Inter-Boards Coordination Commission Act, 2023

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INTER-BOARDS COORDINATION COMMISSION ACT, 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, commencement and application 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Constitution of IBCC and its functions 
4.  IBCC forum 
5.  Appointment, functions and powers of national coordinator 
6.  Meetings of the IBCC forum 
7.  Composition of Board of Governors 
8.  Terms of the members of the Board of Governors 
9.  Meetings of the Board of Governors 
10.  Functions of Board of Governors 
11.  Functions of the division concerned 
12.  Officers and staff of IBCC 
13.  Appointment, functions and powers of executive director of IBCC 
14.  Funds 
15.  Annual audit of accounts 
16.  Provident fund 
17.  Power to make rules 
18.  Power to make regulations 

 
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19.  Removal of difficulties 
20.  Indemnity 
21.  Repeal and saving 
22.  Act to override other laws 
 
 
  
 
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INTER-BOARDS COORDINATION COMMISSION ACT, 2023 
ACT NO. XIII OF 2023 
[13th April, 2023] 
An 
Act 
An Act to re-constitute the Inter-Boards Committee of Chairmen as Inter-Boards  
Coordination Commission 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to re -constitute and re -structure the Inter Boards Committee of 
Chairmen as Inter -Boards Coordiante Commission, and for matters  connected therewith and 
ancillary thereto; 
 It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
 1. Short title, commencement and application.__(l) This Act may be called the Inter-Boards 
Coordination Commission Act, 2023. 
 (2) It shall come into force at once. 
 (3) It shall apply to all boards of intermediate and secondary education and authorized 
examining bodies, wherever they may be operating in the territorial ju risdiction of Pakistan as 
members of the IBCC forum. 
 2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,__ 
(a) “allied organizati ons” means the authorized organizations operating in 
Pakistan dealing with education matters from secondary to higher secondary 
levels in both public and private sectors having membership of IBCC; 
(b) “attestation” means attestation of a certificate or diploma  or other valid 
instrument made by IBCC after having been issued by the member examining 
body or body authorized by the Government; 
(c) “BISE” means boards of intermediate and secondary education; 
(d) “Board of Governors” or “BoG” means Board of Governors of IBCC; 
(e) “Commission” or “IBCC” means Inter -Boards Coordination Commission 
constituted under this Act; 
(f) “director” means director of IBCC; 
(g) “director general” means director general of IBCC; 
(h) “division concerned” means the division to which business of the IBCC stands 
allocated; 
(i) “equivalence” means equivalence of foreign and local qualifications decided 
and authenticated by IBCC; 
 
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(j)  “executive director” or “ED” means the executive director of IBCC, to Serve 
as full time administrative head of IBCC; 
(k)  “forum” means the forum of IBCC comprising all its member boards, bodies 
or organizations, as the case may be; 
(l)  “member” means the member of the BoG or committee or sub -committees or 
forum of IBCC: 
(m) “national coordinator ” means t he chairperson of any BISEs entrusted with 
powers as such to convene and preside over the meeting of the IBCC forum; 
(n) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or regulations made under this Act: 
(o) “regulation” means regulations made under this Act 
(p) “rules” means rules made under this Act; and 
(q) “secretariat” means a full -time office of IBCC established for its secretariat 
services under this Act. 
 3. Constitution of IBCC and its functions. ___(l) The existing Inter -Boards Committee of 
Chairmen is hereby re-constituted and re-structured as the Inter-Boards Coordination Commission to 
act and deal with the issues relating to the standardization of examination, assessment, evaluation 
and allied matters connected there to at secondary and higher seconda ry school levels through 
coordination along-with recognition of local and foreign qualifications. 
 (2) The IBCC shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal with 
powers to hold, purchase, sell or lease property both movable and i mmovable and may sue and be 
sued by its said name. 
 (3) The IBCC shall perform the following function, namely:— 
(a) shall be a forum for the chairmen or chairpersons or chief executives of 
member examination boards and other allied member organizations to 
exchange information, and make recommendations to devise policy for unified 
implementation at the country level on matters relating to the development and 
promotion of the academic evaluation, examination, and assessment; 
(b) authenticate equivalence, atte station and verification of certificates up to 
higher secondary levels and equivalent having been issued from local or 
foreign authorized institutions or examining bodies and shall assess deficient 
subjects, papers and qualifications through evaluation for  issuance of 
equivalency and measurement thereof, as the case may be, up to higher  
secondary level including tests and assessments for admissions, scholarships 
etc.; 
(c) promote curricular and co -curricular activities among member boards or 
organizations in viable ways and means; 
(d) transform the examination system in the country by introducing modern 
assessment and examination techniques and assessment of boards and taking 
 
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steps as appropriate for the improvement of examination or assessment among 
the member boards; 
(e) taking measures for capacity building of the teachers, paper setters, assessors, 
and examination staff for improvement of examination and assessment among 
the member boards; 
(f)  regulate foreign examination boards operating in the country; 
(g) develop and promote national and international linkages with educational and 
examining bodies with respect  to knowledge sharing, educational 
qualifications, personnel exchange, testing, assessment, and equivalence 
matters; 
(h) shall be a forum at the national level to lay down principles of policy for 
professional capacity building through special studies or research to bring 
uniformity in examination and assessment at secondary and higher secondary 
levels throughout the country by adopting ways and me ans of firm 
coordination; and 
(i) perform such other functions,, as may be incidental or conducive to the 
attainment of the above functions or objectives or needed to be performed in 
the public interest or referred by the Federal Government. 
 (4) Head office of IBCC shall be in Islamabad and it may establish its regional offices at such 
places in Pakistan and abroad as it may determine from time to time in accordance with the need in 
the public interest and as per set procedure to be defined and framed through relevant bodies. 
 (5) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force or any 
contract or agreement of service, all the employees of Inter -Boards Committee of Chairmen existing 
immediately before the commencement  of this Act shall stand transferred to the Inter -Boards 
Coordination Commission from the date of commencement of this Act. 
 (6) The legitimate Monetary benefits of employees of IBCC transferred under sub -section (5) 
shall not be less favorable as admissib le to them prior to commencement of this Act and to the 
member BISE of IBCC forum from Provincial or Federal Government. 
 (7) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the 
IBCC shall have academic, financial, and administrative autonomy to proceed further and implement 
the policy of the government through the division concerned in a broader perspective through 
coordination with members BISEs and organizations. 
 4. IBCC forum.—(1) The forum shall comprise the following members, namely:- 
(a) national coordinator; 
(b) executive director; 
(c) Chairpersons of the BISEs; 
(d) Chairpersons of the boards of technical education; 
 
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(e) Chairpersons of the textbook boards; 
(f) heads of curriculum bureaus in Pakistan and administrative units thereof, 
national book foundation (NBF) and national curriculum council (NCC); 
(g) representatives of authorized universities, institutions, and organizations of 
Federal or Provincial Governments nominated by them involved in the 
conduct of examinations and assessments at secondary and higher secondary 
levels; and 
(h) any officer of the division concerned, not below the rank of deputy secretary. 
  (2) The director general shall be the secretary of the IBCC forum. 
 5. Appointment, functions and powers of national coordinator. —(1) The national 
coordinator shall, by notification in the official Gazette, be appointed by the division concerned on a 
rotation basis of respective province or group or board from amongst the chairpersons of BISEs 
having membership of IBCC forum for a period of one year to be nominated by the respective 
government or IBCC forum. 
 (2) Sequence of rotation shall be determined in alphabetical order of the name of province or 
group or board decided by IBCC forum. 
 (3) The national coordinator shall preside over the meetings of the IBCC forum, 
 6. Meetings of the IBCC forum. —(1) The meetings of the forum shall be held periodically 
in the prescribed manner. 
 (2) The meetings of the IBCC forum may be called by th e executi ve director of IBCC in 
consultation with the national coordinator. 
 (3) Quorum for meetings of the IBCC forum shall be one -third of the total members and any 
fraction may be counted as one, 
 (4) In an emergency, the executive director of IBCC may call a meeting of IBCC forum or 
any committee in consultation with the national coordinator. 
 (5) In absence of the national coordinator IBCC forum, the executive director shall decide 
about the convener -ship of IBCC forum under intimation to the national coordinator IBCC forum 
and the division concerned. 
 7. Composition of Board of Governors .—Secretariat of IBCC shall operate through BoG, 
as a controlling body with the following composition, namely:- 
(a) the secretary of the division concerned shall be the  Chairman of BoG and in 
his absence, the executive director shall preside over the meeting of BoG; 
(b) the executive director IBCC shall also be the member of the BoG; 
(c) the provincial or area government education secretary of secondary or higher 
secondary education or his nominee shall be the members of BoG; 
 
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(d) any officer nominated by the division concerned not below the rank of deputy 
secretary; 
(e)  any eminent professor nominated by a public sector university; 
(f) an eminent educationist from the pr ivate or public sector to be nominated by 
the executive director; 
(g) Chairperson Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education shall be 
the member of BoG 
(h)  an eminent educationist closely connected with the examination and 
assessment system to be nominated by the executive director; and 
(i)  the director general shall be the secretary of BoG. 
 8. Terms of the members of the Board of Governors. —(1) The member of BoG shall hold 
office for a term of three years extendable for only such one farther term, except ex-officio members 
of the BoG. 
 (2) A member shall, on the expiry of his term of office, be eligible for re -nomination or re -
appointment subject to assent and on the recommendation of the Chairperson of BOG. 
 9. Meetings of the Board of Governors.—(1) The meetings of the Board of Governors shall 
be held at least once in a year and also as and when required in such manner and at such place and 
time as may be prescribed. 
 (2) No act or proceedings of the Board of Governors shall be invalid merely on the ground of 
the existence of a vacancy in or defect in the constitution of the Board of Governors. 
 (3) Quorum for meetings of the Board of Governors shall be one -third of the total members 
and a fraction may be counted as one as, and when any such situation arises. 
 10. Functions of Board of Governors. —( 1 ) The Board of Governors shall be the apex 
statutory body and shall exercise the following powers and functions, namely:- 
(a) exercise general supervision over affairs of IBCC, including admi nistrative, 
secretarial, financial, accounts, and budgetary matters. Investment of savings 
of IBCC in accordance with the defined policy of the Government and as 
amended from time to time; 
(b) adopt agreed resolutions by the IBCC forum, provided such resol utions shall 
not be contrary to the provisions of this Act and legal instruments of member 
organizations or provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan; 
(c) create, abolish, re -designate, down -grade or upgrade any post along -with 
incumbents in view of the need of IBCC and to approve the appointment and 
promotion of employees from BPS -17 and above as recommended by the 
1BCC secretariat, assure legitimate service interests, career growth protection, 
and pensionary benefits of the employ ees as per their entitlement in 
accordance with Government policy; 
 
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(d) pass or allow internal budget from earned sources of IBCC and ratify 
expenditures incurred with the approval or sanction of executive director 
IBCC or someone authorized on that behalf,  which may be placed before the 
BoG annually; and 
(e) constitute such committees as may be required to address or determine any 
issue relating to administrative or financial and academic matters with 
assigning terms of reference to be carried out. The recommendations of 
administrative or financial issues shal l finally be resolved by BoG and 
academic matters by the IBCC Forum. 
 (2) For the purposes of this Act, the executive director IBCC shall perform his functions as 
principal administrative and accounts officer in such manner as may be prescribed. 
 11. Funct ions of the division concerned. —The division concerned being controlling 
authority shall get executed its policies through the IBCC forum or BoG as within their domain, with 
the following powers, namely: - 
(a) exercise general supervision over the affairs of IBCC and may obtain or ask 
for advice on any issue relating to and covered in the mandate of IBCC or its 
secretariat, BoG, or forum, as the case may be; 
(b) examine the budget proposal for the grant of appropriate allocation to IBCC, 
ensure maintenance of financial discipline, and audit of accounts of IBCC as 
per normal procedures of the Federal Government through the Auditor 
General of Pakistan. 
 12. Officers and staf f of I BCC.— (1) The IBCC shall consist of the executive director, 
director general, dir ectors, and such other officers and staff as may be needed and prescribed from 
time to time to run the mandated activities of the MCC. 
 (2) The IBCC shall appoint such officers and staff on such terms and conditions and in such 
manner as may be prescribed. 
 (3) The serving officers and staff of Inter Boards Committee of Chairmen, existing as on the 
day of commencement of this Act, shall stand continued, protected, and regularized under this Act in 
the Inter-Boards Coordination Commission on their occupying positions. 
 13. Appointment, functions and powers of executive director of IBCC. __ (1) The 
executive director shall be appointed by the division concerned on set criteria or the terms and 
conditions as may be prescribed: 
 Provided that the existing incumbent chief executive of Inter Boards Committee of Chairmen 
shall be the first executive director of newly re constituted IBCC for a term of three years on his 
terms and conditions existing before commencement of this Act or appointment by transfer 
whichever deems appropriate to the concerned Minister 1n-charge. 
 (2) The executive director shall hold office for a term of three years and shall be eligible for 
re-appointment for a second term not exceeding three years: 
 Provided that notwithstanding the e xpiry of the terms of his office, he shall continue to hold 
office until his/her successor is appointed and enters upon his office. 
 
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 (3) If at any time the office of executive director is vacant, or he/she is unable to perform 
his/her functions, temporarily or otherwise by reason of leave, illness, or other cause for a period not 
exceeding one year, the concerned division shall make such arrangements for carrying on the duties 
of executive director as it may think fit. 
 (4) The executive director shall be t he chief executive officer of the IBCC who shall ensure 
the observance of provisions of this Act and the rules, regulations, and policy made there under. 
 (5) If an emergency arises out of the administrative business of BoG which, in the opinion of 
the executive director, requires that immediate action should be taken; the Executive Director may 
take such action as he deems necessary and shall report the action taken to the concerned division 
and to the BoG at its next meeting for approval. 
 (6) The Executive Director shall exercise such other powers as may be prescribed. 
 14. Funds. —The IBCC shall operate accounts with any scheduled or Government owned 
bank to deposit its all kinds of receipts earned from the resources of IBCC to be maintained in 
accordance with the prescribed procedure and format. The annual budget from earned resources of 
IBCC shall be passed or- appropriated or reappropriated from the finance and planning committee to 
be constituted by the BoG of IBCC. The financial provisions and discipl ine of IBCC shall be 
supervised by the finance and planning committee, which shall seek grant in -aid and other 
allocations from the Government through the division concerned as per the prescribed procedure. 
 15. Annual audit of accounts .—(1) The accounts of IBCC, shall be audited through the 
Auditor General of Pakistan in accordance with the applicable prescribed procedure, fir which, all 
statements of expenditure, relevant registers and records shall he maintained in such form and 
manners as prescribed or may be prescribed. 
 (2) The IBCC shall, at the time of the audit, produce all accounts, re gisters, documents, and 
other papers. which may be required by the auditors to assist in the scrutiny of accounts: 
 Provided that if the division concerned or BoG certifies that a particular document is secret, 
the auditor shall accept in lieu of such documents statement in respect thereof, duly certified by the 
authorized officer of the department: 
 Provided further that if such a document is confi dential, the auditor shall be responsible for 
preventing disclosure of its contents. 
 16. Provident fund. —(1) The IBCC may create a provident fund for the benefit of its 
existing employees, in accordance with the provisions of the Provident Funds Act, 1925  (XIX of 
1926). 
 (2) The salary or their remunerations and pension of the new incumbent employees of IBCC 
shall be determined by the BoG on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed. 
 17. Power to make rules.—The Board may, with the approval of the di vision concerned and 
by notification in the official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act, 
 18. Power to make regulations.— (1) The IBCC may, by notification in the official Gazette, 
make regulations not inconsistent with the provision s of this Act and rules made thereunder to carry 
out purposes in respect of its internal matters under this Act. 
 
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 19. Removal of difficulties.___ If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions 
of this Act, the Federal Government may, within one year of the commencement of this Act, make 
such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,  as may appear to it to be necessar y or 
expedient for the purpose of removing such difficulty. 
 20. Indemnity. No suit, prosecution, or oth er legal proceedin gs shall lie against any person 
for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or any rule or regulation made 
thereunder. 
 21. Repeal end saving. ___(l) The erstwhile ministry of education 's Resolution No.F.l0 -ll/86-
CF.I. dated the 30th day of June . I987, hereinafter cal led as the repealed Resolution , is hereby 
repealed. 
 (2) Notwithstanding the repeal under sub-section (l).  
(a)  everything done, actions taken, obligations or liabilities inc urred, rights and 
assets acquired, persons appointed or authorized, jurisdiction or power 
conferred, endowments, bequests, funds or trusts created, donat ions or grants 
made, or exhibitions instituted and orders issued under any of the provisions 
of the repealed Resolution or the regulations and the rules made or deemed to 
have been made there-under, shall, If not inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act, or the regulations or the rules made under this Act, be continued and, 
shall be deemed to have been respectively done, taken, incurred, acquired, 
appointed, authorized conferred, created, made. Instituted,  granted and issued 
under this Act and shall have effect accordingly; and 
(b)  any regulations or rules made or deemed lo have been made under the 
repealed Resolution shall, if not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act be 
deemed to be regulations or rules made under this Act having regard to the 
various matters which by this Act have to be regulated or prescribed by 
regulations and rules respectively and shall continue to be in force until they 
are repealed, rescinded or modified in accord ance with the provisions of this 
Act. 
 22. Act to override other laws. The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding 
anything to the contrary contained in an y other law for the time being in force and any such law 
shall, to the extent of inconsistency, cease to have any effect on the commencement of this Act.