National Book Foundation Act, 1972

The National Book Foundation Act, 1972 creates a government body dedicated to making books affordable and widely available in Pakistan. Section 3 lets the Federal Government, by notification, establish the National Book Foundation as a body corporate with perpetual succession, a common seal, and the power to acquire, hold, and dispose of property.

Section 4 sets up a Board of Governors chaired by the Minister for Education, including the Education Secretary, one representative from each province, a representative for areas outside any province, a University Grants Commission representative, the Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of Education Boards, five eminent educationists or writers appointed by the government, five members (including at least one woman) elected by the National Assembly, and the Foundation's own Managing Director and Secretary. Non-ex-officio members serve three-year terms and can be reappointed.

Section 6 lists the Foundation's functions in detail: receiving grants and donations, writing and encouraging the writing of good books, translating foreign and local books into national and regional languages (and vice versa), publishing and reproducing books locally and abroad, importing foreign books, distributing books to educational institutions and the public at moderate prices, providing technical and financial support to the book trade, and generally promoting literacy and the dissemination of knowledge through print.

Section 7 requires the Foundation's accounts to be audited annually by the Auditor-General of Pakistan, with the Board reviewing the resulting balance sheet. Section 8 gives the Foundation its own rule-making power.