The Punjab government is in the process of finalising a bill designed to heavily regulate the sale and purchase of acid in an effort to prevent attacks on women. 

 

The Punjab Acid Control Act 2025 was presented by Hina Parvez Butt, Chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority, a leading English daily has reported. The private bill was then sent to the Home Committee for inputs. 

 

The updated bill is now ready for being tabled in the Assembly. 

 

The draft suggests that licenses should be mandatory for the sale of 30 types of acid. No acid will be sold to a person under 18 years of age. 

 

People already selling acid will have 30 days to acquire a license and pay the requisite fee. Licenses will be person and space specific and will mention the quantity of acid to be held by the seller at one time. 

 

Importers and manufacturers of acid shall also be required to be registered under the Act.

 

Acid containers will include printed information, including the name and kind of acid; name, address and licence number; volume and quantity of acid; manufacturing and expiry dates, if any; warning statement including the words “DANGEROUS/CORROSIVE” in red and safety precautions.

 

Violators can be imprisoned for three years and fined up to Rs500,000. 

 

Offenses under the Act shall be cognisable, non-bailable, non-compoundable and triable by court.