COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Ordinance, 2000

This 2000 Ordinance establishes the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology as a degree-awarding university, created at the initiative of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), an international organisation. Section 3 incorporates the Institute as a body corporate consisting of the Patron, Chancellor, Board, Rector, Directors and other prescribed officers, with power to acquire and hold property.

Section 4 sets out the Institute's powers, including providing instruction and training in computer and information technology, admitting and examining students, conferring degrees and diplomas, undertaking research, charging fees, appointing staff, and affiliating with other educational institutions. Section 5 requires the Institute to be open to all students regardless of sex, religion, race, creed, colour or domicile. Section 6 requires degree programmes to conform to University Grants Commission criteria and mandates that no degree be granted unless the student has passed Islamic and Pakistan Studies (or, for non-Muslim students, Ethics and Pakistan Studies) at the Bachelor's level.

Section 9 makes the President of Pakistan the Patron of the Institute, with power to order inspections or inquiries into any aspect of the Institute's affairs and — notably — full power to take any action he sees fit, including closing the Institute, if it is found engaged in subversive or unlawful activity. Section 11 makes the Minister for Science and Technology the Chancellor, who can annul improper Authority proceedings or officer orders after a show-cause process, and order inquiries into the Institute's affairs. Section 12 provides for a Rector, appointed by the Board, as the principal academic and administrative officer responsible for implementing Board decisions.

Section 7 lists the Institute's governing Authorities (Academic Council, Board, Board of Studies, Selection Board) and Section 8 lists its Officers (Patron, Chancellor, Rector, Directors, Registrar). The extract's tail section also describes specialised committees such as the Finance and Planning Committee, Affiliation Committee, and Discipline Committee, each with defined membership and functions. This is a relatively recent law (2000) with fewer amendments shown in the extract than older statutes, but readers should still confirm current governance details against the official text.