Departmental Laws

The Admiralty Jurisdiction of High Courts Ordinance, 1980 defines which Pakistani High Courts can hear maritime and aircraft-related legal claims — such as ship ownership disputes, collision damage, salvage and seamen's wages — and how and within what time limits such claims can be brought.

The Allama Iqbal Open University Act, 1974 establishes Pakistan's national open/distance-learning university at Islamabad (originally named People's Open University, renamed AIOU in 1977), setting out its governance structure, degree-granting powers, and use of broadcasting and television for education.

This 1975 Act establishes university-based Area Study Centres for research on societies affecting Pakistan's national interest, each run by a Board of Governors chaired by the university's Vice-Chancellor and funded by government grants.

A 1961 ordinance, since repealed by Ordinance 20 of 2002, that let the government take over the financially troubled Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, vesting its assets and liabilities in the state and providing for its management, employee continuity, and eventual transfer to permanent ownership.

This Ordinance establishes Bahria University Islamabad as a body corporate built around existing naval and civilian institutes, setting out its officers (Chancellor, Rector, Registrar), governing authorities (Board of Governors, Academic Council), and academic powers.

A 2001 ordinance establishing the Board of Investment (BOI) as Pakistan's apex agency to promote and facilitate local and foreign investment, later expanded with a Special Investment Facilitation Council added through amendments.

The Cantonments Ordinance, 2002 set up the local-government system for Pakistan's military cantonments, covering administration, elected councils, elections, and municipal functions, but it was repealed by Act No. XLVII of 2023 and is no longer in force.

A 1975 Act that cancelled all arbitration clauses and pending arbitration proceedings in Capital Development Authority contracts, redirecting those disputes to ordinary court proceedings instead.

Establishes the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to plan, develop, and administer Islamabad, giving it land-acquisition powers, its own finance and penalty regime, and the authority to remove unauthorized structures.

A 1974 Act allowing the Federal Government to set up 'Centres of Excellence' within universities for advanced teaching and research, governed by a Board of Governors.

A 1981 ordinance that retroactively validates land-related orders passed by the Chairman or Members of the Federal Land Commission in the former Dir, Swat and Chitral states, even against contrary court rulings.

A 1961 Ordinance establishing the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan, setting membership and qualification requirements, and creating a disciplinary process and penalties for professional misconduct by accountants.

A 2000 Ordinance establishing COMSATS Institute of Information Technology as a body corporate and degree-awarding university, setting out its governance structure (Patron, Chancellor, Board, Rector) and academic powers, including a mandatory Islamic/Pakistan Studies requirement for degrees.

Establishes the Corporate and Industrial Restructuring Corporation (CIRC) to acquire and restructure non-performing loans -- debts over 365 days overdue exceeding thirty million rupees -- from named state-owned banks, with a statutory six-year lifespan.

The Dar-ul-Madina International University Islamabad Act, 2013 establishes a Dawat-e-Islami Trust-linked university in Islamabad with broad degree-granting and distance-education powers, governed by a Board of Trustees, Board, Executive Committee, Academic Council and a distinctive Shariah Advisory Committee.

A 2000 ordinance establishing the Federal Tax Ombudsman, an independent official appointed by the President to investigate and address maladministration by tax authorities against taxpayers.

A 1976 Act giving the Federal Government power to control school and college curricula and textbooks nationwide, with imprisonment up to one year for agencies that defy a directive to alter or withdraw material.

A 1978 ordinance letting the Federal Government appoint an Administrator to take over a dysfunctional Flying Club's management, overriding the club's own bylaws, until a properly functioning Committee can be elected.

The Indus River System Authority Act, 1992 creates IRSA, a five-member body (one from each province plus the Federal Government) that regulates and distributes Indus River water among the provinces under the 1991 Water Accord, resolves inter-provincial water disputes, and issues binding release directives to WAPDA.

This 1956 Act gives legal effect in Pakistan to the Articles of Agreement establishing the International Finance Corporation, granting the IFC and its officials broad immunities from taxation, seizure, and legal process within Pakistan.

This 1985 ordinance reconstituted Pakistan's Islamic University as the autonomous International Islamic University (IIU), setting out its governing officers, boards, funding and specialised academic institutes.

The Investment Corporation of Pakistan Ordinance, 1966 established the Investment Corporation of Pakistan (ICP) as a body corporate to promote investment and develop the capital market, setting out its share capital, governance structure (Board, Chairman, Managing Director), and powers to invest, borrow, and manage mutual funds.

The Iqbal Academy Ordinance, 1962 establishes the Iqbal Academy as a body corporate dedicated to studying and promoting the works of Allama Iqbal, governed by a Governing Body under the Federal Education Minister as President, funded by government grants, fees, and publication sales.

A 1961 Ordinance establishing Governing Bodies to administer Pakistan's medical colleges, defining their composition, powers, mandatory committees, and financial and reporting obligations.

A 1962 Ordinance granting the Military College of Engineering, Risalpur, a charter to award the Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree, and setting up its governing structure under the Pakistan Army's Engineer-in-Chief.

This 2013 Act establishes MY University at Islamabad as a body corporate with degree-granting powers, setting out its governing officers (Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Registrar), its Board, Executive Committee and Academic Council, and its fund and accounting arrangements.

A 1972 law establishing the National Book Foundation, a government body governed by a Board chaired by the Education Minister, tasked with publishing, translating, importing, and distributing books at moderate prices.

Reconstitutes the National College of Arts, Lahore as a degree-awarding body corporate, setting up its Board of Governors, Principal, Controlling Authority (the Federal Education Minister), and academic and financial governance structure.

This 2002 Ordinance establishes the National Commission for Human Development, an autonomous body under the Cabinet Division that runs education, literacy, health and poverty-alleviation programs across Pakistan in partnership with NGOs and government departments.

The National Institute of Electronics Ordinance, 1979 establishes NIE, an Islamabad-based government body for research, development, training and small-scale production in electronics, governed by a Director-General-led Governing Body and funded by government grants, contract income and donations.

This 2000 Ordinance converted the state-owned National Insurance Corporation into National Insurance Company Limited, a public limited company, transferring all its assets, liabilities, and employees to the new entity and repealing the old Corporation's founding Act.

A 1965 ordinance providing the legal framework for the National Investment (Unit) Trust — declaring its Units transferable, approved securities, and binding the Trust Deed on all Certificate Holders.

A 2000 ordinance establishing the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (FAST-NUCES) as a multi-campus, Islamabad-headquartered university built on the FAST Foundation's existing institutes, with governance split across a Patron, Chancellor, Rector, and several academic boards.

This 1983 ordinance transferred the Network Analyser Study Centre in Lahore from the Federal Government to WAPDA, setting the financial terms of the transfer and the employment terms for the Centre's civil servants.

This Act converts the privately incorporated NFC Institute of Science and Technology, Multan into a statutory degree-awarding university, transferring its staff and students and establishing a Senate, Syndicate, and Academic Council to govern it.

This 2001 Ordinance converted the state-owned Oil and Gas Development Corporation into Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, transferring all its assets, contracts, licences, and employees to the new company, retroactive to its 1997 incorporation.

A 2000 Ordinance establishing the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Board to manage the Kamra aeronautical factories, giving the Board (Section 3) broad commercial and personnel powers (Section 7) under Federal Government oversight.

The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council Ordinance, 1981 establishes PARC as the Federal body to fund, coordinate, and conduct agricultural research, governed by a Board chaired by the Federal Agriculture Minister and run day-to-day by a Chairman and Executive Committee.

A 1965 law establishing the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) as the body corporate responsible for peaceful nuclear energy development, research and nuclear power projects in Pakistan, governed by a Chairman and appointed members under Federal Government oversight.

A 1959 ordinance incorporating the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association as a body corporate with exclusive rights to its name, badges, and uniforms, backed by a fine for misuse.

This 1973 act establishes the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation as an autonomous body running Radio Pakistan's Home and External Services, with its Board, funding and governance recently updated by 2024 amendments tying it to the State-Owned Enterprises Act, 2023.

Establishes the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to regulate civil aviation, run the country's airports and air traffic/navigation services, and manage the transfer of the former Department of Civil Aviation's staff, assets and liabilities into the new Authority.

A 1973 law establishing the Pakistan Coast Guards to combat smuggling, illegal immigration, and infiltration along the Arabian Sea coast, with military-style discipline under the Pakistan Army Act and customs and police enforcement powers.

A 1962 law establishing the Pakistan College of Physicians and Surgeons as a body corporate to run postgraduate medical training and Fellowship examinations, governed by an elected Council under Sections 6-9.

This 1956 Act allowed the government to set up Commissions of Inquiry with civil-court powers to investigate matters of public importance, but it was largely repealed in 2017 and now survives mainly for water-dispute inquiries under Article 155 of the Constitution.

The Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners Ordinance, 1983 establishes the regulatory Council that registers and disciplines architects and town planners, recognises qualifications from Pakistani and foreign institutions, and maintains separate professional Registers for each field.

A 2007 law establishing the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources as a statutory body to conduct and coordinate research on irrigation, drinking water, flood and drought mitigation, and other water-related issues, governed by a Board of Governors and a scientist-Chairman.

A 1973 Act that establishes the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) as a statutory body running government research institutes for industry, replacing an earlier informally-registered research society.

A 1975 act (heavily amended since, most recently in 2011) establishing the Pakistan Engineering Council to regulate the engineering profession, accredit engineering qualifications and institutions, and maintain the official register of professional and registered engineers.

A 1960 ordinance incorporating the Pakistan Girl Guides Association as a body corporate with exclusive rights to its name, badges, and uniforms, backed by a fine for misuse.