Companies (Appointment of Trustees) Act, 1972

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THE COMPANIES (APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES) ACT, 1972 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
1.  Short title, extent, application and commencement 
2.  Act to override other laws  
3.  Definitions 
4.  Appointment of trustees 
5.  Management of company to vest in trustee 
6.  All assets to be delivered to trustee 
7.  Power of trustee 
8.  Transfer of assets prohibited 
9.  Liabilities of company 
10. Amounts payable to trustee 
11. Instructions to trustee prohibited 
12.  Bar of jurisdiction, etc. 
13.  Power to make rules 
14.  Delegation of powers 
15.  Removal of difficulties 
16.  [Omitted] 
  
 
 

 
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THE COMPANIES (APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES) ACT, 1972 
1Act No. XV of 1972 
[24th September, 1972]  
An Act to provide for the management of the affairs of certain companies. 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the management of the affairs of certain companies 
and for matters connected therewith;  
 It is hereby enacted as follows:—  
 1. Short title, extent, application and commencement. —(1) This Act may be calle d the 
Companies (Appointment of Trustees) Act, 1972.  
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan.  
 (3) It applies only to companies the object of which are not confined to one Province.  
 (4) It shall come into force at once.  
 2. Act to override other laws. This Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained 
in the Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913), or in any other law for the time being in force or in any 
agreement, contract or memorandum pr articles of association.  
 3. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—  
(a)  “assets” include all rights and powers and properties, whether movable or 
immovable, cash balances, reserve funds, investments, deposits and all other 
interests and rights in or to or arising out of any such property and the books of 
accounts and documents;  
(b)  “company” has the same meaning as in the Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913); 
and  
(c)  “trustee” in relation to a company means the trustee appointed under section  4 
in respect of such company.  
 4. Appointment of trustees.—(1) If the Federal Government is of opinion that it is necessary 
in the public interest so to do, the Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, 
appoint a trustee in respect of a company the registered office of which is located in Pakistan beyond 
the Provinces of Baluchistan, the North -West Frontier, the Punjab and Sind on such terms and 
conditions as may be determined by the Federal Government.  
 (2) The trustee shall hold office during the pleasure of the Federal Government.  
 (3) The trustee may, by writing under his own  hand addressed to the Federal Government, 
resign his office.  
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gaz. of P., 1972, Ext. Pt. HI, p. 406. 
  
 
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 5. Management of company to vest in trustee.—(1) Upon the appointment of a trustee under 
section 4 in respect of a company, the management of the affairs of such company in so far as they 
relate to its business and assets and liabilities in the Provinces refe rred to in that section and all such 
assets and liabilities shall vest in that trustee and any person or authority-exercising or having the right 
to exercise immediately before such appointment any power or function in relation to the management 
of such affairs shall cease to exercise or to have the right to exercise such power to function.  
 (2) The trustee appointed in respect of a company shall, where necessary, open on behalf of 
such a company, with a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan an account t o which he shall credit 
from time to time all moneys received by him on behalf or on the account of the company after 
deducting therefrom such amount representing the expenses of the management of the affairs of the 
company as he may determine with the approval of the Federal Government.  
 (3) Every trustee appointed in respect of a company shall keep proper account of all income 
and expenditure received or incurred by him on account of company.  
 (4) Where a trustee is appointed in respect of a company, th e Federal Government may, by 
order, remove from office any officer howsoever designated performing or having the right to perform 
any function in relation to the management of the affairs of the company in so far as they relate to its 
assets or liabilities referred to in sub-section (1).  
 6. All assets to be delivered to trustee. No officer of a company, nor any other person, shall 
retain or fail to deliver to the trustee any assets which vest in the trustee under section 5.  
 7. Powers of trustee. The tru stee appointed in respect of a company shall exercise all the 
powers and functions of the Board of Directors of the company in so far as they relate to the assets and 
liabilities of the company in the Provinces referred to in section 4.  
 8. Transfer of as sets prohibited. No person shall transfer any of the assets of a company in 
respect of which a trustee has been appointed or create any charge or encumbrance on such assets and 
any transfer made or charge or encumbrance created in contravention of this section shall be void.  
 9. Liabilities of company. When a trustee is appointed in respect of a company, only such 
liabilities of the company shall be deemed to be liabilities relating to the assets of the company vested 
in the trustee as may be determined by  such authority and in such manner as may be prescribed by 
rules made under this Act.  
 10. Amounts payable to trustee.—(1) Any amount payable to a company in respect of which 
a trustee has been appointed shall be paid to the trustee by the person liable to pay the same.  
 (2) Any person who makes a payment under sub -section (1) shall be discharged from further 
liability to pay to the extent of the payment so made.  
 (3) Any payment made otherwise than in accordance with sub -section (1) shall not discharge 
the person paying it from his obligation to pay the amount due, and shall not affect the right of the 
trustee to enforce such obligation against any such person. 
 11. Instructions to trustee prohibited. No person shall, except on the authority of the Federal 
Government, give any instructions to the trustee, nor shall any person in any manner obstruct him in 
the discharge of his functions.  
 
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 12. Bar of jurisdiction, etc. —(1) No court shall call in question, or permit to be called in 
question, anything done or any action taken or purporting to be done or taken under this Act.  
 (2) No court shall grant any injunction or make any order, nor shall any such court entertain 
any proceedings, in relation to anything done or intended or purported to be done under this Act.  
 (3) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Federal Government or 
the trustee or any person for anything in good faith done under this Act or any rule or order made or 
notification issued thereunder.  
 13. Power to make rules. The Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, 
make such rules1 as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this Act.  
 14. Delegation of powers. The Federal Government may, by noti fication in the official 
Gazette, direct that all or any of its powers under this. Act shall, subject to such conditions, if any, as 
may be specified in the notification, be exercised by such officer or authority as may be so specified.  
 15. Removal of difficulties. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of this Act, 
the Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, 
including an order modifying the provisions of the memorandum or articles of association of company, 
as it considers necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing of that difficulty.  
 16. [Repeal.] Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 
(XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sch.., II.  
 
 
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Date: 11-11-2024 
1For the Companies (Appointment of Trustees) Rules, 1973 see S.R.O. No. 643(I)/73. dt. 12-5-73. Gaz. of P.. 1973. Ext., (Islamabad) Pt, II. p. 754.