Pakistan Tobacco Board Ordinance, 1968

This 1968 Ordinance establishes the Pakistan Tobacco Board to regulate and promote the cultivation, manufacture and export of tobacco and tobacco products. Section 3 constitutes the Board as a body corporate made up of representatives elected by cigarette manufacturers, tobacco growers nominated by provincial governments, chambers of commerce, and Federal Government nominees, with the Chairman appointed by the Federal Government from among its own nominees. Section 4 sets member terms at two years, renewable, and provides for a seat to become vacant if a member misses three consecutive meetings without leave.

Section 6 lists the Board's core functions: regulating and promoting tobacco exports and setting grading standards, supporting research and training in tobacco cultivation and testing, helping develop new growing areas and model farms, and collecting industry statistics. Section 7 places the Board under the superintendence and control of the Federal Government, which can inspect its records and cancel, suspend or modify any of its acts.

Section 8 lets the Federal Government fix minimum and maximum prices for tobacco (which may vary by area), and makes it an offence to buy or sell outside that price band. Section 9 authorises a cess (levy) on tobacco produced in Pakistan of up to three per cent ad valorem, used to fund the Board's operations including a provident fund for its employees. Sections 17 through 20 give the government control over export allotments, licensing of tobacco exports, registration of export sale contracts, and power to prohibit transport, storage or sale of tobacco in specified circumstances; Section 20A lets the government direct manufacturers or dealers to purchase set quantities of tobacco to relieve grower distress or stabilise the market.

Section 24 sets out penalties: contravening the export-control provisions (Section 18) is punishable as a Customs Act offence, while other contraventions of the Ordinance or orders made under it carry imprisonment for up to three years, or a fine, or both, with company directors and officers personally liable if a company commits an offence. The extract shows this Ordinance has been amended repeatedly since 1968 (through 1971, 1973, 1975, 1979 and 1982 amending laws), so current membership composition, cess rates and specific figures should be checked against the latest official text.