Senate Passes Multiple Bills Today, Including Amendments to PAKA, Criminal Laws, Electronic Crimes, and Family Courts

**Islamabad (Qudrat Daily):** The **Senate of Pakistan** has passed several **amendment bills** today, covering the **Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), criminal laws, anti-electronic crimes, and family courts**.

During the session, the **bill proposed by Sherry Rehman** to ban **plastic covers on books in Islamabad** was also approved. Under this law, any books sold with plastic covers will result in a fine of **PKR 50,000 for the first violation** and **PKR 100,000 for repeated offenses**.

The **PECA amendment bill** allows the **federal government to enter into mutual legal assistance agreements with foreign countries** whose social media applications are used in Pakistan.

Senator **Samina Zahri’s criminal law amendment bill** was also passed, stipulating that **failure to provide medical assistance to a rape survivor** will result in **up to one year of imprisonment and a fine**. It also mandates that if a survivor visits a private or public hospital, **immediate first aid must be provided**, and **medical-legal certificates must be issued promptly**—within 24 hours if referred from a private to a public hospital.

The **Anti-Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill** was approved, increasing the punishment for child pornography offenses from **7 years to 10 years imprisonment** and the fine from **PKR 5 million to PKR 10 million**.

Under the **Family Courts Amendment Bill**, the court will **fix the monthly maintenance for a woman or child at the husband’s first appearance**, with a **10% annual increment** if the maintenance is not determined.

These legislative actions reflect the Senate’s ongoing efforts to strengthen legal protections for citizens and ensure stricter penalties for offenses affecting public welfare and vulnerable groups.