April 15, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
In a significant step forward in combating acid attacks, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Home Affairs has unanimously approved the Punjab Acid Control Bill 2025, paving the way for its passage in the provincial assembly.
Introduced by Hina Parvez Butt, Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, the bill aims to regulate acid sales and purchases, thereby reducing acid throwing incidents. On April 14, a meeting of the Standing Committee on Home, chaired by MPA Arif Iqbal, considered the Punjab Acid Control Bill. Hina Parvez Butt, MPA and Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, also attended the Standing Committee’s meeting held in the Committee Room No. II of the new provincial assembly building. The committee gave formal approval after detailed consideration of the bill at the meeting.
MPA Butt expressed her gratitude for the positive support and guidance of the committee, saying that effective legislative is critical to curbing the sale of acid and its use in gender-based violence. She termed the bill’s approval an important step forward for the protection of the women and vulnerable sections. She expressed her commitment to pursuing effective legislation to protect and empower women’s rights.
The bill is being considered as the first-ever comprehensive legislation in the country focused exclusively on regulating the sale, distribution, and use of acid, and deterring acid-related violence.
Unlike other provinces, where acid attack cases are dealt with under general laws or through rules framed under other legislation, Punjab has taken the lead in formulating a dedicated and detailed legal framework, Gul Hassan Abbas, board member of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, told Voicepk.net.
In 2019, Initiatives for Sustainable Development (IFSD) and The Asia Foundation launched an initiative to regulate acid sales and purchases. “After persistent efforts spanning five years, the Punjab Home Department’s Standing Committee has approved the proposed bill, bringing it closer to becoming law, he added.
“Notably, in Sindh, no specific law exists on the subject, and actions are taken under broader Sindh Regulation for Storage, Sale and Purchase of Acid Rules, 2022, rendering enforcement less effective,” he said.
According to Abbas, the Punjab Home Department has been designated as the administrative body responsible for implementing the Punjab Acid Control Bill 2025 under the draft approved by the Standing Committee on Home. The Punjab Acid Control Bill 2025 is a comprehensive legislation designed to regulate the storage, distribution, sale, and transportation of acids in Punjab. The bill aims to prevent the misuse and abuse of acids, particularly in acid attacks, which are a serious form of gender-based violence.
Licensing and regulation
The bill mandates licensing for acid trade, with a fee of Rs. 1,000, and requires traders to obtain approval within 30 days. Licenses are valid for 2 years and can be renewed with penalties for non-compliance. The license will be mandatory for the sale of 30 highly corrosive and reactive chemicals. These include nitric acid, aqua regia, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid, perchloric acid, hydriodic acid, hydrobromic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, hydrofluoric acid, formaldehyde, chromic acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, amide metal, acetal chloride, anhydrous phenols, caustic soda, carbolic acid, calcium hydroxide, anhydrous halogens, zinc chloride, sodium hypochlorite, caustic potash, dimethyl sulfate, benzyl chloroformate, and sodium hydride.
Prohibitions and penalties
The bill imposes strict penalties for unlicensed trade, irregular trade, and sale to minors (below 18 years). It also empowers the government to prohibit possession of acid for specific individuals or groups. Selling acid without obtaining a valid license from the Deputy Commissioner who will act as the Licensing Authority under this law will be a non-bailable criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison along with a monetary fine of up to Rs 500,000. If the fine is not paid, the offender will face an additional three months of imprisonment. Even licensed acid vendors will be held strictly liable for negligence in handling or selling acid, with penalties ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of five years in prison and fines between Rs 200,000 and Rs 1 million.
Trade and sale of acid
The bill requires mandatory stock reporting every 3 months, buyer identification, and recording of acid use in hospitals, labs, and educational institutions. Even licensed acid vendors will be held strictly liable for negligence in handling or selling acid, with penalties ranging from a minimum of two years to a maximum of five years in prison and fines between Rs 200,000 and Rs 1 million.
Compensation to victims
The legislation also includes a pivotal victim-centric provision: in instances where an acid attack occurs as a result of negligence by the acid seller, the seller will be legally bound to compensate the victim. The amount of compensation will be determined by the court under the relevant provision of the act. This move not only tightens the commercial regulation of hazardous substances but also strengthens avenues for justice and restitution for survivors of acid violence.
Packaging, labeling, and transportation
The bill mandates secure packaging, labeling with hazard warnings, and transportation with “Dangerous Acids” warnings. Only licensed traders can transport acid. Acid vendors will be required to maintain comprehensive records of all transactions and inventory in a standardized format under Form IV, which must be submitted annually to the licensing authority. Failure to maintain these records or to provide them upon request may result in suspension or revocation of the license. Manufacturers and importers of acid are also brought under the ambit of the new law. They too must apply for and obtain licenses, and they will be subject to the same regulatory oversight as sellers.
Inspections and public awareness
The bill provides for regular inspections by licensing authorities and public awareness campaigns via media. The Deputy Commissioner, as the Licensing Authority, will have broad powers under the act, including the ability to suspend or cancel a license based on non-compliance, negligence, or criminal liability. A particularly significant clause of the act states that if a license holder is convicted under sections 332, 336-A, or 336-B of the Pakistan Penal Code sections which pertain to grievous bodily harm and disfigurement through chemical substances their license will be automatically cancelled from the date of conviction.
Overall, the Punjab Acid Control Bill 2025 is a crucial step towards preventing acid attacks and promoting public safety in Punjab. Its comprehensive approach to regulating acid trade, combined with strict penalties and public awareness campaigns, makes it a model for other provinces to follow.