movement of the 
aggrieved person and that condition is certified by a panel of 
psychologists appointed by District Women Protection 
Committee; and 
(s) “Women Protection Officer” means a Women Protection Officer 
appointed 9[or nominated] under the Act. 
(2) A word or expression not defined in th e Act shall have the same 
meaning as assigned to it in the Code or the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 
1860). 
3.  Measures for the implementation of the Act.– (1) The Government shall: 
(a) institute a universal toll free dial-in-number for the aggrieved persons; 
(b) establish Protection centers and shelter homes under a phased 
programme;  
(c) appoint necessary staff at a Protection Centre  for mediation and 
reconciliation between the parties, rescue, medical exami nation, 
medical and psychological treatment and legal help of the aggrieved 
persons and proper investigation of offences committed against 
aggrieved persons; 
(d) arrange for wide publicity of this Act and the protection system in Urdu 
and, if necessary, in local languages;  
(e)  institute a mechanism for the periodic sensitization and awareness of 
the concerned public servants about the issues involving women and 
the requirements of protection and relief of the aggrieved persons; and 
(f)  take other necessary measures to accomplish the objective of the Act. 
(2)  The Government shall establish a data -base and software for timely 
service delivery and monitoring and evaluation mechanism in the prescribed manner 
with a view to achieving the objectives of the Act  and, where necessary, shall 
introduce necessary reforms for the purpose. 
                                                
9Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII  of 2022), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.3. 
4. Complaint to Court.– (1) An aggrieved person, or a person authorized by the 
aggrieved person or the Women Protection Officer may submit a complaint for 
obtaining a protection, residence or monetary order in favour of the aggrieved person 
in the Court within whose jurisdiction:  
(a) the aggrieved person resides or carries on business;  
(b) the defendant resides or carries on business; or  
(c) the aggrieved person and the defendant last resided together.  
(2) The Court shall proceed with the complaint under this Act and the 
Court shall fix the first date of hearing which shall not be beyond seven days from 
the date of the receipt of the complaint by the Court.  
(3) On receipt of the complaint, the Court shall issue a notice to the 
defendant calling upon him to show cause within seven days of the receipt of notice 
as to why any order under th e Act may not be made and if the defendant fails to file 
a reply within the specified time, the Court, subject to se rvice of the notice on the 
defendant, shall assume that the defendant has no plausible defense and proceed to 
pass any order under this Act. 
(4) The Court shall finally decide the complaint within ninety days from the 
date of the receipt of the complaint, as nearly as possible, under Chapter XXII of the 
Code relating to the summary trials. 
5. Right to reside in house .– Notwithstanding anything contained in any other 
law, the aggrieved person, who is the victim of domestic violence: 
(a) shall not be evicted,  save in accordance with law, from the house 
without her consent or if wrongfully evicted, the Court shall restore the 
position maintaining before the eviction of the aggrieved person if the 
aggrieved person has right, title or beneficial interest in the house; or 
(b) may choose to reside in the house, or in an alternative accommodation 
to be arranged by the defendant as per his financial resources, or in a 
shelter home. 
6.  Interim order .– (1) Pending proceedings under this Act, the Court may, at 
any stage of the complaint, pass such interim order as it deems just and proper.  
(2)  If the Court is satisfied that the complaint prima facie  shows that the 
defendant has committed an act of violence or is likely to commit an act of violence, 
it may issue an order on the basis of an affidavit of the aggrieved person or any other 
material before the Court.  
7.  Protection order .– (1) If the Court is satisfied that any violence has been 
committed or is likely to be committed, the Court may pass a protection order in  
favour of the aggrieved person and direct the defendant: 
(a) not to have any communication with the aggrieved person, with or 
without exceptions;  
(b) stay away from the aggrieved person, with or without exceptions; 
(c) stay at such distance from the aggrieved person  as may, keeping in 
view the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, be determined 
by the Court; 
(d) wear ankle or wrist bracelet GPS tracker for any act of grave violence 
or likely grave violence which may endanger the life, dignity or 
reputation of the aggrieved person; 
(e) move out of the house in case of an act of grave violence if the life, 
dignity or reputation of the aggrieved person is in danger; 
(f) surrender any weapon or firearm which the defendant lawfully 
possesses or prohibit the defendant from purc hasing a firearm or 
obtaining license of a firearm; 
(g) refrain from aiding or abetting an act of violence; 
(h) refrain from entering the place of employment of the aggrieved person 
or any other place frequently visited by the aggrieved person;  
(i) refrain from causi ng violence to a dependent, other relative or any 
person who provides assistance to the aggrieved person against 
violence; or  
(j) refrain from committing such other acts as may be specified in the 
protection order.  
(2)  The Court may issue one or more direct ions contained in subsection 
(1) even if the aggrieved person has not prayed for such direction and may, keeping 
in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case, specify the period for which 
the protection order shall remain operative. 
(3) The Cou rt may impose any additional conditions or pass any other 
direction which it may deem reasonably necessary to protect and provide for the 
safety of the aggrieved person or any dependent child of the aggrieved person.  
(4)  The Court may require the defendant to execute a bond, with or without 
sureties, for preventing the commission of violence.  
(5)  While making an order under this section or section 8, the Court may, 
pass an order directing the Women Protection Officer to provide protection to the 
aggrieved person or to assist the aggrieved person or the person making a complaint 
on behalf of the aggrieved person. 
(6)  The Court may direct the  police to assist the W omen Protection Officer 
in the implementation of the protection or residence order.  
8.  Residence order .– (1) The Court, in case of domestic violence, may in 
addition to any order under section 7, pass a residence order directing that: 
(a) the aggrieved person shall not be evicted, save in accordance with law, 
from the house; 
(b) the aggrieved person has the right to stay in the house; 
(c) the aggrieved person may be relocated from the house to the shelter 
home for purposes of relief, protection and rehabilitation; 
(d) the defendant shall deliver the possession of any property or 
documents to the aggrieved perso n to which the aggrieved person is 
entitled; 
(e) the defendant or any relative of the defendant is restrained from 
entering the shelter home or place of employment or any other place 
frequently visited by the aggrieved person; or  
(f) shall arrange an alternative accommodation for the aggrieved person 
or to pay rent for the alternative accommodation.  
(2)  The Court may, keeping in view the peculiar facts and circumstances of 
the case, issue one or more directions contained in subsection (1) even if the 
aggrieved person has not prayed for such direction and may specify the period for 
which the residence order shall remain in force. 
(3)  The Court shall have due regard to the financial needs and resources 
of the parties before passing any order having financial implications.  
9.  Monetary order.– (1) The Court may, at any stage of the trial of a case, pass 
an order directing the defendant to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses 
incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and such relief may include: 
(a) such compensation, as the Court may determine, to the aggrieved 
person for suffering as a consequence of economic abuse;  
(b) loss of earning;  
(c) medical expense;  
(d) loss caused due to the destruction, damage or removal of any   
property from the control of the aggriev ed person to which the 
aggrieved person is entitled; 
(e) payment of reasonable rent and meals for shelter provided to the 
aggrieved person and dependent children in a shelter home if the 
defendant is mandated by the law to provide shelter to the aggrieved 
person and dependent children; and 
(f) reasonable maintenance for the aggrieved person and her dependent 
children, if any, in addition to an order of maintenance under family 
laws.  
(2)  The Court shall have due regard to the financial needs and resources 
of the parties before passing any order under subsection (1). 
(3) The defendant shall pay monetary relief to the aggrieved person within 
the period specified in the order made under subsection (1). 
(4) If the defendant fails to make payment within the period menti oned in 
the order, the Court shall direct the employer or debtor of the defendant, directly to 
pay the aggrieved person or to deposit with the Court a portion of the wages or debt 
due to or accrued to the credit of the defendant. 
(5) The amount paid or dep osited under subsection (4) shall be adjusted 
by the employer or debtor towards payment to the defendant. 
(6) The Court may direct that the monetary relief payable or paid on 
account of shelter being provided in the shelter home shall be credited to the 
protection system. 
10. Duration and alteration of orders.– (1) The interim order, protection order or 
residence order shall remain in force during the period specified by the Court. 
(2) The Court may, keeping in view the circumstances and for reasons to 
be recorded in writing, alter or discharge any order made under this Act.  
(3) The Court shall, on an application of the aggrieved person, discharge 
any order passed under the Act. 
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent an aggrieved person from making 
a fresh application after the previous interim, protection or residence order has been 
discharged.  
11. District Women Protection Committee .– (1) The Government shall, by 
notification, constitute a District Women Protection Committee for each district. 
(2) The Committee shall be headed by the 10[Deputy Commissioner] of the 
district and shall, subject to subsection (3), consist of the following members: 
(a) 11[Chief Executive Officer, District Health Authority]; 
(b) 12[a representative of the Local Government and Co mmunity 
Development Department of the Government]; 
(c) a representative of the head of District Police; 
(d) 13[Deputy Director] Social Welfare;  
(e) District Public Prosecutor; and  
(f) District Women Protection Officer (Secretary). 
(3) The 14[Authority] shall nominate four non -official members of each 
District Women Protection Committee from amongst ci vil society and philanthropists  
who are residents of the district. 
(4) A member, including a co -opted member of the Committee, shall not 
be entitled to any rem uneration or fee or any other charges or facilities for services 
rendered under the Act.  
(5) The 15[Authority] shall nominate the Vice Chairperson of the Committee 
from amongst the non-official members. 
                                                
10Substituted for the word s ‘District Coordination Officer ’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) 
Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.2. 
11Substituted for the word s ‘Executive District Officer  (Health)’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence 
(Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , publish ed in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022,  
pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
12Substituted for the word s ‘Executive District Officer (Community Development) ’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against 
Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022 ), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 
2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
13Substituted for the word s ‘District Officer ’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 
(XXXVIII of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
14Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
(6) The Committee shall hold at least one meeting in every three months 
and shall regulate its procedure. 
(7) The 16[Authority] may, at any time, remove a non -official member on 
charges of misconduct, disinterest, exploitation or misuse of powers, or any other act 
which is detrimental to the objectives of the Act. 
12. Functions of the Committee.– (1) The Committee shall: 
(a) supervise the working of the Protection Centre, shelter home and toll 
free helpline and take necessary steps to improve the services; 
(b) ensure uninterrupted functioning of the toll free dial -in-number of the 
Protection Centre and high quality response and services at the 
Protection Centre and, for the purpose, shall arrange training for the 
concerned employees;  
(c) develop liaison with other departments and agencies in the district 
enabling the Protection Centre and shelter home  best to perform the 
task of protection of women; 
(d) try mediation and reconciliation between the parties for resolution of 
disputes under this Act; 
(e) ensure that the cases of violence registered in any of police s tation of 
the district are referred to the Protection Centre for medical 
examination, collection of forensics and investigation and until the 
Protection Centre is established in the district, shall make standing 
arrangements for shifting of the aggrieved p erson, with her consent, to 
the nearest Protection Centre; 
(f) approve annual plan of action for the Protection Centre and shelter 
home; 
(g) discuss problems being faced by the Protection Centre and shelter 
home and find possible solution of the problems; 
(h) monitor and evaluate working of the Protection Centre and shelter 
home;  
(i) enlist women volunteers and women volunteer organizations in the 
district and assign roles under this Act to such volunteers and 
organizations; 
(j) suggest measures for better  protection of women or improvement in 
the protection system to the Government; 
(k) ensure minimum standards, code of conduct and standard operating 
procedures to be followed by the employees of the protection system; 
(l) approve annual report about physic al targets, activities and gaps  of the 
protection system in the district for submission to the Government; and 
                                                                                                                                                  
15Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
16Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.4. 
(m) perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the 
17[Authority] and as are ancillary to any of the above functions or 
necessary to accomplish the objectives of the Act. 
(2) The Committee may accept donations such as land, vehicles, 
equipment or money for the facilitation of the functioning of the protection system 
and all such donations shall be used, maintained and disposed of by the  Committee 
in the prescribed manner. 
(3) The 18[Secretary] may delegate any of the functions of the Committee 
to the 19[Deputy Commissioner] subject to such terms and conditions as the 
Government may determine. 
13.  Protection Centres and shelter homes .– (1) The Government shall 
establish Protection Centres through a phased programme for protection of the 
aggrieved persons.  
(2) A Protection Centre shall: 
(a) be a converging point for all essential services to ensure justice 
delivery including police reporting, r egistration of criminal cases, 
medical examination, collection of forensic and other evidence; 
(b) register the cases of violence and facilitate medical examination, 
collection of forensic and other evidence and proper prosecution of the 
cases; 
(c) provide first aid relief to an aggrieved person;   
(d) collect and assist to collect evidence within twenty four hours to 
facilitate investigation and effective prosecution;  
(e) provide immediate protection to an aggrieved person; 
(f) establish an effective system for the receipt a nd disposal of the 
complaints  within the time mentioned in the operating procedures;  
(g) maintain an effective system of mediation and reconciliation for 
resolution of disputes under this Act; 
(h) register information against the perpetrators of violence; 
(i) initiate cases of state-inflicted violence, if any, against women;  
(j) maintain audio-visual record of all actions carried out under the Act;  
(k) provide or arrange to provide legal aid to an aggrieved person; 
(l) provide psychological counseling to an aggrieved person; 
(m) mediate between an aggrieved person and the defendant for resolution 
of disputes under the Act; and 
                                                
17Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.5. 
18Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.5. 
19Substituted for the word s ‘District Coordination Officer ’ by the Punjab Protection of W omen Against Violence (Amendment) 
Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.2. 
(n) act as a community centre to guide women in all Government related 
inquiries. 
(3) The Government shall, through a phased programme, establish a 
shelter home in each district or for a local area within a district, for board and lodging 
of the aggrieved persons and needy women and provision of social and rehabilitative 
services to the residents.  
(4) A shelter home shall: 
(a) provide shelter and other allied facilities to an aggrieved person or other 
needy women along with dependent children; 
(b) provide, with the consent of the resident, rehabilitation services to 
reintegrate residents with their families and society where necessary; 
(c) refer the case of a resident to the appropriate authority or body for 
redressal of her grievance and regularly monitor provision of services to 
the residents;  
(d) arrange for technical and vocational training of the residents; 
(e) provide legal, medical, emotional support, guidance and psychologica l 
counseling to the residents; 
(f) repatriate or rehabilitate the residents in the shortest possible time; 
(g) maintain discipline and regulate visitation and timings; and 
(h) perform any other prescribed function or a function assigned to it by the 
Committee for purposes of protection of women, children and vulnerable 
persons. 
(5) Subject to general or special direction of the Committee, a male child 
who is not a dependent child shall not be admitted in the shelter home and instead 
may be referred to the Child Protect ion and Welfare Bureau for provision of shelter, 
board and lodging, education and training. 
20[(6) Where a Protection Centre or shelter home is not established under 
this section, the Secretary may, subject to such terms and conditions as he may 
determine, declare any existing Government facility, centre or institution providing 
similar services as Protection Centre or shelter home for purposes of this Act. 
(7) Where any existing  facility, centre or institution is declared as 
Protection Centre or shelter hom e under subsection (6), the infra -structure, 
paraphernalia, assets and the employees of such facility, centre or institution shall 
remain under the administrative control of the Social Welfare and Bait -ul-Maal 
Department of the Government: 
provided that th e service structure and terms and conditions of service of the 
employees of such facility, centre or institution shall continue to be governed under 
the law, rules and policies applicable to them for the time being in force.] 
                                                
20Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.6. 
14.  Women Protection Officer .– (1) The Government shall, by notification, 
appoint a District Women Protection Officer for a district and Women Protection 
Officers21[:] 
 22[provided that where the District Women Protection Officers or Women 
Protection Officers are not appointed under thi s section, the Secretary may, subject 
to such terms and conditions as he may determine, by notification in the official 
Gazette nominate any officer of the Social Welfare and Bait -ul-Maal Department of 
the Government to perform the functions of the District Women Protection Officers or 
Women Protection Officers under this Act.] 
(2) Subject to general supervision of the Committee, a District Women 
Protection Officer shall: 
(a) supervise and coordinate the protection system in the district; 
(b) maintain liais on, supervise, plan, implement, monitor and periodically 
evaluate the protection system in the district; 
(c) be responsible for training of the staff, reporting and documentation of 
the protection system in the district; 
(d) provide counselling services to the aggrieved persons in the Protection 
Centre and shelter home; 
(e) approve a rescue operation for rescuing an aggrieved person; 
(f) file a habeas corpus case on the basis of any credible information of 
wrongful confinement of an aggrieved person; 
(g) set specific, measureable, achievable and relevant targets for the 
protection system to be achieved in the specified time; 
(h) ensure achievement of targets and submit compliance report in every 
meeting of the Committee; and 
(i) prepare an annual report abou t targets, activities and gaps of the 
protection system. 
(3) Subject to the supervision of the District Women Protection Officer, a 
Women Protection Officer shall: 
(a) assist the District Women Protection Officer in the performance of her 
functions; 
(b) respond to the calls or queries of women on internet or toll free dial -in-
number of the Protection Centre; 
(c) rescue an aggrieved person and, subject to this Act, admit her and her 
dependent children or other family members, if necessary, in the 
shelter home; 
                                                
21Substituted for the ‘full stop’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.7. 
22Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.7. 
(d) direct the defendant to immediately move out of the house for a period 
not exceeding forty eight hours in order to protect life, dignity or 
reputation of the aggrieved person; 
(e) approve admission of a woman or any other person in the shelter home 
in accordance with the provision of this Act and the rules governing the 
shelter home; 
(f) provide counseling services on phone or, where necessary, by visiting 
an aggrieved person; and 
(g) supervise working of officials of the shelter home. 
(4) The District Women Protection Officer may perform any function of a 
Women Protection Officer and, in the absence of the District Women Protection 
Officer owing to any cause, the senior -most Women Protection Officer shall perform 
the functions of the District Women Protection Officer. 
15. Power to enter .– (1) The District Women Protection Officer or a Women 
Protection Officer, at any time, enter in any place or house for the purpose of 
rescuing an aggrieved person but such officer or official shall not rescue the 
aggrieved person without her consent.  
(2) The District Women Protection Officer or a Women Protection Officer 
shall give reasonable notice to the incharge of the place or house before entering 
and the incharge shall allow free access and afford all reasonable  facilities to meet a 
woman residing or kept in the place or house. 
(3)  If access to such place or house cannot be obtained under sub -section 
(2), it shall be lawful for the District Women Protection Officer or a Women Protection 
Officer to enter such pla ce or house in collaboration with district authorities including 
police and to meet an aggrieved person residing or kept in the place or house, and in 
order to effect an entrance into such place or house, to force her entry into the house 
or place.  
(4) If the District Women Protection Officer or a Women Protection Officer 
who enters a place or house under this Act is detained in the house or place, she 
may force her exit from any house or place. 
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the p owers of entry 
in a house or place of abode of a woman shall only be exercised by a female officer 
of the protection system. 
16. Assistance on request .– (1) The District Women Protection Officer or a 
Women Protection Officer shall provide all reasonable as sistance to an aggrieved 
person or to any other woman who needs such assistance in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act. 
(2) The District Women Protection Officer or a Women Protection Officer 
may provide or offer to provide assistance under the Act on the request of the 
aggrieved person or on information or complaint received from any corner in 
collaboration with district authorities including police. 
(3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to provide assistance to an 
aggrieved person when the wom an or aggrieved person has voluntarily refused to 
accept such assistance. 
17. Assistance to officers .– (1) For protection of an aggrieved person, the 
designated police officer, agency or local government shall be bound to assist the 
District Women Protecti on Officer or the Women Protection Officer in the 
performance of their functions under the Act. 
(2) In the performance of their functions under the Act, the District Women 
Protection Committee may call for any information from any agency of the 
Government or a local government in the district and such agency or local 
government shall be bound to provide the requisite information. 
18. Penalty for obstructing a Protection Officer .– Any person, who obstructs 
the District Woman Protection Officer or a Woman Pro tection Officer in the 
performance of the duties under this Act, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term 
which may extend to six months or fine which may extend five hundred thousand 
rupees or both.  
19. Penalty for filing false complaint .– A person, wh o gives false information 
about the commission of violence which that person knows or has reason to believe 
to be false, shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term which may 
extend to three months or fine which may extend to one hundred thous and rupees 
but which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees or both.  
20. Penalty for breach of orders .– (1) A defendant, who commits breach of an 
interim order, protection order, residence order or monetary order, or illegally 
interferes with the wo rking of the GPS tracker, shall be punished with imprisonment 
for a term which may extend to one year or fine which may extend to two hundred 
thousand rupees but which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees or both. 
(2) A defendant, who violates the interim order, protection order, 
residence order or monetary order more than once, shall be liable to punishment 
which may extend to two years but which shall not be less than one year and to fine 
which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees but which shall not be less than 
one hundred thousand rupees. 
21. Cognizance and summary trial.– (1) The Court shall not take cognizance of 
an offence under this Act except on a complaint of the District Women Protection 
Officer or a Woman Protection Officer acting on behalf of the District Women 
Protection Officer.  
(2) The Court shall conduct the trial of an offence under this Act in 
accordance with the provisions of Chapter XXII of the Code relating to the summary 
trials. 
22. Appeal.– (1) A person aggrieved from a n interim order, protection order, 
residence order, monetary order or sentence of the Court may, within thirty days of 
the communication of the order or sentence, prefer an appeal to the court of 
sessions which shall decide the appeal within sixty days fro m the date of receipt of 
the appeal.  
(2) The decision of the court of sessions on an appeal under subsection 
(1) shall be final and shall not be called in question in any other court or forum 
except as provided under this Act. 
23. Right to information .– (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Government shall, 
within seven days of acquiring any information pertaining to violence against the 
aggrieved person shall publish the details of the case and the steps taken for the 
protection of the aggrieved person, on its website accessible to the public free of 
cost.  
(2) The Government may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, not publish 
any information, wholly or partially: 
(a) to ensure the safety, security, privacy and dignity of a woman or an 
aggrieved person; 
(b) to protect national security or to maintain public order; 
(c) to prevent any prejudice to the investigation of a case; or 
(d) to protect the identity of an officer or official where such protection is 
necessary for the safety and security of such officer or official. 
24. Certain persons to be public servants .– Every person engaged in, or 
employed for, the administration of this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant 
within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
25. Performance audit .– (1) The 23[Authority] shall conduct or cause to be 
conducted the performance audit of the protection system of a district on periodic 
basis under the Act. 
(2) The performance audit shall include the details of quality of services 
provided by the protection system, the targets to achieve the purposes of the Act and 
the identification of weaknesses and recommendations for future improvements. 
26. Act not in derogation of other laws .– Save as otherwise provided in the 
Act, the provisions of  the Act are in addition to and not in derogation of any other 
law. 
27. Training.– The 24[Authority] shall, at regular intervals, arrange training of the 
District Women Protection Officers, Women Protection Officers and other employees 
of the protection system for achieving the purpose of the Act.   
28. Annual report.– 25[(1) The Authority shall, within three months of the close of 
a financial year, submit to Secretary an annual report relating to the affairs and 
efficacy of the protection system, and the Sec retary shall cause the report to be laid 
before Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.] 
(2) The annual report shall consist of: 
(a) details of the services provided by the protection system along with a 
comprehensive statement of the rescue operations of the p rotection 
system during the preceding financial year; 
                                                
23Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.8. 
24Substituted for the word ‘Government’ by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII 
of 2022), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.8. 
25Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Ame ndment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.9. 
(b) reasons for delay, if any, in reaching the aggrieved person in need of 
help of the protection system and proposed solutions;   
(c) performance audit report, if any, of one or more protection system;  
(d) suggestions and recommendations for further reforms of the protection 
system for purposes of improving the service delivery; and 
(e) other matters considered appropriate by the Government or as may be 
prescribed.  
29. Rules.– (1) The Government shall , after previous publication and by 
notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this 
Act. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred under 
subsection (1), the Government shall 26[*****] make the rules relating to: 
(a) establishment of monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the 
protection system; 
(b) universal toll free dial-in-number of the protection system; 
(c) regulation of meetings of the Committees; 
(d) women volunteers and women volunteer organizations; 
(e) use, m aintenance and disposal of land, vehicle, equipment and other 
items or money donated to a Protection Centre or shelter home; 
(f) details of medical, legal and psychological assistance, and shelter 
facilities; 
(g) repatriation or rehabilitation of residents; 
(h) maintenance of records and publication of information under the Act; 
and 
(i) regulation of affairs of the of Protection centers and shelter homes.  
30. Immunity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
the Government, any officer of the Go vernment, a Committee, convener or any 
member of a Committee, District Women Protection Officer, Women Protection 
Officer or official of a protection system for anything which is done in good faith 
under this Act or the rules. 
31. Power to remove difficulties.– The Government may, within two years of the 
commencement of this Act and by notification, make such provisions, not 
inconsistent with this Act, as may appear necessary for removing any difficulty or 
giving effect to the provisions of the Act. 
                                                
26Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Women Against Violence (Amendment) Act 2022 (XXXVIII of 2022) , published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 05 December 2022, pp. 2397-2398, s.10.