Ordinance VI of 1971 · 4 pages
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THE NEWSPRINT CONTROL ORDINANCE, 1971
CONTENTS
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Ordinance to override other laws.
3. Definitions.
4. Regulation of use of newsprint etc.
5. Dealing in newsprint.
6. Fixation of price.
7. Declaration of stock held.
8. Declaration by importer.
9. Maintenance of records of sale, etc.
10. Power to call for information, etc.
11. Penalty.
12. Delegation of powers.
Page 1 of 4
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THE NEWSPRINT CONTROL ORDINANCE, 1971
ORDINANCE No. XI of 1971
[26th April, 1971]
An Ordinance to provide for regulating the keeping, storage, distribution, disposal, acquisition
and use of newsprint.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for regulating the keeping, storage, distribution,
disposal, acquisition and use of-news-print and for matters ancillary thereto ;
AND WHEREAS the national interest of Pakistan in relation to the achievement of
uniformity requires Central Legislation in the matter;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the 25th day of March, 1969, read
with the Provisional Constitution Order, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the
President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:___
1. Short title, extent and commencement.___ (1) This Ordinance may be called the
Newsprint Control ordinance, 1971.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2. Ordinance to override other laws. This Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in the 2[Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding
Act, 1977 (XIXX of 1977)] or any order or other instrument made or issued thereunder or any other
law for the time being in force.
3. Definitions. In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
(a) “daily newspaper” means a newspaper which is published not less than five days
a week ;
(b) “newspaper” means any publication printed on newsprint and published at
regular intervals of not more than a month ; and
(c) “newsprint” means printing paper, white or coloured, in reels or in sheets,
unsized or soft sized, the fiber content of which comprises not less than 70 per
cent of mechanical wood pulp and which weights between 50 to 54 grams per
square meter.
4. Regulation of use of newsprint etc. Except with the prior permission in writing of the
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[Federal Government], no person shall :__
(a) use newsprint for printing of publishing any newspaper started after the
commencement of this Ordinance, ;
(b) use newsprint for printing or publishing any newspaper in excess of such
quantity as the 2[Federal Government] may, by general or special order,
prescribe in respect of such newspaper ; or
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Validated by the Validation of Laws Act. 1975 (63 of 1975), s. 2 and Sch.,
2
Subs. by Federal Laws (revision and Declaration) Ordinance 1981 (27 of 1981. .s.3 and II sch.,
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Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2 and Table.
Page 2 of 4
(c) use newsprint for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet, poster or other
thing which is not a newspaper.
5. Dealing in newsprint.—(1) The 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the official
Gazette, specify the dealers who shall be approved dealers of newsprint for the purposes of this
Ordinance.
(2) Subject to an order under sub-section (3), upon the issue of a notification under sub-
section (1), no dealer shall, except with the prior permission in writing of the 1[Federal Government],
sell or dispose of newsprint to any person other than—
(a) an approved dealer; or
(b) a person who requires the newsprint___
(i) for printing or publishing any newspaper started before the commencement of
this Ordinance, or
(ii) for printing or publishing any newspaper started after the commencement
of this Ordinance, where the use of newsprint for printing or publishing
such newspaper has been permitted under clause (a) of section 4, or
(iii) for printing or publishing any book, pamphlet, poster or other thing which is
not a newspaper, where the use of newsprint for such printing or publishing
has been permitted under clause (c) of section 4.
(3) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, require any dealer to sell to such
person as is referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (2) such quantity of newsprint as may be specified
in the order and may issue and incidental or supplementary instructions in regard to such sale.
6. Fixation of price.—(1) The 1[Federal Government] may, by notification in the official
Gazette, fix the maximum price above which newsprint shall not be sold and different prices may be
fixed for different localities for different varieties of newsprint or for newsprint of different origins.
(2) No person shall buy or sell or offer to buy or sell newsprint at a price above the maximum
price fixed under subsection (1).
7. Declaration of stock held. Every dealer and every person holding stocks of news-print
shall, within a period of seven days from the commencement of this Ordinance, submit to the
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[Federal Government] or an officer authorised by it in this behalf a declaration of the stocks of
newsprint held by him at such commencement.
1
Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2and Table.
Page 3 of 4
8. Declaration by importer. Every importer of newsprint shall, within seven days of the
clearance of the newsprint from Customs, submit to the 1[Federal Government] or an officer
authorised by it is this behalf a declaration specifying the particulars of newsprint so cleared by him
or on his behalf.
9. Maintenance of records of sale, etc. The 1[Federal Government] may direct a dealer or an
importer “or a person using newsprint to maintain records of all sales, purchases, imports and uses of
newsprint and may prescribe the form in which such record shall be maintained.
10. Power to call for information, etc.—(l) The 1[Federal Government] may require the
proprietor of, or any other person concerned with, any printing press or newspaper, daily newspaper,
book, pamphlet or poster or any person carrying on or concerned with any business or undertaking
which involves the sales, distribution, storage or use of newsprint, to give any information in his
possession or within his knowledge with respect to any transaction relating to newsprint, and
the person so required shall give the required information to the best of his knowledge and
belief.
(2) No person shall mutilate, deface, tamper with, conceal or destroy any book or document
relating to any transaction referred to in sub-section (1).
(3) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, authorise any officer or other
person, to inspect any books or documents referred to in sub-section (2) in the possession of
any of the persons referred to in sub-section (1) and such person shall, whenever required to
do so, permit the inspection to be made without any hindrance, evasion or concealment.
(4) The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, authorise any officer or other person
to enter and search or cause to be entered and searched any premises, or place where he has reason to
believe that anything in contravention of this Ordinance has taken place or is likely to take place, and
such officer or person may seize any newsprint or other articles in respect of which he has reason to
believe that any such contravention has been committed or is about to be committed.
11. Penalty. Whoever contravenes any provision of this Ordinance or of any order made,
notification issued or direction given under this Ordinance shall be punishable with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
12. Delegation of powers. The 1[Federal Government] may, by order in writing, direct that
any of its powers and functions under this Ordinance shall, in relation to such matters and subject to
such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order, be exercisable also by an officer specified in
the order.
__________
41318 Date: 11-11-2024
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Subs. by P. O. No. 4 of 1975, Art. 2 and Table.
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Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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