Pakistan Banking (Prevention of Default and Evasion of labilities) Ordinance, 1947

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THE PAKISTAN BANKING (PREVENTION OF DEFAULT AND 
EVASION OF LIABILITIES) ORDINANCE, 1947 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  No Bank to Stop payment of cheques or delivery of deposits under instructions from any 
Government authority outside Pakistan 
4.  Procedure for demanding explanation and search 
5.  Order to prohibit removal of assets outside Pakistan 
6.  Seizure of assets 
7.  Service of orders under Section 4, 5 or 6 
8.  Penalties 
9.  Withdrawal or amendment of orders under Sections 5 or 6 
10.  Bar of legal proceedings  
11.  Powers to make rules 
 
 
  

 
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THE PAKISTAN BANKING (PREVENTION OF DEFAULT AND EVASION 
OF LIABILITIES) ORDINANCE, 1947 
1ORDINANCE NO. V OF 1947 
[15th December, 1947]  
AN 
ORDINANCE 
to provide for prevention of loss to people in Pakistan from the withholding of payments of cheques 
and delivery of things held in safe custody by banks acting under directions issued by a Government 
or authority outside Pakistan. 
 WHEREAS an emergency has arisen which requires measures to be taken to prevent banking 
concerns in Pakistan from making default in meeting their commitments and liabilities under external 
pressure. 
 Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Government of 
India Act, 1935, as adapted by the Pakistan ( Provisional Constitution) Order  1947, the Governor -
General of Pakistan is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:___  
 1. Short title, extent and commencement. ___(1) This Ordinance may be called the Pakistan 
Banking (Prevention of Default and Evasion of Liabilities) Ordinance, 1947.  
 2[(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.]  
 (3) It shall come into force at once.  
 2. Definitions. In this Ordinance___ 
(a)  “Bank” means 3[the Imperial Bank of India and] any banking company as 
defined in section 277F of the Indian Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913) and 
includes any branch of a bank.  
(b)  “Manager” includes the term Agent or Sub-Agent and any other officer having 
charge of any branch or agency of any bank in Pakistan.  
(c) 4[Federal Government] means the Government of Pakistan.  
 
 
1The Ordinance has been applied to Baluchistan with effect from the 15th day of December, 1947, see Gaz. of P., 1952, Pt. I, p.154; and extended to the 
Leased Areas of Baluchistan, by the Leased Areas (Laws) Order, 1950 (G. G. O. 3 of 1950).  
It has been applied also in the Federated Areas of Baluchistan, see Gaz. of P., 1953, Pt. 1, p. 152.  
It has also been extended to__  
(i) the State of Bahawalpur, see the Bahawalpur (Extension of Laws) (Second) Order, 1952 (G. G. O. 5 of 1952) ;  
(ii) the Baluchistan States Union, by the Baluchistan States Union (Federal Laws) (Extension) Order, 1953 (G. G. O. 4 of 1953); and  
(iii) the Khairpur State, see the Khairpur (Federal Laws) (Extension) Order, 1953 (G. G. O. 5 of 1953).  
The Ordinance has been and shall be deemed to have been brought into force in Gwadur with effect from the 8th September, 1958 , by the Gwadur 
(Application of Central Laws) Ordinance, 1960 (37 of 1960), s. 2.  
2Subs. by the Central Laws (Statute Reform) Ordinance, 1960 (21 of 1960), s. 3 and 2nd Sch., (with effect from the 14th October, 1955).  
3Ins. by the Pakistan Banking (Prevention of Default and Evasion of Liabilities) (Amdt.), Ordinance, 1947 (6 of 1947), s. 2.  
4Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table.  
 
 
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 3. No Bank to Stop payment of cheques or delivery of deposits under in structions from 
any Government a uthority outside Pakistan. No Bank operating in Pak istan shall act on the 
instructions of a Government or authority other than the Government of Pakistan issued to it direct or 
through its Head Office outside Pakistan, in regard to stopping of payment of cheques, delivery of 
securities or things held in safe custody, or in regard to any other banking business in Pakistan, without 
obtaining the prior approval in writing of an officer appointed by the 1[Federal Government] in this 
behalf.  
 4. Procedure for demanding explanations and search.___(1) On receiving a complaint that a 
Bank is wrongfully withholding the payment of a cheque or the delivery of anything held in deposit or 
safe custody, the 1[Federal Government] may by order require the Bank to explain the grounds on 
which it has withheld or delayed payment of the cheque or delivery of the thing held in deposit or safe 
custody and to furnish by a date to be specified a true statement of all the assets at the credit of or held 
in safe custody on behalf of the person concerned.  
 (2) If the B ank refuses or fails to comply with an order made  under sub-section (1) of this 
Section by the date specified or if the 1[Federal Government] is not satisfied with the correctness or 
completeness of the statement submitted thereunder, the 1[Federal Government] may authorise any 
officer of the 1[Federal Government] or of a Provincial Government to inspect the books, accounts and 
other documents of the Bank and to conduct a search of its vaults, coffers and premises which the 
officer may consider necessary to  inspect or search in order to obtain the information required or to 
verify the statement furnished.  
 (3) An officer authorised  in this behalf may enter any premises at any time and if necessary 
break open any door or lock for the purpose of carrying out the order made under this section.  
 5. Order to prohibit removal of assets outside Pakistan. While ordering a Bank to furnish a 
statement under Section 4, the 1[Federal Government] may order the Bank not to remove out of 2* * * 
Pakistan any thing held in safe custody on behalf of the person referred to in sub-section (1) of section 
4 or any documents related thereto.  
 6. Seizure of assets.___(1) If the 1[Federal Government] after considering such explanation as 
the Bank concerned may have given, the information secured by any action taken und er sub-sections 
(2) and (3) of Section 4 and such further enquiry as it may deem necessary , is satisfied that the Bank 
has wrongfully withheld payment of a cheque wholly or partially or the delivery of anything held in 
deposit or safe custody, the 1[Federal Government] may order the Bank to make payment of the cheque 
to such extent as in the opinion of the 1[Federal Government] payment has been wrongfully withheld, 
or make delivery of the thing held in deposit or safe custody as the case may be, by a specified date to 
the person named in the order. 
 (2) If the Bank fails to comply with the order  made under sub -section (1) the 1[Federal 
Government] may as the case may be order___  
(a)  the seizing of the thing held in safe custody and its transfer to the person named 
in the order,  
 
   
1Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table.  
2Omitted by A.O., 1961, Art. 2 and Sch., (with effect from the 23rd March, 1956.  
 
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(b)  the seizing of assets of the Bank sufficient to cover the amount of the Bank’s 
liability as determined under sub -section (1) and the transfer to the person 
named in the order under sub-section (1) of such part of these assets or so much 
of their value on realization as will discharge the Bank’s liability to him.  
 (3) If after discharging the liability of the Bank referred to in sub -section (2) above there is a 
surplus it shall be re turned to the Bank after deducting such incidental expenses as may have been 
incurred by the 2[Federal Government].  
 7. Service of Orders under Section 4, 5 or 6. An order under Sections 4, 5 or 6 may be served 
on the Manager by delivery at the office of the Bank. If service of the order is refused or any attempt 
is made to avoid it, the order may be affixed on the premises of the Bank in the presence of two 
witnesses and the order shall then be deemed to have been duly served.  
 8. Penalties. If the Manager of a Bank:  
(a)  fails to comply with an order to furnish a statement un der Section 4 or if he 
furnishes a statement which he knows to be false in any material particular; or  
(b)  refuses to allow, or fails to afford, reasonable facilities to an Officer authorised 
under Section 4; or  
(c)  having been served with or having knowledge or information of an order under 
Section 5 conceals, removes or allows to be removed out of 1* * * Pakistan in 
contravention of that order anything held in deposit or safe custody; or  
(d)  fails to make payment or effect delivery by the specified date in compliance 
with an order issued under Section 6 ; 
  he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.  
 9. Withdrawal or amendment of orders unde r Sections 5 and 6. On sufficient cause being 
shown the 2[Federal Government] may withdraw or amend all or any of the orders made under Sections 
5 and 6 of this Ordinance.  
 10. Bar of legal proceedings. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
any person or against the 2[Federal Government] for anything done or in good faith intended to be done 
under this Ordinance.  
 11. Powers to  make rules. The 2[Federal Government] may make rules for the purpose of 
giving effect to this Ordinance.  
 
 
____________ 
 
RGN Date: 03-07-2024 
1Omitted by A.O., 1961, Art. 2 and Sch., (with effect from the 23rd March, 1956).  
2Subs. by F.A.O., 1975, Art. 2 and Table.