PRESS, NEWSPAPERS, NEWS AGENCIES AND BOOKS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE 2002

[ Updated – 4th November, 2007 ]

Islamabad, the 26th October 2002
F. No. 2(1)/2002 –pub. –The following Ordinance promulgated by the President is herby published for general
information: ---
ORDINACNE NO. XCVIII OF 2002
AN
ORDINANCE
To amend and consolidate the law relating to news agencies publications and printing presses.
WHEREAS it is expedient to amend and consolidate the law relating to news agencies, publications and
printing presses and to provide for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto;
AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take
immediate action;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of Proclamation of Emergency of the fourteenth day of October, 1999
and the Provisional Constitution Order No.1 of 1999 read with the Provisional Constitution (Amendment) Order No. 9
of 1999, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is
pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance: -
1. Short title, extent and commencement. – (1) This Ordinance may be called the Press, Newspaper, News
Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
PART- 1
PRELIMINARY
2. Definitions. – In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, -
(a) “authenticated declaration” means a declaration made and subscribed under section 6 and authenticated or
deemed to have been authenticated under Section 10;
(b) “book” includes every volume, part or division of a volume, and pamphlet, in any language and every
sheet of music, map chart, or plan separately printed or lithographed;
(c) “editor” means the person who controls the selection of the matter that is published in a newspaper or is
circulated by news agency and whose name is specified in the declaration made under section 6;
(d) “form” means a form contained in the Schedule;
(e) “Federal Government” means Ministry of Information and Media Development.
(f) “Government” means the Provincial Government;
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(g) “newspaper” means any printed periodical work containing public news or comments on public news and
includes such other class of periodical works as the Government may by notification in the official Gazette
declare to be the newspaper;
(h) “news-sheet” means any document or poster other than a newspaper containing public news or comments
on public news;
(i) “paper” means any document including a newspaper, other than a book;
(j) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
(k) “printer” means a person who has made and subscribed a declaration under section 6.
(l) “printing press” means a press and includes all engines, machinery, types; lithographic, implements,
utensils and other plant or materials used for the purpose of printing;
(m) “Press Registrar” means the Registrar of Newspapers for Pakistan appointed by the Federal Government
under section 39 and includes any other person pointed by the Federal Government to perform all or any
of the functions of the Press Registrar;
(n) “printed” includes cyclostyling and printing by lithography;
(o) “Province” includes the Islamabad Capital Territory;
(p) “publisher” means a person who makes and subscribes a declaration under section 6;
(q) “Page In-charge” means sub-editor or any person other than Editor designated by the editor or the
publisher or the company or proprietor or the firm which owns the newspaper, periodical or book
published under this Ordinance.
(r) “Register” means the register of newspapers maintained under section 40;
(s) “rules” means rules under this Ordinance;
(t) “unauthorized newspaper” means any newspaper in respect of which there is not for the time being, a valid
declaration under section 6;
(u) “unauthorized news-sheet” means any news-sheet other than a news-sheet published by a person
authorized under this Ordinance.
(v) “unauthorized press” means any press other than a press in respect of which there is, for the time being, a
valid declaration under section 4; and
(w) “unauthorized news agency” means any news agency in respect of which there is not, for the time being, a
valid declaration under section 6.
PART II
PRINTING PRESSES, NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS AGENCIES
3. Particulars to be printed on books and papers. – Every book or paper printed within Pakistan shall have
printed legibly on it the name of the printer and the place of publication along with date.
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4. Keeper of printing press to make declaration. - (1) No person shall keep in his possession any press for
printing of books or papers, unless he has made and subscribed before the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the
District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner within whose local jurisdiction such press
may be, by a declaration in Form ‘A’ or such other form as may be prescribed, and the District Co-ordination Officer
or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner shall, immediately upon the
filing of such form, issue a receipt for the same.
(2) Every declaration made and subscribed under sub-section (1) shall be authenticated under the
signature and official seal of the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into
being, the Deputy Commissioner before, which the said declaration is made.
(3) The District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner shall, by an order in writing, refuse to authenticate a declaration made and subscribed under
sub-section (1) it he is satisfied that, -
(a) the title of the printing press proposed to be kept or operated is the same as the title of any
printing press already being operated at any place in the Province; or
(b) the printer was convicted of an office involving moral turpitude within five years before the
date of his making and subscribing the declaration.
(4) The District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner shall not pass an order under sub-section (3) without giving to the person making the
declaration, through a notice in writing, an opportunity of being heard.
(5) In case the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being,
the Deputy Commissioner fails to authenticate a declaration under sub-sub-section (2), or pass an order under subsection
(3), within a period of thirty days, the declaration made by the printer shall be deemed to have been
authenticated on the expiry of the aforesaid period.
(6) As often as the place where a printing press is kept is changed, the keeper of the press shall, within
fourteen days of such change, inform the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not
come into being, the Deputy Commissioner in writing of the change along with the new location:
Provide that, if the place where the press is shifted is in another district, the keeper of the press shall
inform the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy
Commissioner of both the districts from which, and to which, the press is shifted.
5. Publication of newspapers. – No newspaper shall be published except in conformity with the provisions of
this Ordinance and without prejudice to the provisions of section 3; every copy of every such newspaper shall contain
the name of the owner and editor thereof printed clearly on such copy and also the date of its publication. Similarly, no
news agency shall disseminate or defuse news except in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance unless there
subsists a declaration authenticated by the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not
come into being, the Deputy Commissioner.
5A. Restriction on publication of certain material.- (1) No printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish in
any book, periodical or paper any material which consists of,-
(a) photographs or pictures of suicide bombers, terrorists (except as required by law enforcing agencies
for purposes of investigation), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements
of militants and extremist elements and any other thing which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet
terrorist activities or terrorism;
(b) graphic or printed representation or projection of statements, comments, observations or
pronouncement based on sectarianism, ethnicism or racialism;
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(c) any material, printed or graphic, that defames, brings into ridicule or disrepute the Head of State, or
members of the Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the State;
(d) any material that is likely to jeopardize or be prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or the sovereignty,
integrity or security of Pakistan;
(e) any material, photographic or in print, that is likely to incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith
disorder or be prejudicial to maintenance of law and order; and
(f) any material that is in conflict with the commonly accepted standards of morality and decency and
which promotes vulgarity, obscenity, and pornography.
6. Declaration of the printer, publisher and news agency. – (1) The Printer and publisher of every newspaper
or an owner of news agency shall appear in person or by agent authorized in this behalf before the District Coordination
Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner within whose
local jurisdiction such newspaper shall be printed or published, or news agency ordinarily operates and shall make and
subscribe, in duplicate originals, a declaration in Form ‘B’ or in such other form as may be prescribed, and the District
Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner shall,
immediately upon the filling of such form, issue a receipt for the same.
(2) Every declaration shall specify the title of the newspaper, the language in which it is to be published,
the periodicity of its publication and shall contain such other particulars as may be prescribed to include bank where
account will be operated and financial funding, if any.
(3) Where the printer or publisher of a newspaper making a declaration is not the owner thereof, the
declaration shall specify the name of the owner and shall also be accompanied by an authority in writing from the
owner authorizing such person to make and subscribe such declaration.
(4) The declaration of news agency shall contain language of dissemination of news and credit lines to
include bank where account will be operated.
(5) Submission of declaration and its authentication under this Ordinance shall be necessary before the
publication of newspaper or dissemination of news by any news agency.
(6) The declaration submitted by the publisher under sub-section (5) shall be accompanied by an
undertaking by the editor to abide by the Ethical Code of Practice contained in the Schedule to the Press Council of
Pakistan Ordinance,
7. No minor to be printer, publisher or editor. – No person who has not attained the age of eighteen years shall
be permitted to make a declaration under section 6 nor shall any such person edit a newspaper.
8. Effect of change of language, periodicity or place of publication. – (1) If, at any time, after the making of a
declaration under section 6, the newspaper to which the declaration relates is proposed to be printed or published in a
language or languages, with a periodicity, or at a place, other than the language, periodicity or place shown in the
declaration, the printer or publisher shall notify such change to the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District
Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner within whose jurisdiction the newspaper is printed
and published.
(2) In case the place of publication or printing is proposed to be changed to a district in the same province
other than the district from where the newspaper was being printed or published the information under sub-section (1)
shall also be conveyed to the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into
being, the Deputy Commissioner within whose jurisdiction the newspaper is proposed to be printed or published.
(3) In case the place of publication or printing is proposed to be changed to a district in a Province other
than the Province from where the newspaper was being printed or published the printer and publisher of the newspaper
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shall make and subscribe in respect thereof, a fresh declaration under section 6 before further printing or publishing the
newspaper.
9. Effect if printer or publisher leaves Pakistan. – If at any time the printer or the publisher who has made a
declaration under section 6 leaves Pakistan, the declaration shall become void unless, -
(a) the absence of the printer or the publisher from Pakistan be for a period not exceeding one year; and
(b) the printer or the publisher, before leaving Pakistan, informs in writing, to the District Co-ordination
Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner within
whose Jurisdiction the newspaper is printed or published, of his intended absence and the name of the
person who has undertaken to discharge, in his absence and on his behalf, the responsibilities of the
printer or the publisher, and furnishes to the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District
Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner a statement in writing of that person
accepting these responsibilities.
10. Authentication of the declaration. – (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) and (3), each of the
duplicate originals of every declaration made and subscribed under section 6 shall be authenticated by the signature
and official seal of the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner before whom the said declaration is made.
(2) The District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner may not authenticate the declaration if he is satisfied that, -
(a) the declaration has been filed by a person other than the owner or proprietor of the newspaper
or the printing press or a person not authorized by such proprietor; and
(b) the title of the newspaper proposed to be published is the same as the title of any newspaper
already being published in the same language at any place in the country, not being a
newspaper of different periodicity published by the same publisher or another edition of the
same newspaper published from another place;
(c) the declaration has been filed by a person who was convicted of criminal offence involving
moral turpitude and or for willful default of public dues.
(d) the declaration has been cancelled or denied anywhere else in Pakistan.
(3) The District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner shall not pass an order under sub-section (2) without giving to the person making the
declaration, through a notice in writing, an opportunity of being heard and rebutting the evidence that may be available
against him.
(4) In case the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being,
the Deputy Commissioner fails to authenticate a declaration under sub-section (1) or pass an order under sub-section
(2), within a period of thirty days, the declaration made by the publisher, printer and news agency shall be deemed to
have been authenticated on the expiry of the said period.
11. Effect of non-publication of newspaper. – (1) If a newspaper in respect of which a declaration has been
made under section 6 is not published, at the frequency reflected therein, within three months of the date on which
such declaration is authenticated under section 10, the declaration shall become void.
(2) Where a declaration becomes void under sub-section (1) the printer and the publisher shall make and
subscribe a fresh declaration under section 6 before printing or publishing the newspaper, and the provisions of subsection
(1) shall apply to the fresh declaration and to any subsequent fresh declaration.
(3) Where a newspaper after publication is not published.
(a) in the case of a daily newspaper, for sixteen days in a calendar month;
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(b) in the case of a weekly newspaper, for eight weeks in a calendar year;
(c) in the case of a fortnightly newspaper, for two months;
(d) in the case of a monthly newspaper, for four months;
(e) in the case of a quarterly newspaper, for six months;
(f) in the case of a six-monthly newspaper, for one year; and
(g) in case of a news agency for sixteen days in a calendar month.
The declaration made in respect of newspaper or news agency shall become null and void, and the printer and the
publisher and the news agency shall make and subscribe a fresh declaration under section 6 before further printing or
publishing the newspaper or disseminating news, and to every such fresh declaration the provisions of the two
foregoing sub-sections shall, without prejudice to the provisions of this sub-section, apply.
(4) Where a declaration becomes void under sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) and a fresh declaration, is
made under section 6, the decision with regard to its authentication shall be made within a period of thirty days.
(5) Nothing in sub-section (1) or sub-section (3) shall apply in the case of a printer, publisher or owner of
a news agency who, within the period stated in those sub-sections and applicable to the particular case, show to the
satisfaction of the District Co-ordination Offices that the newspaper has not been, or cannot be published or as the case
may be, the news agency could not disseminate news for reasons which are beyond their control.
12. Restrictions on foreign ownership of newspapers. – No person who is not a citizen of Pakistan shall own or
hold any interest in any newspaper printed or publish in a province except with the previous approval of the
Government, and no such person shall in any case own or hold more than twenty-five per cent of the entire proprietary
interest of any such newspaper, whether in the form of shares or by way of sole ownership, partnership or otherwise.
13. Deposit of authenticated declaration. – The duplicate originals of the declarations authenticated under
section 10,or the receipts of the declarations which are deemed to have been authenticated under section 10, shall be
deposited in the office of the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being,
the Deputy Commissioner and with the Press Registrar.
14. Inspection and supply of copies. – The officer-in-charge of each original shall allow any person to inspect
that original on payment of a fee of one hundred rupees and shall give to any person applying, a copy of the said
declaration attested by the seal of the officer which has the custody of the original, on payment of a fee of one hundred
and fifty rupees.
(2) A copy of the declaration attested by the official seal of the District Co-ordination Officer or, where
the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner or a copy of the order refusing to
authenticate the declaration, shall be forwarded as soon as possible to the person making and subscribing the
declaration and also to the Press Registrar.
15. Copy of declaration or newspapers to be prima facie evidence. – In any legal proceeding, whether civil,
criminal or otherwise, a copy of a declaration and a copy of the newspaper having the name of a person printed thereon
as its editor shall be sufficient evidence, unless the contrary is proved, as against the person whose name has been
subscribed in such declaration, or printed on such newspaper as the case may be that the said person was a printer or
publisher, or printer and publisher (according as the words of the said declaration may be) of every portion of every
newspaper whereof the title corresponds with the title of the newspaper mentioned in the declaration or the editor of
every portion of that issue of the newspaper of which a copy is produced.
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16. News declaration by persons who have signed declaration and subsequently ceased be printers or
publishers. – Every person who having subscribed a declaration under section 6 either personally or under the
authority of the owner of the newspaper subsequently ceases for any reason to be the printer or publisher of the
newspaper mentioned in such declaration shall be communicated by the owner of the newspaper or its authorized
representative in the prescribed manner to the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not
come into being, the Deputy Commissioner, on a declaration in Form ‘C’ or such other form as may be prescribed.
17. Putting copy in evidence. - In all trials or legal proceeding in any court of law in which a copy of declaration
under section 6 attested in accordance with section 14, has been put in evidence, it shall be lawful to put in evidence a
copy attested as is aforesaid of the latter declaration and the former declaration shall not be taken to be evidence that
the declarant was, at any period subsequent to the date of the latter declaration, printer or publisher of the newspaper
therein mentioned.
18. Person whose name has been incorrectly published as editor may make declaration before a District Coordination
Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner. – (1)
If any person whose name has appeared as editor in a copy of a newspaper claims that he was not the editor of the
issues on which his name has so appeared, he may, within two weeks of his becoming aware that his name has been so
published, appear before a District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being,
the Deputy Commissioner, and make a declaration that the name was incorrectly published in that issue as that of the
editor thereof, and, if the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner, after making such inquiry, or causing such inquiry to be made, as he considers necessary, is
satisfied that such declaration is true, he shall certify accordingly within three days, and on that certificate being given
the provisions of section 15 shall not apply to that person in respect of that issue of the newspaper.
(2) The District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come into being, the
Deputy Commissioner may extend the period allowed by this section in any case where he is satisfied that such person
was prevented by sufficient cause from appearing and making the declaration within that period.
19. Cancellation of declaration. – (1) On the application of the Press Registrar either suo moto or based on the
information through any person, the District Co-ordination Officer or, where the District Government has not come
into being, the Deputy Commissioner empowered to authenticate a declaration under this Ordinance, is of opinion that
any declaration made in respect of a newspaper should be cancelled, he may, after giving the person concerned an
opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed to be taken, hold an enquiry into the matter and if, after
considering the cause, if any, shown by such parties and after giving them reasonable opportunity of being heard, he is
satisfied that;
(a) the news paper, in respect of which the declaration has been made is being published in contravention
of the provisions of this Ordinance or rules made their under; or
(b) the newspaper mentioned in the declaration bears a title which is the same as or similar to, that of any
other newspaper published either in the same language or in the country; or
(c) the printer and publisher has ceased to be the printer or publisher of the newspaper mentioned in such
declaration; or
(d) the declaration was made on knowingly false representation on the concealment of any material fact or
in respect of a periodical work which is not a newspaper; the District Co-ordination Officer or, where
the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner may, by the order, cancel
the declaration and shall forward as soon as possible a copy of the order to the person making or
subscribing the declaration and also to the Press Registrar.
(2) During the period of sixty days of the cancellation order no person shall be issued a declaration in the
name of the same title to any other person.
“Provided that in a situation of emergency, pending action under this section, the District
Coordination Officer, or as the case may be, the Deputy Commissioner, may suspend the declaration
for a period not exceeding thirty days, as deemed appropriate in the circumstances.”.
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20. Appeals. – (1) Any person who has been refused authentication of a declaration under this Ordinance or
whose declaration has been cancelled may, within thirty days from the date of such order prefer an appeal to the High
Court within whose jurisdiction such order has been passed.
(2) The High Court shall, after giving notice to the appellant and the Government, hear and dispose of the
appeal within sixty days of its institution and pass such order, including an order awarding damages to the aggrieved
party, as it may deemed fit.
PART III
DELIVERY OF BOOKS
21. Copies of books printed to be delivered gratis to Government. –Printed copies of the whole of every book
which shall be printed in Pakistan after the commencement of this Ordinance, together with all maps, prints or other
engraving belonging thereto finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the same, shall
notwithstanding any agreement (if the book be published) between the printer and publisher thereof, be delivered by
the printer to the Information Department of the respective Province or to such officers and at such place, as the
Government may, by notification in the official Gazette from time to time direct and free of expense to the
Government, as follows, that as to say: -
(a) in any case within one calendar month after the date of publication of such book shall first be
delivered out of the press; one such copy; and
(b) if within one calendar month form such day, the Government shall require the printer to deliver other
such copies not exceeding four in number, then within one calendar month after the day on which any
such requisition shall be made by the Government on the printer, another such copy or two other such
copies, as the Government may direct.
(2) Noting in the former part of this section shall apply to: any second or subsequent edition of a book in
which edition no additions or alterations either in the letter press or in the maps, prints or other engravings belonging
to the book have been made and a copy of the first or same preceding edition of which book has been delivered under
this Ordinance or published in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance.
22. Receipts of copies so delivered. – The officer to whom copies of a book are delivered under section 21 shall
give to the printer a receipt in writing therefore.
23. Disposal of copies. – Copies delivered pursuant to section 21 of this Ordinance shall be disposed of in the
manner as the Government may, from time to time, determine.
24. Copies of newspapers printed in the province to be delivered gratis to Government. – The printer of every
newspaper shall deliver at such place and to such officer as the Provincial Government may, by notification in the
official Gazette, direct, free of cost two copies of each issue of such newspaper as soon as it is published.
PART IV
PENALTIES
25. Penalty for contravention of section 3. – Whoever prints or publishes any book or paper or disseminates
news in contravention of the provisions of section 3 shall be punishable with fine not exceeding, twenty thousand
rupees or with simple imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or with both.
26. Penalty for keeping printing press without making a declaration required by section 4. – Whoever keeps
in his possession any printing press without making a declaration as is required under section 4, shall be punishable
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with fine not exceeding twenty thousand rupees or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or with
both.
27. Punishment for making false statement. – Any person who shall, in making any declaration under this
Ordinance, makes a statement which is false and which he either knows or believes to be false, or does not believe to
be true, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding twenty thousand rupees and with imprisonment for a term not
exceeding six months.
28. Penalty for printing or publishing newspaper in contravention of the provisions of this Ordinance. –
Whoever edits, prints or publishes any newspaper in contravention of the provisions of this Ordinance, or whoever
edits, prints or publishes, or causes to be edited, printed or published, any newspaper knowing that the said provisions
have not been observed with respect to that newspaper, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding twenty thousand
rupees or with imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or with both.
29. Penalty for failure to make a declaration. – If any person who has ceased to be a printer or publisher of any
newspaper fails or neglects to make a declaration in compliance with section 16, he shall be punishable with fine not
exceeding twenty thousand rupees.
30. Penalty for disseminating unauthorized new-sheets and newspapers. – Whoever makes, prints, or
otherwise produces, sells, distributes, publishes or publicly exhibits or keeps for sale, distribution or publication, any
unauthorized news-sheet or unauthorized newspaper or unauthorized news agency shall be punishable with
imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or with fine, or with both.
31. Penalty for not delivering book. – If any printer of any such book as is referred to in section 21 neglects to
deliver copies of the same in pursuance of that section, he shall, on the complaint of the officer to whom the copies
should have been delivered or of any person authorized by the officer in this behalf, be punishable with fine which
may extend to one thousand rupees for each such default, and in addition to such fine, shall pay to the Government
such further sum as the Court may determine to be the value of the copies which the printer ought to have delivered.
32. Penalty for failure to supply copies of newspaper gratis to Government. – If any printer of any newspaper
published in the country neglects to deliver copies of the same in compliance with section 24, he shall, on the
complaint of the officer to whom the copies should have been delivered or of any person authorized by that officer in
this behalf, be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees for each such default.
33. Recovery of amount payable to government under sections 31 and 32. – Any sum payable to the
Government under section 31 and 32 may be recovered, under the warrant of the Magistrate determining the sum or by
his successor in office, in the manner authorized by the Code of Criminal procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) and within
the period prescribed by the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860) for the levy of a fine.
34. Responsibility of page In–charge. – (1) The page In-charge shall, in the supervision and superintendence of
editor be responsible for checking the contents of the pages and ensure due satisfaction of the material sent to the
printer and publisher for publication.
(2) Every publisher shall submit the intimation in writing, as furnished by the editor, with respect to the
responsibilities of page in-charge with his acceptance to the office of concerned District Co-ordination Officer or,
where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner and a copy to the Press Registrar.
35. Responsibility as regards to the offences and its cognizance. - Notwithstanding any thing contained in this
Ordinance or any other law for the time being in force, only such person or persons by whose willful intention,
mistake, negligence or ignorance any material is published which is an offence under this Ordinance or any other law,
shall be tried and punished.
36. Cognizance of offence. – No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of the First Class shall take cognizance of,
or try, an offence punishable under this Ordinance nor shall any court take cognizance or try any such offence except
on a complaint made in writing by the Government or by an officer authorized in this behalf by the Government.
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PART V
REGISTRATION OF BOOKS
37. Registration of memorandum of books. – There shall be kept at such office, and by such officer, as the
Government shall appoint in this behalf, a book to be called a Catalogue of Books wherein shall be registered, a
memorandum of every book which shall have been delivered pursuant to section 21. Such memorandum shall so far as
may be practicable, contain the following particulars, that is to say: -
(a) the title of the book and the contents of the title page;
(b) the language in which the book is written;
(c) the name of the author, translator or editor of the book or any part thereof;
(d) the subject;
(e) the place of printing and the place of publication;
(f) the name or firm of the printer and the name or firm of the publisher;
(g) the date of issue from the press or of the publication;
(h) the number of sheets, leaves or pages;
(i) the size;
(j) the map included in the book along with source and area;
(k) the first, second or other number of the edition;
(l) the number of copies of which the edition consists;
(m) whether the book is printed, cyclostyled or lithographed;
(n) the price at which the book is sold to the public’ and
(o) the name and residence of the proprietor of the copy-right or of any portion of such copy-right.
38. Publication of the memoranda registered. – The memoranda registered during each quarter in the said
Catalogue of Books shall be published in the official Gazette, as soon as may be after the end of quarter.
PART VI
REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS
39. Appointment of Press Registrar and other Officers. – The Federal Government Shall appoint a civil servant
of Basic Scale 20 as Press Registrar of newspapers for Pakistan and such other officers under the general
superintendence and control of the Press Registrar as may by general or special order provide for the distribution or
allocation of function to be performed by them under this Ordinance.
40. Register of Newspapers. – (1) The Press Registrar shall maintain a Register of newspapers, which as for as
may be practicable, contain the following particulars about every newspaper published in Pakistan, namely: -
(a) the title of the newspaper;
(b) the language in which the newspaper is published;
(c) periodicity of the publication of the newspaper;
(d) the name of the editor, printer and publisher of the newspaper;
(e) the place of printing and publication;
(f) the average number of pages per week;
(g) the number of days of publication in the year;
(h) retail selling price per copy; and
(i) the name and addresses of the owners of the newspaper and such other particulars relating to
ownerships as may be prescribed.
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(2) On receiving information, from time to time, about the aforesaid particulars the Press Registrar shall
cause relevant entries to be made in the Register and may take such necessary alterations or corrections therein as may
be required for keeping the Register up-to-date.
41. Certificates of Registration: - On receiving a copy of declaration from the District Co-ordination Officer or,
where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner, the Press Registrar shall within
seven days, issue a certificate of registration of the newspaper to its publisher.
Part VII
MISCELLANEOUS
42. Appointment of officers. - The Government may appoint any officer or officers to carry out the purposes of
this Ordinance and such officer or officers shall have such duties and powers in respect of the regulation of matters
pertaining to printing presses, books, papers, printers, publishers and the news agencies as the Government may assign.
43. Service of notices. - Every notice under this Ordinance shall be sent to a Magistrate having jurisdiction who
shall cause it to be served in the manner provided for the service of summons under the Code of Criminal Procedure,
1898 (Act V of 1890).
Provided that if service in such manner cannot, by the exercise of due diligence be effected, the serving officer
shall where the notice is directed to the keeper of a press, affix a copy thereof to some conspicuous part of the place
where the press is situated as described in the keeper’s declaration under section 4, and where the notice is directed to
the publisher of a newspaper to some conspicuous part of the premises where the publication of such newspaper is
conducted as given in the publisher’s declaration under section 6, and at the office of news agency thereupon the notice
shall be deemed to have been duly served.
44. Power to make rules: - The Federal Government in consultation with the Provincial Governments may, by
notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance.
45. Repeal and savings. - (1) The West Pakistan Press and Publications Ordinance, 1963 (W.P Ordinance XXX
of 1963), is hereby repealed
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the West Pakistan Press and Publications Ordinance, 1963 (W.P. Ordinance No.
XXX of 1963), hereinafter referred to as the said Ordinances, every declaration made, subscribed or authenticated
under either of the said Ordinance or any other law before the commencement of this Ordinance shall be deemed to
have been made, subscribed or authenticated under this Ordinance.
(3) Anything done, action taken, rule made or notice issued under the said Ordinances or any law relating to
printing press and publications shall, remain in force and be deemed to have been done, taken, made or issued under
this Ordinance.
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SCHEDULE
FORM ‘A’
(See Section 4)
DECLARATION OF THE KEEPER OF PRESS
I,…………………..………….(name), son of…………………………………...residing at……………………. on
behalf of M/s………………………….do hereby declare that under the authority of M/S………………………, I have
a press* for printing at …………………….Distt…………………….**
*Give capacity, make and type of press
** Give Full description and address of the premises where the press may be situated.
FORM ‘B’
(See section 6)
DECLARATION OF THE PRINTER AND/OR PUBLISHER OF NEWSPAPER/OWNER OF NEW AGENCY
I, ………….……… (name ), son of …………………… residing at …….……………. on behalf of M/s
………..……….……. do hereby declare that, under the authority of M/s ……………………. I am the
printer/publisher or printer and publisher or owner of the newspaper/news agency entitled ………………. appearing
as** ……………………. in**………………. and printed and publisher or owner of the newspapers/news agency
entitled……………………………………………… appearing as**…………..in**…………..and printed or
published or printed and published or disseminate news at
………………………………………………………………..
FORM ‘C’
DECLARATION OF PERSONWHO CEASES TO BE
PRINTER AND/OR PUBLISHER/OWNER
I,……………………………..(name), son of………………………………,on behalf of M/s
……………………….at………………………..,do hereby declare that I/We have ceased/withdrawn my/our authority
in favour of Mr. ………………………….…….son of ………………………………to be printer or publisher or the
printer and the publisher of the newspaper or owner of the news agency entitled……………….………appearing as
**……………………….iii***…………………………….
* 1. Strike out which is not applicable
**2. Here state the periodicity
***3. Here mention the language GENERAL
PERVEZ MUSHARAF
President
---------------------------------
Mr. Justice
(MANSOOR AHMAD)
Secretary