You Might Soon Be Fined for Calling a Public Place by Wrong Name

The federal government is set to introduce a controversial law to protect the name of public places and prominent personalities. Strict punishment has been proposed for mis-naming a place once an official name for a location has been notified.

Even if someone makes the mistake unintentionally, they could still end up being prosecuted.

A few days ago, the Ministry of Law and Justice asked the Ministry of CADD, Ministry of Interior and the National History and Heritage Division to submit their comments on the proposed Public Places (Names) Act 2017.

At present, there is no legal framework for naming or renaming a public place. The federal government or authorities controlled by the federal government have no legal control over it.

The Controversy

An official of the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) shared his views on the bill,

The proposed bill seems dictatorial as it proposes imprisonment or a fine for using a name for a place other than its notified name. So if someone calls the Benazir Bhutto International Airport the Islamabad airport, he/she may be sentenced to 30 days in prison or a fine which may extend to Rs. 500,000 if the law is passed.

The main objective of the bill is to protect the name of the public places and to establish a procedure for naming and renaming of public places.

However, the bill contains a controversial clause which could end up being misused on innocent people. It says,

If any person intentionally or negligently uses a name of public place other than the name notified under section 12, he shall be liable to imprisonment which may extend to thirty days or fine which may extend to five hundred [thousand] rupees.

More Details About the Bill

The document of the bill adds that any offence under this section of the act will be dealt by the deputy commissioner or any other public servant nominated by the naming committee.

The committee will consist of the Minister for National Heritage, the Minister of CADD, Mayor of Islamabad, five people nominated by the federal government, Secretaries to the federal government and people from National History and Literary Heritage Division.

The committee will finalize and send official names of public places to the federal government for final approval. Once accepted, the names will be published in the official gazette of Pakistan.

The proposed bill documents states “The bill aims to preserve our national identity and heritage whilst respecting its residents, diverse races, ethnicity, faith and beliefs, abilities, gender, talents and aspirations, and gender identities, age, occupation, income and lifestyle.”

Via: Dawn

He is the Chief Content Officer at ProPakistani. Reach out at aadil.s[at]propakistani.pk


  • The law makers have officially gone mad.

    There are so many other laws and frameworks that need attention e.g online marketplace regulation, safety standards for transportation industry, streamlined custom policy.

    Yet they choose to make these absurd laws that have no value and waste both time and money of people.

    Countries are looking forward to devise laws for self driving cars and robot deliveries and these morons have are wasting our tax rupees.

    • Maindakon ki guidelines aur mashwaray yani dictation pe sb policies bn rhin aajkal… More to come… wait & see..

  • First these bloody looters associate their names with the names of public places. Than they want us to call those same places with their set names. Not happenin. Ridicules.

  • Ok that’s fine. Ab btao looti hui raqam kab wapis lao gey law and order makers?

  • what the f! like there’s nothing else to improve in this wretched country.

  • haaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn!!!!!!! ab yehi hona baqi reh gaya tha is mulk mein…

  • Like… police say their investigation room, drawing room (see famous andhera ujala drama series)? What about people and authorities who allow people to use Mazar e Quaid for not allowed purposes? what about politicians who used officially provided property and vehicles for personal and their political party activities???? Any law (acting law) for them?

  • LOL

    All the people who love to hate “freedom of speech” also hate this proposed law! The irony of it all!


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