Centres of Excellence Act, 1974

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THE CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE ACT, 1974 
 
CONTENTS 
____________ 
SECTIONS: 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  Establishment of Centre. 
4.  Functions of Centre. 
5.  Board of Governors. 
6.  Director. 
7.  Academic Committee. 
8.  Fund. 
9.  Audit and accounts, etc. 
9 A.  Power to transfer centres. 
10.  Power to make rules. 
11.  Power to make regulations. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Updated till 03.01.2023
 
 
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THE CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE ACT, 1974. 
1ACT NO. XXIV OF 1974 
[22nd April 1974] 
An Act to provide for the establishment of centres of excellence in the universities for 
conducting high­level teaching and research. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment of centres of excellence in the 
universities for conducting high­level teaching and research; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. —(1) This Act may be called the Centres of 
Excellence Act, 1974. 
(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 a Board of Governors referred to in sub­section (1) of section 5;   
(b)  “Centre” means a Centre of Excellence established under section 3; 
(c)  “Commission” means the University Grants Commission established or to be 
established under the law providing for the establishment of such Commission; 
(d)  “Director” means the Director of a Centre; 
(e)  “regulations” means regulations made under section 11; and 
(f)  “rules” means rules made under section 10. 
3. Establishment of Centre.⎯ As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the 
Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, establish a Centre of Excellence in a 
University specified in the notification. 
4. Functions of Centre.⎯ A Centre shall— 
(a)  engage in goal­oriented high­level teaching and research; 
(b)  train research workers; 
 
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gaz. of P ., 1974, Ext., Pt. III, p. 214. 
 
 
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(c)  establish M.Phil, 1[Ph. D. and other] programmes in the relevant discipline in 
accordance with the standard and requirements of the University in which the 
Centre is established; 
(d)  promote co­operation in inter­disciplinary relationship with other teaching and 
research establishment; 
(e)  arrange conferences, seminars and refresher courses for the development of 
teaching and research; and 
(f)  conduct teaching and research in such particular discipline as is assigned to it 
by the Federal Government 2[in consultation with the University in which the 
Centre is established]. 
5. Board of Governors.⎯ (1) The management, overall control and supervision of the affairs 
of a Centre established in a University shall vest in a Board of Governors consisting of the following 
members, namely:— 
(a)  Vice­Chancellor of the University, who shall also be its Chairman. 
(b)  A representative of the Commission. 
(c)  A representative of the Pakistan Science Foundation. 
(d)  A representative of the Ministry of Education. 
(e)  Dean of the Faculty of the University. 
2[(f)  Two experts in the subject to be nominated by the Federal Government on the 
recommendation of the commission. 
(g)  One expert in the subject to be nominated by the Syndicate of the University. 
(h)  One expert in the subject to be nominated by the Academic Council of the 
University. 
(i)  One expert in the subject to be nominated by the National Education Council. 
(j)  Director of the Centre.] 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, the Board 
shall have the power to— 
(a) approve the academic and research programmes of the Centre 2[with the 
concurrence of the Academic Council of the University in which the Centre is 
established.] 
 
 
 
1Subs. and added by the Centres of Excellence (Amdt.) Act, 1976 (IX of 1976), s. 2, for “and Ph.D.” 
2Subs. and added by the Centres of Excellence (Amdt.) Act, 1976 (IX of 1976), s. 3, for clauses (f) and (g). 
  
 
 
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(b)  lay down rules of admission to the Centre; 
(c)  institute fellowships for promotion of research in the discipline concerned; 
(d)  create, suspend or abolish such posts as may be necessary; 
(e)  appoint teachers and other officers; and 
(f)  hold, control and administer the funds of the Centre. 
(3) A member of the Board referred to in paragraph (f) of sub­clause (1) shall hold office for 
such term as may be determined by the Federal Government. 
(4) The meetings of the Board shall be held as and when called by the Chairman:  
Provided that not less than two meetings shall be held in each year. 
(5) In the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions, a Board shall be subject 
to such special or general instructions as may be issued by the Commission from time to time. 
(6) The Board may, for the speedy and efficient working of the Centre, delegate to the Director 
such of its powers as it may deem necessary. 
6. Director.— (1) The Director shall be appointed by the Federal Government 1[after 
consultation with the Commission and the Vice­Chancellor of the University in which the Centre 
concerned is established,] on such remuneration and other terms and conditions of service as may be 
determined by the Federal Government. 
(2) The Director shall be the academic and executive head of the Centre and secretary of the 
Board, and shall be responsible to the Board for carrying out the objectives of the Centre. 
(3) The Director shall perform such other functions and exercise such powers as may be 
assigned or delegated to him by the Board. 
(4) The Director may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman, resign his office.  
7. Academic Committee.— (1) At each Centre, there shall be an Academic Committee 
consisting of the following members, namely:— 
(a)  Director of the Centre, who shall also be its Convener. 
(b)  All Professors and Associate Professors of the Centre. 
(c) Two experts to be nominated by the Commission. 
(2) The Committee may associate such other experts as it may consider necessary. 
(3) The Committee shall prepare and submit to the Board the academic and research 
programmes of the Centre. 
 
 
1Subs. by the Centres of Excellence (Amdt.) Act, 1976. (IX of 1976), s. 4, for “on the recommendation of the Commission”.  
 
 
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8. Fund.⎯ Each Centre shall have a fund to which shall be credited— 
(a)  grants made by the Federal Government, the Provincial Governments and the 
Commission; 
(b)  contributions and donations from individuals, local bodies, corporations, 
institutions, organizations and agencies; and 
(c)  income from fees. 
9. Audit and accounts, etc.— (1) The accounts of a Centre shall be maintained in such form 
and manner as may be prescribed by rules. 
(2) The accounts of a Centre shall be audited once in every year by an auditor appointed by the 
Commission on such remuneration, if any, to be paid by the Centre, as the Commission may fix. 
(3) A Centre shall submit, through the Commission, to the Federal Government a copy of its 
audited annual accounts, together with the observations of the Director, if any, thereon, and a report 
on the activities of the Centre during the preceding year. 
(4) A Centre shall furnish to the Federal Government such information relating to its activities 
as may be asked for by the Federal Government from time to time. 
1[9A. Power to transfer Centres.⎯ The Federal Government may, by Order published in the 
official Gazette and subject to such terms and conditions as it may think fit to impose, transfer any 
Centre to a university or, as the case may be, the Provincial Government.] 
10. Power to make rules.⎯ The Federal Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act, 2[including rules to regulate the financial 
and administrative matters relating to a Centre.] 
11. Power to make regulations.⎯ A Centre may, with the approval of the Commission, make 
such regulations 3[concerning academic matters], not inconsistent with the rules, as it may consider 
necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1Ins. by Ord. of the Centers Laws (Amdt.) Ordinance, 2002. (LVIII of 2002). s.2 & Sch. 
2Added by the Centers of Excellence (Amdt.) Act, 1976 (IX of 1976), s. 5. 
3Ins. by The Centers of Excellence (Amdt.) Act, 1976 (IX of 1976), s.6.