1.      Short title, extent, and commencement.
           2.      Definitions.
           3.      Establishment of Urdu language Board.
           4.      Composition of the Board.
           5.      Resignation and Vacancy.
           6.      Meeting of the Board.
           7.      Powers and function of the Board.
           8.      Rules.
           9.      Regulations.
           10.    Prohibitions.
           11.    Removal of difficulty.

THE URDU LANGUAGE ACT 2022, (ACT XXXVI OF 2022) [16 th  November 2022]

An Act to provide for strict compliance of Urdu script in the public and private sectors.

It is necessary to preserve Urdu as an official language having the status of National Language of
Pakistan in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and
provide for matters ancillary thereto.
Be it enacted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab;
1. Short title, extent, and commencement.− (1) This Act may be cited as the Urdu
language Act, 2022.
(2)        It shall extend to the whole of the Punjab.
(3)        It shall come into force at Once.

2. Definitions.− In this Act;
(a)        “Act” means the Urdu Language Act, 2022;
(b)        “Board” means Urdu Language Board established under this Act;
(c)        “Government” means Government of The Punjab;
(d)       “Prescribe” means regulations framed under this Act; and
(e)        “Rules” means the rules made under this Act; and
(f)        “Treasury” means any Treasury of the Province and includes a Sub-Treasury

3. Establishment of Urdu language Board.− (1) The Government Shall by notification in
the official gazette establish Urdu Language Board, the Board shall be a body corporate having
perpetual succession and a common seal with powers, subject to the provisions of this Act, to
acquire, hold and dispose of property and shall, by the said name, may sue or be sued.
(2) The Headquarters of the Board shall be in Lahore and it may set up its sub-offices
at such place or places as it may deem fit with the prior approval of the Government.

4. Composition of the Board.− The Board shall consist of the following;
a)     Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Chairperson
b)     Minister for Higher Education Member
c)     Minister of the School Education Punjab Member
d)     Minister of the Literacy & Non-Formal Basic Education Member
e)     Chief Secretary Government of the Punjab Member
f)      Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Law &
Parliamentary Affairs Department Punjab
g)     Secretary to the Government of the Punjab Higher
education Department Punjab

h)Secretary to the Government of the Punjab School Education Department Punjab Member/Secretary

i)      Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Member
j)      Chairman Punjab Public Service Commission Member
k)     Chairman Punjab Text Book Board Member
l)      Three persons having at least 15 years of experience in
Teaching and researching of Urdu language, appointed by
the Chief Minister on such terms and conditions as may
be prescribed

Members

5. Resignation and Vacancy.− (1) A member of the Board other than ex-officio may, by
writing under his hand and address to the Chief Minister, resign from his office.

(2) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the Board owing to death, removal,
or resignation shall be filled by the provision of this Act.

6. Meeting of the Board.− (1) Meeting of the Board shall be held at least four times in a
calendar year, at such time and place as the Chairperson of the Board may determine.
(2 The Chairperson of the Board may delegate his power to any other member of the
Board.

7. Powers and function of the Board.− For the purpose to provide the exact Urdu script
for usage in the public and private sectors as having the status of National Language of Pakistan
in terms of Article 251 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and for
development, promotion and facilitating its expansion, access and use of Urdu in the province
the Board shall;
a) administer and coordinate all Government departments for the promotion of the
Urdu language;
b) take measures to secure and for the usage of the exact script of the Urdu language
in the Province of Punjab;
c) take measures for ensuring the usage of the exact script of the Urdu language in
the Province of Punjab;
d) advice or issue instructions to all departments of the Government to carry out the
purpose of this Act;
e)advise the Government on policy relating to the promotion of Pakistani
languages, literature, and the welfare of the writers community in the province;
f) Made recommendations for the carrying out the purpose of this Act;
g)formulate the policy to promote the Urdu language, its expansion, and advanced
language programming in the public and private sectors;
h) encourage, support, and facilitate, training programs, workshops, and symposia at
provincial and regional levels in public and private educational institutions;
i)establish a language laboratory, a language library, and a documentation Centre
to facilitate work on the exact script of the national language; and
j)take measures including allocation of funds, for the award of scholarships and
research grants

8. Rules.− The Government may make rules to fulfill the requirement of this Act.

9.Regulations.− The Board may frame regulations to fulfill the requirement of this Act.

10.Prohibitions.− (1) There shall be a complete ban on the use of Roman or any other
language words for expressing the script of Urdu in print media or any indoor or outdoor media
commercial messages or campaigns in the province.
(2)The Board shall ban using Roman or any other language words to express Urdu’s
script.
(3)The Board shall make an order for the removal of writing for the expression of
Urdu transcripts mentioned in subsection (1).
(4)Deliberately using Roman or any other language words, for expressing the script
of Urdu or violating any provision of this section, shall be punished with a fine which may

extend to two hundred thousand Rupees to the delinquents, to be deposited in Government
Treasury, and impounding of such transcripts exhibitions material, billboard, etc.

11.Removal of difficulty.− If any difficulty arises as to give effect to the provisions of this
Act the Chief Minister may pass such orders as may be necessary for the removal of such
difficulty.

[1] This Act was originally passed by the Punjab Assembly on 18 October 2022; The Governor returned the Bill for reconsideration
by the Assembly. The Assembly again passed on 1 st  day of November 2022; Since the Governor has not assented within the
stipulated period of ten days, the same is deemed to have been assented to in terms of clause (3) of Article 116 of the
Constitution, and is published as an Act of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 16 November 2022,; pages 2215-17.