Federal Supervision of Curricula Text-books and Maintenance of Standards of Education Act, 1976

This 1976 Act gives the Federal Government authority to oversee school and college curricula, textbooks, and educational standards across Pakistan, in order to promote national cohesion and align education with the country's social, economic, and ideological goals. Section 2 defines "institution" broadly to cover schools, colleges, universities, and any other educational establishment the Federal Government names by notification.

Section 3 is the operational core: the Federal Government appoints one or more "Competent Authorities" who can prepare curricula, syllabi, and textbook manuscripts for implementing government education policy; approve or reject textbook manuscripts produced by other agencies before they are prescribed for use; and direct any person or agency in writing to delete, amend, or withdraw part or all of a curriculum, textbook, or reference material within a specified time. Anyone given such a directive must act on it and report back on implementation within the time set.

Section 4 sets the penalty for non-compliance: failing to carry out a directive to alter or withdraw material is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, counts as gross misconduct, and can lead to the responsible agency being superseded by its own appointing authority. Section 5 requires that no court can take up such an offence except on a written complaint from the Competent Authority itself. Section 6 protects officials and others from lawsuits for actions taken in good faith under the Act, and Section 7 gives the Federal Government power to make further implementing rules.

This is an older statute (1976) that gives significant centralized control over what is taught in Pakistani schools and colleges, and the specific penalty (imprisonment up to one year) is stated in the extract, but readers should confirm current enforcement practice against the official text.