LAHORE: In a significant move to protect women and vulnerable communities from acid-related violence, the Punjab government is set to introduce Pakistan’s first dedicated legislation regulating acid use.
The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs has approved the final draft of the Punjab Acid Control Act 2025, a milestone law aimed at curbing acid attacks through stricter control over its sale and distribution.
This pioneering legislation establishes a comprehensive legal framework to prevent acid attacks and hold individuals accountable throughout the acid supply chain. It targets one of the most persistent forms of gender-based violence by addressing the root cause — unregulated access to acid.
Under the proposed act, selling acid without a valid licence from the Deputy Commissioner — designated as the Licensing Authority — will be considered a non-bailable offence, carrying up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 500,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three months of jail time.
Even licensed vendors will face severe consequences for negligence, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison, and fines between Rs 200,000 to Rs 1 million.
The Punjab Home Department will oversee the law’s enforcement, while official notification and administrative support will come from the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).
Punjab Women Protection Authority (PWPA) Chairperson Hinaz Pervez Butt hailed the legislation as a breakthrough in protecting women and marginalized groups. She stressed the urgent need to regulate acid sales, noting how the chemical’s easy availability in small quantities makes it a weapon of choice in violent assaults.
Butt also emphasized the importance of effective enforcement, citing challenges in the implementation of existing laws. She announced that the PWPA has signed an MoU with the Punjab Prosecutor General’s Office to remove legal bottlenecks and expedite justice in acid attack and gender-based violence cases.
Acknowledging the healthcare gaps for acid attack victims, she revealed that efforts are underway to establish at least one fully-equipped burn unit in each of Punjab’s 36 districts.
Butt also advocated for curriculum reforms and public awareness campaigns to shift societal attitudes and prevent violence before it occurs. She reiterated that under the new law, acid sales without a licence will be a non-bailable crime, and called for immediate medical care and FIR registration in all cases of rape and acid violence, without bureaucratic delays.
The Punjab Acid Control Act 2025, once enacted, will mark a transformative step toward justice, deterrence, and safety for those most at risk.
