Foreigners Act, 1946

The Foreigners Act, 1946 gives Pakistan's Federal Government broad, largely discretionary powers to control the entry, presence, and departure of anyone who is not a Pakistani citizen. Section 3 is the core provision: it lets the government issue orders regulating where and how foreigners enter or leave the country, restrict where they may live or travel, require them to report to authorities, provide identity documents, photographs and fingerprints, submit to medical examination, or avoid associating with certain people or engaging in certain activities. Under a later amendment, an order can also authorise arresting, detaining, or confining a foreigner in the interest of Pakistan's defence, external affairs, or security.

Section 4 covers "internees" -- foreigners detained or confined under such an order -- and "persons on parole," who may instead be required to reside in a designated area under supervision; it is itself an offence to help such a person escape or to knowingly harbour them. Sections 6 and 7 place obligations on ship/vessel masters and hotel keepers to furnish particulars about foreigners under their charge, and Section 8 lets the government determine a person's nationality, with Section 9 placing the burden of proof of not being a foreigner on the individual concerned.

Later additions strengthened enforcement: Section 13A makes it an offence to assist illegal entry into Pakistan, and Section 13B prohibits employing someone who has entered illegally. Section 14A restricts bail for people accused of certain offences under the Act. Section 14B lets a foreigner facing trial or serving a sentence be allowed to leave Pakistan instead, with government consent, if their presence isn't needed for another case. Section 14C requires that a foreigner without permission to stay, once convicted, remain in custody for up to three months after their sentence ends so deportation arrangements can be finalised. Section 14D, inserted more recently, requires foreigners who had no permission to stay before the section's commencement to register with NADRA (the National Database and Registration Authority), which may then let them work in Pakistan for a fee.

Section 16 clarifies that this Act works alongside, not instead of, the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 and the Passports Act, 1974. Section 17 repeals the Alien Registration Authority (Composition and Functions) Order, 2001 and transfers its functions to NADRA.

This is an old law from 1946 that has been substantially amended over the decades -- most recently in 2016 -- including expansions of enforcement and registration powers. The extract reviewed does not specify the exact penalty amounts under Section 14, so readers needing current penalty figures should check the official text directly.