Sound System Laws in Pakistan
Pakistan is among those countries where use of loud speakers and sound systems is not considered illegal and unethical. People normally even don’t know about the existence of any law which prohibits the misuse of loud speaker and sound system in Pakistan. Even those people who are at the receiving end (effected by the misuse of loudspeaker) don’t know about their rights and sound system laws in Pakistan.
The misuse of loud speakers and sound system is illegal and prohibited by law in Pakistan. No one is allowed to use loudspeaker at free will whether in religious places, functions halls, marriage halls, social gatherings or even at home. Frequent and illegal use of loudspeakers at religious places not only cause nuisance for neighborhood but also spread the religious hatred and secretion tensions.
Most commonly used places where misuse of loudspeaker is reported are the religious places, marriage halls, functions halls etc. The misuse of loudspeaker at religious places is extremely dangerous because it is often used to spread hatred against the other sects. That ultimately helps the terrorists to spread the false religious ideas to achieve their own motives.
Laws regulating the use of Sound System and Loud Speakers in Pakistan
Before 2015, The West Pakistan Regulation and Control of Loud Speakers and Sound Amplifiers Ordinance 1965 deals with the misuse of loudspeaker in all the provinces of Pakistan. In 2015, Government of Pakistan launched the National Action Plan to combat the rising tide of terrorism. Under National Action Plan many laws were passed which also included the Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Ordinance 2015.
This new law provides strict punishments and simplified procedures of court. Previously anyone who misuses the loudspeaker would have to pay small amount of fine. Under the new law now the violator has to pay heavy fine and also imprisonment.
Features of The Punjab Sound System (Regulation) Ordinance 2015
The newly promulgated law has following significant features;
- It provides heavy fine for those who misuse loudspeaker or sound system. According to section 6 of the Act, “If a person contravenes any provision of section 3 or 4, he shall be liable to
- punishment of imprisonment which may extend to six months and fine which shall not be less than twenty five thousand rupees but shall not exceed one hundred thousand rupees”.
- The offences under this law are declared cognizable which means Police is empowered to lodge FIR against the violator.
- The offences under this law are declared non-bailable which means Person has to spend some days in Jail before getting bail.
- In this law, procedure of Summary trial is provided which means court has power to dispose-off the case in one or two days in quick manners and there is no need to adopt the lengthy procedure of regular trial as provided for other offences.
- This law also provides that court can confiscate the any loudspeaker or sound system used in the commission of the offence under this law.
Overall the introduction of Punjab Sound System ordinance 2015 is very good step of government. It considerably reduced the illegal use of loudspeakers after its implementation. After implementation of this law, many cases are registered against the violator which creates deterrence and reduced the violations. Government needs to implement the law with true spirit and continue with the good results. In this regard role of Police and Prosecution is very important along with Judiciary.
This is a great find..
We are fed up with every now and then all night long functions in our neighbourhood.
Please guide a one liner complaint system to approach the area police station for immediately stopping the nuisance in progress.
Thanks in advance.
@Anwer Razvi
You simply have to call nearest police station and lodge complaint on 15 to police regarding misuse
What abt schools using like there’s a school right besides my house that uses loud speaker for almost an hour too call out kids and their van drivers haven’t seen it happen in any other school ever. Would the police take an action?
@Shiz
You have right to take action against the school
contact us R.z.hussai n adv 03073123456
Is there any such laws in other provinces specially KP province.
@Gul
Yes there are laws regarding regulation of sound systems in all provinces of Pakistan
Police men came and said this is Mallad e Mustafa we can’t stop them
@Abid
You need to register your complain on 15
Agr masjid mai azaan k elawa use ho tu kya krna chahye
@Shan
Complaint to your concerned Police Station
or Complaint to PM Citizen Portal
On portal i m unable to find any catagory where i complain about this issue?
You need to call police station, your local police station or one five for that.
Dear Sir
We are facing heavy loud sound problems in our mosque at Adhan times and other events like fund collections in mosque .Mostly people are ignorant here in this village so facing big noise problems. No one is solving this problem .The mosque is situated in village 40 RB Hamraj Pura District
Nankana Tehsile Sangla Hill and its name is Anwar-e.Madina .
This huge loud sound usage is against Pakistan sound act and also fund collections in mosque is not good on sound system.Reciting Naats and Daroods at loud sound is also causing severe Health problems too young kids and old persons .Please solve this issue as earliest as possible.
Regards Dr.Abdul Ghaffar
Cell number. 03095550572
@Abdul Ghaffar
Simply forward an application in your concerned Police Station or if you want to remain unknown put a complaint in the Prime Minister Citizen Portal
your issue will be solved surly because it is illegal act
Plz admin guide that in which catagory we can complain about loud speaker used by masjid other then azan..as apparently i m unable to see any catagory
Mr. Waqas
Yes you can simply call police station about such a violation. they will take action because only azan is allowed by loudspeaker of Masjid.
Is this okay to play sound on speakers at home in such situation that the sound will not go out of your house ? Please guide ma kindly .
Loud speakers noise is damaging ears it’s intensity is so high that we can’t say anything due to religious reasons on the other hand we are annoyed instead of taking religious heal. If the complaint can be lodged in citizens portal tell me where I can put this in sections please help Allah k leay.
@Mudassir
You can lodge complaint in citizen protal
you can call 15 and complain to police
you can call your area police station and lodge complaint
In case of complaint on 15, your name will remain unknown or what?
@Maaniya
YOu need to tell your particulars in general cases
Is there any law, noc or place where you can play loud music.
No one listens about the misuse of loudspeaker. Because people don’t want to stand against or question this thing because of the religion. Maulvis, Mullahs cannot be punished nor there is anyone who will caught. them. By calling on 15 no one comes nor anyone resolve the problem. Area police too don’t do anything even after receiving written application, they ask about your identity and even after knowing your identity they don’t resolve the problem. Punjab Police is corrupt to the core. No one attend our call on IGP helpline 8787. IGP helpline 8787 is non functional. Police don’t do anything in order to stop this criminal acts. The department of police has just been created in order to punish and catch weak people and nothing else. Police is a Don mafia. This problem is not gonna solve because of the religious supervision.
Is it okay to play sound on speaker at your home in such a way that the sound will not leave the house ?please guide me .thanks alot .
Yes if you play sound in your premises and you disturb your neighbours , it is ok
Is there any limit of sound for Adhan? as our neighbourhood masjid use full sound of loud speakers. Despite requesting them to reduce the volume they do not listen to us. In every 100 meters we have Masajid in our area but seem they want to call Namazis beyond the area of 1 K.M.