Export Development Fund Act, 1999

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THE EXPORT DEVELOPMENT FUND ACT, 1999 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
 
2. Definitions 
 
3. Establishment of Export Development Fund 
 
4. Administration of Export Development Fund 
 
5. Board of Administrators of Export Development Fund 
 
6. Omitted 
 
7. Powers of the Board 
 
8. Meetings 
 
9. Omitted 
 
10. Omitted 
 
11. Omitted 
 
12. Omitted 
 
13. Employment of officers and servants 
 
14. Recruitment and terms and conditions of service and disciplinary powers 
 
15. Financial powers 
 
16.  
 
17. Maintenance of accounts 
 
18. Audit 
 

 
 
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19. Annual statement of accounts 
 
20. Submission of annual reports 
 
21. Officers and servants, etc. to be public servants 
 
22. Delegation 
 
23. Power to make rules 
 
24. Power to make regulations 
 
25. Repeal 
 
26. Savings 
 
 
 
 
 
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THE EXPORT DEVELOPMENT FUND ACT, 1999 
 
Act No. VI OF 1999 
[28th July, 1999] 
An Act to provide for the establishment of export development fund 
WHEREAS, it is expedient to establish an export development fund to strengthen and 
develop infrastructure for promotion of exports and to provide for matters connected therewith or 
incidental thereto; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Export 
Development Fund Act, 1999. 
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,- 
(a)  “Board” means the Board of Administrators constituted under section 5; 
(b)  “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board; 
(c)  1[* * * * * * *] 
(d)  “Fund” means the Export Development Fund established under section 3; 
(e)  “member” means a member, permanent or co-opted, of the Board; 
(f)  “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 1[and] 
(g)  “Secretary” means Secretary of the Board 1[.] 
(h)  1[* * * * * * *] 
 
1Omitted, subs. and ins. by Act No. XI of 2026, s. 2. 
 
 
 
 
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CHAPTER II 
ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPORT DEVELOPMENT FUND 
1[3. Establishment of Export Development Fund .—(1) The Federal Government shall 
establish a Fund to be known as the Export Development Fund. 
(2) The Fund shall consist of.– 
(i) the whole receipts of Export Development Surcharge; 
(ii) donations and endowments; 
(iii) grants made by the Federal Government; and 
(iv) any income accruing to the Fund from its investments and property. 
(3) Each year, the Principa l Accounting Officer (PAO) with the approval of the Board, shall 
prepare annual estimates of receipts into and plan -based payments out of the Fund and shall submit 
the same to the Finance Division, by end of April, for inclusion in the Annual Budget Statement.  
(4) The Fund shall be non -lapsable and shall be maintained in the Public Account of the 
Federation, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 2019, and the 
Rules, Regulations and Procedures made thereunder.] 
4. Administration of Export Development Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the 
Board and the money in the Fund shall be utilized for the following purposes, namely:— 
(i)  establishment of training institutes for export oriented trading and industrial 
sectors; 
(ii)  subsidizing of delegations and sale missions going abroad; 
(iii)  establishment of offices abroad of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of 
Commerce and Industry and Exporters Association; 
(iv)  subsidizing participation in exhibitions abroad including single country fairs; 
(v)  publicity; 
(vi)  research and Development activities of Exporters Association, Federation of 
Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry; 
(vii)  market and product Development by trade associations, Federation of Pakistan 
Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chambers of Commerce and Industry 
and individual exporters; 
 
1Subs. by the Finance Act, 2022 (XIII of 2022) s.3A. 
 
 
 
 
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(viii)  engagement of consultants; 
 
(ix)  strengthening of Pakistan Trade Offices abroad; 
 
(x)  establishment and maintenance of display centers in and outside Pakistan; 
 
(xi)  support to export services; and 
 
(xii)  any other activity which is relevant for promotion of exports and approved by 
the Board. 
CHAPTER III 
CONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATORS 
1[5. Board of Administrators of Export Development Fund. —(1) There shall be a Board 
of Administrators, to be appointed by the Federal Government. consisting of the following members, 
namely:— 
(a) top four exporters based on previous three years data Member 
(b) one top non -textile and apparel exporter based on 
previous three-year data 
Member 
(c) one each from the Agriculture, IT, and industry 
sectors to be nominated by the Division to which 
business of this Act stands allocated 
Members 
(d) Chairperson of Pakistan Business Council Member 
(e) President of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of 
Commerce and Industry 
Member 
(f) Secretary of the Division to which the business of 
Finance is allocated or his representative not below 
BPS-21 
Member 
(g) Secretary of the Di vision to which the business of 
Commerce is allocated or his representative not 
below BS-21 
Member 
(h) Secretary of the Division to which the business of 
National Food Security & Research is allocated or 
his representative not below BS-21 
Member 
(i) Secretary of the Division concerned to which the 
business of Industries and Production is allocated or 
his representative not below BS-21 
Member 
(j) Chief Executive, Trade Development Authority of 
Pakistan 
Member 
(k) Executive Director, Export Development Fund Member 
   
1Subs. by Act No. XI of 2026, s. 3. 
 
 
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Provide that in case any of the exporter(s) under clause (a) and (b) of this sub-section opts not 
to accept the membership of the Board of Administrators, the next top exporter(s) from the same 
categories specified in said clauses shall be offered the membership of the Board: 
Provided further that one of the three members nominated under clause (c) shall be from the 
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME): 
Provided also that exporters nominated under clause (c) shall not be amongst the sectors 
represented in paragraphs (a) and (b). 
(2) The Chairman of the Board shall be appointed by the Federal Government from amongst 
the private members. 
(3) The Secretary to the Board shall be appointed by the Board from amongst its’ members.  
(4) The Federal Government may appoint additional members as and when considered 
necessary provided that the majority of the Board members shall be from private sector. 
(5) Meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairman and, in  his absence, by a 
private member elected by the Board.] 
6. 1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
CHAPTER IV 
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE BOARD 
7. Powers of the Board. The board shall have powers to— 
(a)  frame rules for the administration of the Fund; 
(b)  administer all matters of the Fund in accordance with the rules; 
(c)  approve annual budgets of the Fund’s operations and make such re-
appropriation therein as may be necessary; 
(d)  incur expenditure within the sanctioned budget; 
(e)  delegate to the Chairman such powers as may be necessary; 
(f)  appoint committees and delegate to the committees such powers as may be 
necessary; 1[*] 
(g)  accept donations and endowments provided that these are consistent with 
objectives of the Fund and rules made under this Act 1[;] 
1[(h)  review the viability and feasibility of existing portfolio of projects and decide as 
to whether they shall continue or be discontinued; and 
1Omitted, subs. and added by Act No. XI of 2026, ss. 4 and 5. 
 
 
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(i)  review the performance of already executed projects under the EDF, oversee 
and steer the capacity building and reform process of EDF governance 
structure and associated institutional arrangements.] 
8. Meetings.— (1) Every meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairman. 1[*  * 
* * * * *] 
(2) Four members of the Board shall constitute quorum for a meeting of the Board. 
(3) The date, time and place of the meeting shall be notified not less than a week in advance 
and in case of emergent nature meeting, the meeting may be held on short notice. 
(4) At least two meetings of the Board shall be held every year commencing on the 1st day of 
July and terminating on the 30th day of June. 
(5) All disputed questions at any meeting of the Board shall be decided by a majority of the 
members present at the meeting and the Chairman shall have a casting vote. 
(6) Any business, which may be necessary for the Board to transact urgently, may be carried 
out by circulation among all its members and any proposal so circulated and approved by the 
majority of the members shall require the approval of the Chairman. 
(7) The Secretary shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of Board. 
9. 1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
 
10. 1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
 
11. 1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
 
12.  1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *] 
13. Employment of officers and servants. The Board may employ such officers and 
servants or appoint such experts, consultants or advisers, from time to time, as it may consider 
necessary for the performance of its functions on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit. 
14. Recruitment and terms and conditions of service and disciplinary powers. The Board 
shall prescribe the procedure for appointment and conditions of service for its officers and servants 
including disciplinary action and penalties. 
 
15. Financial powers.—(1) The powers to incur expenditure shall be as follows:— 
 
(i)  The Board    ............   Full powers 
(ii)  1[*  *  *  *  *  *  *]  
(2) Expenditure from the Fund shall be made according to the merits and feasibility o f 
projects sponsored and export promotion needs of the exporters, trade promotion offices and trade 
bodies. 
1Omitted by Act No. XI of 2026, ss. 6, 7 and 8.     
 
 
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16.  The budget shall be prepared and submitted to the Board on the specified dates by the 
Secretary on financial year basis. 
CHAPTER V 
 
ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT 
17. Maintenance of accounts.⸻ The Federal Government may, with the approval of the 
Auditor General of Pakistan and the Ministry of Finance, make financial rules and procedures for 
maintenance of accounts. 
18. Audit.—(1) The accounts of the Fund shall be audited every year by the Auditor General 
of Pakistan. 
(2) A copy of the Audit Report shall be sent to the Secretariat of the Board for comments and 
remedial action. 
1[19. Statements of Account.⸻ With the approval of the Board, the Principal Accounting 
Officer shall submit quarterly and annual statements of actual receipt and expenditure to the relevant 
Accounting Office or Federal Treasury Office, and the Finance Division.] 
20. Submission of annual reports.—(1) As soon as possible, an annual report on the 
conduct of its affairs shall be submitted by the Board to the Federal Government after the end of the 
every financial year but before the last day of December next following during the year. 
 (2) A copy of the report referred to in sub-section (1) together with a copy of the audit report 
referred to in section 18 shall be placed by the Federal Government before the National Assembly. 
(3) The Federal Government may call upon the Board to supply any information pertaining to 
its responsibilities under this Act and the Board shall comply with such requirements without 
unnecessary delay. 
CHAPTER VI 
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Officers and servants, etc to be public servants.—(1) The Chairman, members, officers 
and servants of the Board and Committee shall, when acting or purporting to act, in pursuance of any 
of the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the 
Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860). 
22. Delegation.⸻ The Board may, by general or special order, delegate to the Chairman, 
member or an officer of the Board any of its powers, duties or functions under this Act subject to 
such conditions as it may think fit to approve. 
 
 
 
1Subs. by the Finance Act, 2022 (XIII of 2022) s. 3A. 
 
 
 
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23. Power to make rules.⸻ The Federal Government may make rules for carrying out the 
purposes of this Act. 
 
24. Power to make regulations.⸻ The Board may, with the approval of the Federal 
Government, make regulations not in consistent with the rules, for conduct of its business and its 
meetings. 
 
25. Repeal.⸻ The Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce, Resolution S.R.O. No. 
843(I)/92, dated the 1st September, 1992, is hereby repealed. 
26. Savings. Upon the commencement of this Act.—(a) all funds, properties, rights and 
interests of whatsoever kind issued, used, enjoyed, possessed, owned or vested in the Board set up 
under Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce Resolution No. 843 ( I)/92, dated the 1st 
September, 1992, and all liabilities legally subsisting against the said Board shall stand transferred to 
the Board established under this Act; and 
(b) everything done, action taken, obligations or liabilities incurred, rights and assets 
acquired, persons appointed or authorized, powers conferred, funds or trusts created, donations or 
grants made, orders issued and rules or regulations made by the Board established under the 
Resolutions referred to in clause (a) shall be deemed to have been respectively done, taken, incurred, 
acquired, appointed, authorised, conferred, created, made or issued under this Act. 
_____________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RGN Date: 04-02-2026