Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council Act, 1996

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The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council Act 1996. 
 
 
 
 
    CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definition 
3. Composition and incorporation of the Council 
4. Terms of office of member of Council 
5. President and Vice President 
6. Executive Committee 
7. Officers and Servants of the Council 
8. Terms and conditions of the officers, etc. of the Council 
9. Recognition of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry qualifications granted by Veterinary 
Institutions in Pakistan 
 
10. Non Pakistan veterinary qualifications in Second Schedule to be recognized 
11. Arrangement for modifying the Second Schedule 
12. Power of the Council to certify certain persons to be possessed to sufficient qualifications 
13. Power to required information as to courses of study and examination 
14. Inspection of examination 
15. Withdrawal of recognition 
16. Maintenance of register 
17. Register to be public document 
18. Penalty for fraudulent representation or registration 
19. Privileges of registered members 
20. Responsibility of a registered person 
21. Prohibition against use of unregistered veterinary qualification 
22. Removal of names from the register 
 

 
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23. Power to make regulations 
24. Information to be furnished by the Council and publication thereof 
25. Commission of inquiry 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council Act 1996. 
ACT No. III OF 1996 
An act to constitute the Veterinary Medical Council in Pakistan. 
Whereas it is expedient to regulate the registration, practice and conduct of the veterans to 
establish uniform standards of basic and higher qualifications in veterinary medicine and surgery and 
to constitute a Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council: 
It is hereby enacted as follow:— 
1. Short tit le, extent and commencement :—(1) This Act may be called the Pakistan 
Veterinary Medical Council Act 1996. 
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definition:— In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context.— 
(a) “Council” means the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council constituted under 
this Act; 
(b) “Member” means a member of the Council; 
(c) “Register” means the register of veterinary practitioners maintained under 
section 16; 
(d) “Regulation” means regulations made under section 23; 
(e) “Prescribed” means prescribed by regulations; 
(f) “Veterinary Medicine” means modern scientific medicine and includes surgery 
and obstetrics, as applicable to animals but does not include human medicine 
and surgery; and 
(g) “Veterinary” means animal health and production. 
3. Composition and incorporation of the Council: —(1) There shall be constituted in 
accordance with the provision of this Act a Council to be known as the Pakistan Veterinary Medical 
Council. 
(2) The Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal 
with powers to acquire, hold and dispose of property and enter into contract and shall be its name sue 
or be used. 
(3) The Council shall consist of:— 
(a) one member from each Province to be nominated by the Provincial 
Government; 
(b) one member each to be nominated by the Vice Chancellor of each University 
from among the members of the Veterinary and the Animal Husbandry Faculty 
of the University; 
 
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(c) four members to be elected from among themselves by the Central Executive 
Committee of Pakistan  Veterinary Medical Association, a society registered 
under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (XXI of 1860); 
(d) four members to be nominated by the Federal Government of whom at least one 
shall be member of the Remount Veterinary and Farms Corps; 
(e) one member each to be nominated by the Head of each Veterinary Institution in 
Pakistan which trains for a recognized veterinary qualification form among its 
teaching staff; and 
(f) Animal Husbandry commissioner, Livestock Division, Government of 
Pakistan. 
(4) No person shall be qualified to be elected or nominated as a member of the Council 
unless:— 
(i) he is registered with the council; and 
(ii) he possesses a recognized veterinary qualification obtained not less than five 
years before his election or nomination: 
Provided that qualification at (i) above shall not apply to a person to be elected or nominated 
for the first Council, but such person shall get himself registered with the Council within six months 
of its constitution. 
(5) The headquarters of the council shall be at such place as the Council may determine. 
4. Terms of office of member of Council :—(1) A member shall hold office for a term of 
four years, but shall be eligible to be re-elected or re-nominated. 
(2) When the term of office of a member is about to expire, his successor shall be elected for 
nominated, as the case may be, any time within three months before the term expires, but he shall 
assume office only after expiry of the term of incumbent. 
(3) A member may, at any time, resign his office by te ndering his registration in writing to 
the President of the council. 
(4) A casual vacancy in the office of member shall be filled in through election or nomination, 
as the case may be, within three months of the occurrence of the vacancy. 
(5) A member elected or nominated to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office the full term of 
four years. 
(6) A member shall cease to hold office, and his office shall be declared vacant, if he fails to 
attend three consecutive meetings of the Council. 
5. President and Vic e President: —(1) The Council shall have a President and a Vice 
President to be elected by the members from among themselves. 
 (2) The President and Vice President shall hold office for a term of four years. 
 
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6. Executive Committee:—(1) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Council which 
shall consist of the President, the Vice -President and five members to be elected by the council from 
among its members. 
(2) In addition to the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon it by this Act,  the 
Executive Committee shall exercise such powers and discharge such duties as may be prescribed. 
(3) In addition to the Executive Committee, the Council may constitute such other committees 
for general or special purposes as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
7. Officers and Servants of the Council:—(1) The Council may appoint such officers and 
servants, as it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of the Act. 
(2) All persons appointed or employed by the Council shall be deemed  to be public servants 
within the meaning of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code (XLV of 1860). 
8. Terms and conditions of the officers, etc. of the Council :—The Council may with the 
previous sanction of the Federal Government fix the remuneration and al lowances to be paid to the 
President, the Vice President, members and officers and servants of the Council. 
9. Recognition of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry qualifications granted by 
Veterinary Institutions in Pakistan :—(1) The qualifications granted by V eterinary Institutions in 
Pakistan which are included in the first Schedule shall be recognized Veterinary and Animal 
Husbandry qualifications for the purpose of this Act. 
(2) Any veterinary institution in Pakistan which grants a veterinary qualification not included 
in the First Schedule may apply to the Federal Government to have such qualification recognized, and 
the Federal Government after consulting the Council by notification in the official Gazette amend the 
First Schedule so as to include such qualification therein. 
(3) The notification referred to in sub-section (2) may also direct that an entry shall be made 
in the last column of the First Schedule against the veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be a 
recognized qualification only when granted after a specified date. 
10. Non Pakistan veterinary qualifications in Second Schedule to be recognized :—The 
veterinary qualification granted by veterinary institutions outside Pakistan which are included in the 
Second Schedule shall be recognized veterinary qualifications for the proposes of this Act. 
11. Arrangement for modifying the Second Schedule :—(1) At any time the Council may 
enter into negotiations with the appropriate authority in any State or Country outside Pakistan for the 
settling of a scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of veterinary qualifications and in pursuance of 
any such scheme, the Fed eral Government may by notification in official Gazette amend the Second 
Schedule so as to include therein any veterinary qualification which the Council has decided to 
recognize. 
(2) The notification referred to in sub-section (1) may also direct that an entry shall be made 
in the last column of the Second Schedule against the veterinary qualification declaring that it shall be 
recognized qualification only when granted after a specified date. 
(3) The Federal Government, after consultation with the Council , may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule by directing that  an entry be made therein in respect of 
 
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any veterinary qualification, declaring that  it shall be a recognized qualification only when granted 
before a specified date. 
(4) Where the Council has refused to recognize any veterinary qualification which h as been 
proposed for recognition by any such authority that authority may apply to the Federal Government, 
and the Federal Government after considering such application and the Council’s reason for such 
refusal may, by notification in the official Gazette amend the Second Schedule so as to module such 
qualification therein and the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to such notification. 
(5) The Federal Government , after consulting the Council, may, if it thinks fit direct that a 
veterinary qualification granted by an institution in a State or Country outside Pakistan shall be a 
recognized qualification for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the 
direction, as it were mentio ned, in the Second Schedule not withstanding that a reciprocal scheme of 
recognition has not been entered into between the Council and the appropriate authority in that State 
or Country as in referred to in sub-section (1). 
12. Power of the Council to certify certain persons to be possessed to sufficien t 
qualifications:—If the Council is satisfied that a person is, by reason of qualification granted by a 
veterinary institution outside Pakistan, not included in the Second Schedule, and of experience gained 
in any part of Pakistan, possessed of qualifications which entitle him to be recognized as possessed of 
sufficient veterinary qualification for the purposes of this Act, it may, with the approval of the Federal 
Government certify that the person is possessed of such qualification; and, on such certification by the 
Council, the person shall be deemed to be possessed of recognized qualification for such period and 
subject to such condition as may be specified by the Council in this behalf. 
13. Power to require  information as to courses of study and examination :—Every 
veterinary institution in Pakistan which train for, or grants, or both trains for and grants a recognized 
veterinary qualification shall furnished such information as the Council may, for time to time, require 
as to:— 
(a) the courses of the study and examination to be undergone in order to obtain such 
qualification; 
(b) the minimum age at which such courses of study can be undertaken on 
admission in the institution; 
(c) examination required to be undergone prior to such qualifications being 
conferred, and 
(d) generally as to the requisites for obtaining such qualification. 
14. Inspection of examination:—(1) The Executive Committee shall appoint such number of 
inspectors as it may deem necessary:— 
(a) to attend at any or all of the examinations held by ve terinary institutions in 
Pakistan for the purpose of granting recognized qualifications or in respect of 
which recognition has been sought; and 
(b) to look into research projects and technical facilities available at any veterinary 
institution of Pakistan for evaluating any short falls or deficiencies and assessing 
the requirements of such institutions in terms of expertise and equipments. 
 
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(2) The inspector appointed under this section shall not interface with the conduct of any 
examination of research studies, but he shall report to the Executive Committee on the sufficiency of 
the examination of the research proper which he attends and on the courses of study and facilities of 
teaching and research provided by the institution at different stages in respect of such examination 
research and on and other matters in regard to which the Executive Committee may require them to 
report. 
 (3) The Executive Committee shall forward a copy of any such report to the institution 
concerned and shall also forward a copy with t he remarks of such institution thereon , to the Federal 
Government. 
15. Withdrawal of recognition :—(1) When upon report of the Executive Committee it 
appears to the Council that the courses of study and examinations to be gone through in any veterinary 
institution in Pakistan in order to obtain a recognized veterinary qualification or that the standard of 
proficiency required from candidates at any examination held for the purpose of granting such 
qualification or standard of research studies and facilit ies is not such as to secure to persons holding 
such qualifications the knowledge and skill requisite for the efficient practice of veterinary medicine 
or to contribute to the advancement of veterinary medicine, the Council shall make a representation to 
that effect to the Federal Government. 
(2) After considering such representation, the Federal Government shall forward it, alongwith 
such remarks as it may choose to make to the concerned institution with an intimation of period within 
which the institution may submit its explanation to the Federal Government. 
(3) On the receipt of the explanation or where no explanation is submitted within the specified 
period the Federal Government may after making such further inquiry, if any, as it may think fit direct 
that the measures necessary to bring the teaching and research upto the required standard be taken or 
an entry shall be made in the appropriate Schedule against the concerned institution declaring that any 
qualification granted by such institution after the specified date shall not be recognized. 
16. Maintenance of register :—(1) The Council shall maintain in the prescribe manner a 
register in which shall be entered the names and other particulars of persons possessing recognized 
veterinary qualifications whose  applications for registration as veterinarian are from time to time 
granted by the Council. 
(2) Every application for registration under this Act shall be made to the Council in the 
prescribed from and be accompanied by the prescribed fee. 
(3) Every veterinarian registered under this Act shall be entitled to receive a certificate of 
registration from the Council. 
(4) A certificate of registration issued under sub-section (3) shall, subject to the provisions of 
this Act, remain in force until the thirty first day of December of the year in which it is issued and shall 
thereafter be renewable annually upon payment of the prescribed fee. 
17. Register to be public document :—The re gister maintained under section 16 shall be 
deemed to be a public record within the meaning of the Qanoon-e- Shahadat, 1984 (P.O. No. 10 of 
1984). 
18. Penalty for fraudulent representation or registration :—(1) Whoever will fully 
procures or attempts to procure himself to be registered under this Act by making or producing or 
 
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causing to be made or produced any false or fraudulent representation or declaration either orally on 
in writing, and any person who assists him therein, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine 
which may extend to five thousand rupees or with imprisonmen t for a term which may extend to six 
months, or with both. 
(2) Whoever falsely pretends to be registered under this Act as a veterinary practitioner, not 
being registered under this Act, uses with his name or title any words or letters representing that he is 
so registered, irrespective of whether any person is actually deceived by such pretence or 
representation or not shall be guilty of an offence punishable with fine which may extend to five 
thousand rupees or with imprisonment for a term with may extend to six months, or with both. 
19. Privileges of registered members :—(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary 
contained in any other law for the time being in force no person other than a registered veterinary 
practitioner shall hold any veterinary position in private or public sector. 
(2) Note understanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being 
in force, not certificate required to be obtained from a veterinary practitioner shall be valid unless in 
issued by a person who is registered with the Council. 
(3) No person shall be entitled to recover any charge in any count of law for any vetro -legal 
advice or attendance, or for the performance of any oration, or for any medicine prescribed or supplied 
unless he is a registered veterinary practitioner. 
20. Responsibility of a registered person :—Every person registered under this Act shall 
notify any transfer of the place of his residence, employment or practice to the Council with thirty day 
of such transfer. 
21 Prohibition against use of unregistered veterinary qualification:— No person shall use 
or publish with his name any title, abbreviate description or symbol, indicating or calculated to lead 
people to infer that possess any veterinary qualification unless the same is recog nized and conferred 
upon him under this Act. 
22. Removal of names from the register :—(1) The Council in its discretion may refuse to 
permit the registration of any person or direct the removal altogether or for a specified period from the 
register the name of any registered person who has been convicted of any such offence as implies in 
the opinion of the Council a defer of character, or has been held by the Council as guilty of infamous 
conduct in any professional respect, or who has become incapable to pr actice veterinary medicine by 
reason of physical or mental incapacity.  
Provided that no action shall be taken under this sub section, unless such person has been 
provided an opportunity of being heard. 
(2) The Council may direct that the name of any person removed from the register under sub-
section (1) shall be restored. 
 (3) For the purpose of  an inquiry under sub -section (1) the Council shall be deemed to be a 
Court within the meaning of the Qanoon-e-Shahdat, 1984 (P.O. No. 10 of 1984) and shall exercise al 
the powers of a Civil Court for summoning the witnesses, for compelling the production of documents 
and for issuing commissions. 
 
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23. Power to make regulation:— The Council may, with the previous sanction of the Federal 
Government, make regulation generally to carry out the purposes of this Act, and without prejudice to 
the generality of this power such regulations may provide for:— 
(a) the management of the property of the Council and the maintenance and audit 
of its accounts; 
(b) the summoning and holding of the meetings of the Council, the time and places 
where such meeting are to be held, the conduct of the business there at and the 
number of members necessary to constitute a quorum; 
(c) the powers and duties of the President and Vice-President; 
(d) the mode of the appointment of the Executive Committee and other committees, 
the summoning and holding of the meetings, and the conduct of the business of 
such committees; 
(e) the tenure of the office and duties of the officers and servants of the Council; 
(f) the appointment, powers, duties and procedures of inspector; 
(g) the procedure of maintenance, compilation and publication of the register and, 
if necessary, for opening of sub-offices or branches for this purpose; 
(h) the procedure of inquires under this Act; 
(i) prescribing a uniform minimum standard courses of training for obtaining 
graduate and post-graduate qualifications included in the First Schedule. 
(j) prescribing minimum requirements for the content and duration of the courses 
of study as aforesaid; 
(k) prescribing the conditions for admission to courses of training as aforesaid; 
(l) prescribing minimum qualifications and experience require of teachers , 
researchers for appointment in professional institutions; 
(m) prescribing the standards of exam inations, methods of conducting the 
examinations and other requirements to be satisfied for securing recognition of 
qualification under this Act; 
(n) prescribing the qualifications and experiences required of examiners for the 
examinations antecedent to the granting of recognized qualifications; 
(o) registration of students at any professional institution, college or any university 
and the fee payable in respect of such registration, and 
 (p) any matter for which under this Act provision may be made by registration. 
24. Information to be furnished by the Council and publication thereof:—(1) The Council 
shall furnish such reports, copies of its minutes, abstract of its accounts, and other information to the 
Federal Government as it may require. 
(2) The Federal Government may publish in such manner as it may think if any, report, copy, 
abstract, or other information furnished to it under this Act. 
 
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25. Commission of inquiry:— (1) Whenever it is made to appear to the Federal Government 
that the Council is not complying with any of the provisions of this Act, the Federal Government may 
refer the particulars of the complaint to a Commission of inquiry consisting of three persons of whom 
appointed by the Federal Government, one being a Judge of Court and the Council; and sub 
commission shall proceed to inquire in manner report to the Federal Government as to the charge of 
default or proper acting found by the Commission to have been  established, the commission shall 
recommend the remedies, if any, which are in opinion necessary. 
(2) The Federal Government may require the Council to adopt the remedies so recommended 
within such time as, having regard to the report of the Commission, it may think fit; and if Council 
fails to comply with any such requirements, the  Federal Government may amend the Regulations of 
the Council, or, make such provision or take such other steps as may seem necessary to give effect to 
the recommendations of the Commission. 
(3) A Commission of inquiry shall have power to administer oaths, enforce the attendance of 
witnesses and the production of documents, and shall have all such other necessary powers for the 
purpose of any inquiry conducted by it as are exercised by a Civil Court under the Code of Civil 
Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908). 
_________________ 
 
FIRST SCHEDULE 
(See Section 9) 
RECOGNIZED VETERINARY QUALIFICATION GRANTED BY THE 
VETERINARY INSTITUTIONS IN PAKISTAN 
  
S.#  Institutions  Recognized Qualification Abbrevation 
For  
Registration  
1  College of Veterinary Sciences, 
Lahore  
Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences. B. V. Sc.  
Bachelor of Science (Animal 
Husbandry.)  
B. Sc. (A.H.)  
Bachelor of Veterinary Science and 
Bachelor of Animal Husbandry. 
B. Sc.,  
B. Sc. (A.H.)  
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine  D. V. M.  
Master of Science. M. Sc.  
Master of Science (Hons). M. Sc. (Hons).  
Doctor of Philosophy. Ph. D.  
2  University of Agriculture, 
Faisalabad.  
(i)  Faculty of   
      Veterinary Sciences  
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. D.V.M  
Master of Science.  M. Sc.  
Master of Science (Hons).  M. Sc. (Hons).  
(ii) Faculty of Animal  
      Husbandry  
Bachelor of Science (Hons). Animal 
Husbandry.  
B. Sc. (Hons).  
A. H.  
Master of Science.  M. Sc.  
Master of Science (Hons).  M. Sc. (Hons).  
Doctor of Philosophy. Ph. D.  
 
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3  Sindh Agriculture,  
University, Tandojam  
Faculty of Animal  
Husbandry and  
Veterinary Sciences  
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.  D. V. M.  
Master of Science. M. Sc.  
Master of Science (Hons).  M. Sc. (Hons).  
Doctor of Philosophy.  Ph. D.  
4  Quaid-e-Azam  
University, Islamabad. 
Master of Science (Hons.)  M. Sc. (Hons).  
Master of Philosophy.  M. Phil.  
5  NWFP Agricultural  
University, Peshawar  
Master of Science (Hons) Animal 
Husbandry. 
M. Sc. (Hons)  
A. H.  
6  Jinnah Post-graduate  
Medical Centre, Karachi  
Master of Philosophy.  M. Phil  
  
  
SECOND SCHEDULE  
 
(See Section 10)  
 
RECOGNIZED VETERINARY QUALIFICATION GRANTED BY THE VETERINARY 
INSTITUTIONS ABROAD   
  
S.#  Institutions  Recognized Qualification Abbreviation 
For  
Registration  
1.  All state Universities of  
America, Australia and  
Provincial University  
Canada   
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine   D.V.M  
Master of Sciences in Animal Health.  MS (A.H.)  
Master of Animal Sciences   M.S. (A.S.)  
Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Health.  Ph.D. (A.H.)  
Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Sciences.  Ph.D. (A.S.)  
2.  The College of  
Veterinary surgeons,  
London  
Master of Science in Animal Health.  M. Sc. (A.H)   
Member of Royal College of Surgeon.  M.R.C.V.S  
Fellow Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon  F.R.C.V.S  
3.  Edinburgh University  
Centre of Tropical  
Veterinary Medicine  
Master of Science in Tropical Animal Health. 
 
M. Sc. (T.A.H.)  
Diploma in Tropical Animal Health.  D.T.A.H. 
4.  James Cook University,  
Department of Tropical Veterinary 
Science  
Townsvillce, Australia.   
Master of Science in Tropical Veterinary 
Science.  
M. Sc. (T.V.Sc)  
5.  Facility of Veterinary  
Science University of Agriculture, 
UPSSALA, Sweden.  
Fellow Royal College of Veterinary 
Surgeons.   
M. Sc. (T.A.H)   
F.R.C.V.S.