Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Ordinance, 1982

This Ordinance created the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), the body that regulates and runs civil aviation infrastructure in Pakistan. Section 3 establishes the Authority as a body corporate, and Section 5 gives it broad responsibility for regulating civil aviation activities and preparing five-year plans for airports, air traffic services, navigation aids, communications, and search-and-rescue and crash/fire/rescue services. Section 6 gives the Authority control over civil airports and aerodromes, air routes (in consultation with the Federal Government), airspace management, and revenue collection at airports — but Section 6(3) specifically excludes airports and facilities used exclusively by the Defence Services.

Section 7 sets out the Authority's governing Board, chaired by the Secretary of the relevant Federal Division and including the Vice-Chief of Air Staff, the Managing Director of PIA, and other senior officials, while Section 8 creates a smaller Executive Committee headed by the Director-General to handle day-to-day and emergency decisions. Section 9 makes the Director-General the executive head, appointed by the Federal Government. Section 11 transferred all the assets, land, buildings, and liabilities of the former Department of Civil Aviation to the new Authority, and Section 14 transferred its civil servants across, protecting their existing pay and allowances.

Section 16 establishes the Civil Aviation Authority Fund, financed by federal grants, loans, bond proceeds, and fees, and Section 16(3) authorises the Authority to levy air route navigation charges, passenger embarkation charges, licence fees, and landing and housing charges. Sections 17-18 require the Authority's accounts to be audited annually by the Auditor-General, with the report placed before the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee. Section 21 requires the Authority to submit a yearly report on its affairs.

Section 22 exempted the Authority from income, wealth, and gift tax for five years from its establishment (a temporary provision now long expired), and Section 23 excludes it from the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969. Section 24 grants indemnity for acts done in good faith, and Section 28 provides that the Authority can only be wound up by order of the Federal Government, not under ordinary company-winding-up law.

This is a 1982 Presidential Ordinance that has been amended multiple times since (changes are recorded from 1983, 1984, and 1999), so readers should check the current text for details like Board composition or specific fund provisions, which have been revised over the years.