Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants Act, 1976

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THE PAKISTAN HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ACT, 1976 
 
              
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, extent, application and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Appointment of Controller, Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers 
4.  Setting up of Advisory Committee 
5.  Registration of hotels and restaurants 
6.  Classification of hotels 
7.  Issue of licence 
8.  Refusal and cancellation of registration and licence 
9.  Obligation of the transferee, etc., of a hotel and restaurant 
10.  Controller to fix fair rates 
11.  Controller to fix limit of persons to be accommodated in any room 
12.  Rules of establishment of hotel and restaurant 
13.  Fair rates, etc., to be displayed 
14.  Reservation of accommodation at the instance of Controller 
15.  Charge in excess of fair rates prohibited 
16.  Controller's power to prohibit certain trades and occupations 
17.  Eviction of guests 
18.  Procedure and powers of Controller 
19.  Additional powers of Controller 
 
 

   
 
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20.   Apprenticeship scheme and training policy of employees 
21.  Provision of medical facilities 
22.  Offences and Penalties 
23.   Contravention by companies, etc. 
24.  Mode of recovery 
25.  Appeal and Revision 
26.  Indemnity 
27.  Power to exempt 
28.  Delegation of powers 
29.  Power to make rules 
30.  Other laws not applicable 
31.  Repeal 
 
 
   
 
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THE PAKISTAN HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS ACT, 1976 
ACT No. LXXXI OF 1976 
          [1st December, 1976] 
 
An Act to provide measures for controlling and regulating the standards of service and amenities 
for tourists in hotels and restaurants 
 
 WHEREAS it is expedient to provide measures for controlling and regulating the standards 
of service and amenities for tourists in hotels and restaurants and for matters ancillary t hereto or 
connected therewith; 
 
 AND WHEREAS the Provincial Assemblies of the Punjab, Sind and North-West Frontier 
Province, and Parliament, exercising the powers of the Provincial Assembly of Baluchistan under 
Article 234 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, have passed resolutions 
under Article 144 of the Constitution to the effect that Parliament may by law regulate the standards 
of service and amenities for tourists in hotels and restaurants; 
 
 It is hereby enacted as follows:―  
 
 1. Short title, extent, application and commencement.― (1) This Act may be called the 
Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants Act, 1976.  
 
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
 
 (3) It shall apply to all the hotels and restaurants in Pakistan. 
 
 (4) It shall come into force at once.  
 
 2. Definitions.― In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,― 
 
(a) “apprentice” means any person who has contracted with a hotel or a 
restaurant to perform the stipulated apprenticeship in such hotel or restaurant ; 
 
(b)      “Committee” means the committee set up by the Federal Government under 
section 4; 
 
(c) “Controller” means a Controller appointed under section 3 and includes a 
Deputy Controller and an  Assistant Controller and such other person as may 
be authorised by the Federal Government by notification in the official  
Gazette to perform all or any of the functions of the Controller;  
(d) “customer”  means  a  person  availing  facilities  offered  in  a  restaurant  on 
monetary consideration ; 
   
(e)       “fair rates” means the rates fixed under section 10 and includes revised rates ; 
 
(f )      “guest” means a person who is in possession or enjoyment of accommodation    
provided to him in a hotel on monetary consideration ; 
 
   
 
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 (g) “hotel”  means  a  lodging,  or  boarding  and  lodging,  establishment  
 with  a minimum  of t en lettable bed rooms, provided for tou rists on 
 monetary consideration, which conforms to any of the prescribed  minimum 
 criteria, but does not include— 
 
 (i)  a home or hostel which is exclusively or mainly used for the aged 
 or invalid  persons  or  students  and  is  run  by or  under the  control  
 of  a charitable or educational institution ; or 
 
 (ii)     any rest house, hostel or circuit house exclusively meant for 
 visiting Government officials or officials of oth er organisations, 
 though run on a commercial basis ; 
 
(h) “manager” means the person incharge of the management of a hotel or a 
restaurant; 
 
(i)       “owner” means the person who holds title to a hotel or restaurant and is 
entitled to receive the whole or any part of the earnings received from a guest 
or customer on account of accommodation or services provided in the hotel or 
restaurant, and includes a keeper or assignee for the time being discharging the 
responsibility of the owner in respect of such hotel or restaurant;  
 
(j)        “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act ; 
 
(k)      “public rooms” means rooms in a hotel which are meant for the common use 
of all guests ; 
 
(l)       “restaurant” means a public eating house providing standard and variety of 
cuisines  on  monetary  consideration  to  tourists  which  conforms  to  the 
minimum prescribed criteria ; 
 
(m)      “service” means any service provided in a hotel or a restaurant ; and 
 
(n)      “tourist” means a person, whether a citizen of Pakistan or not, who stays 
over-night or more as a guest in a hotel at a place other than his normal place 
of residence. 
 
 3. Appointment of Controller, Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers .―(1) The 
Federal Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint a person to be the 
Controller for the purposes of this Act and such number of Deputy Controllers and  Assistant  
Controllers  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  performance  an d  discharge  of  such functions and 
duties as may be assigned to them by or under this Act and may, by general or special order , provide 
for the distribution or allocation of work to be performed by them. 
 (2) Subject to the provisions of this  Act, the Controller shall perform his functions and 
discharge his duties under the general supervision and control of the Federal Government. 
 
   
 
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 (3) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of such orders as may from time to time be made 
by the  Federal Government in this behalf, the Deputy Cont rollers and Assistant Cont rollers shall 
perform their functions and discharge their duties under the general supervision and control of the 
Controller. 
 
 4. Setting up of Advisory Committee. As soon as may be after the commencement of  this  
Act,  the  Federal  Government  may set  up  a  Hotels  and  Restaurants  Committee, consisting of as 
many members as the Federal Government may determine, to aid and advise the  Federal 
Government in relation to such matters relating to the administration of this Act as m ay be 
prescribed. 
 
 5. Registration of hotels and restaurants.―(1)  The  owner  of  every  hotel  and restaurant 
shall, within a period of two months from the commencement of this Act, or from the opening of the 
hotel or restaurant, or from the date on which this Act becomes applicable to  such hotel or 
restaurant, whichever is later, apply to the Controller for registration of his hotel or restaurant and 
for determination of fair rates in relation thereto and, in the case of a hotel, also for its classification, 
on payment of such fee as may be prescribed. 
 
 (2) No hotel or restaurant shall be registered, unless― 
 
(a) it  conforms  to  the  prescribed  standard  of  health,  hygiene  and  comfort, 
provided that the Controller may allow provisional registration subject to such 
conditions as he may deem fit and, for good and sufficient reasons, modify, 
alter or withdraw any such condition at any time ; 
 
(b)       it  furnishes  at  its  expense  certificates  of  medical  fitness  from  a  Medical 
Officer of the  civil hospital of the area in respect of its staff in such form as 
may be prescribed ; 
 
(c) its building is structurally safe and adequately protected against fire or an 
accident arising out of electricity or gas and safety of the tourists is ensured. 
 
 (3) The Controller, or an officer authorised by him  in this behalf, or a member of the 
committee may, at any time, inspect the premises of a hotel or restaurant, call for any information, 
plan or data in respect of any matter concerning such hotel or restaurant or, at the  cost of the 
owner, carry out, or require the owner to carry out, test of any articles or appliances or foodstuff. 
 
 6. Classification of hotels.―Subject to such general or particular directions as the 
Federal Government may issue, the Controller shall, according to the prescribed minimum criteria, 
by noti fication in the official Gazette, classify hotels, according to the star classification system, 
as— 
 
(a)       one star hotels, being hotels which conform to the prescribed minimum criteria 
of hotels of that class, but do not conform to the prescribed minimum criteria 
of a higher star class hotel ; 
 
   
 
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(b)       two  star  hotels,  being  hotels  which  conform  to  the  prescribed  minimum 
criteria of hotels of that class, but do not conform to the prescribed minimum 
criteria of a higher star class hotel ; 
 
(c)       three  star  hotels,  being  hotels  which  conform  to  the  prescribed  minimum 
criteria of hotels of that class, but do not conform to the prescribed minimum 
criteria of a higher star class hotel; 
 
(d)       four  star  hotels,  being  hotels  which  conform  to  the  prescribed  minimum 
criteria of hotels of that class, but do not conform to the prescribed minimum 
criteria of a higher star class hotel ; and 
 
(e)       five star hotels, being hotels which conform to the prescribed minimum 
criteria of hotels of that class. 
 
 7. Issue of licence.― (1) Every owner shall, after registration of his hotel or restaurant 
under section 5, obtain a licence from the Controller on payment of such fee as may be 
prescribed. 
 (2) No owner shall carry on his business or, in the case of a hotel, use the classification 
star sign, without first getting the hotel or restaurant registered and obtaining a licence under this 
Act. 
 
 (3) A licence granted under this section shall, unless sooner suspended or cancelled, remain 
in force for a period of one year from the date of issue and may thereafter be renewed for a period of 
one year at a time on payment of the prescribed fee: 
 
 Provided that if an application for renewal of a licence is made before the expiry of  the 
period of its validity, the licence shall continue in force until orders are passed on such application. 
 
 8. Refusal and cancellation of registration and licence.― (1) The Controller may 
refuse to register a hotel or restaurant if it does not conform to the minimum prescribed criteria. 
 
 (2) The registration and licence of a hotel or restaurant may be cancelled or suspended, or the 
star classification of a hotel may be lowered, if― 
 
(a)       its owner is declared insolvent by a competent court; 
 
(b)       its business is wholly or partly discontinued or suspended without the approval 
of the  Controller, except where such suspension or discontinuance is for the 
purposes of making repairs, improvements, renovations or expansion or, in the 
case of seasonal business, is for the period of the slack season, and the fact of 
such suspension or discontinuance in each case has been duly reported to the 
Controller in advance; 
 
(c)       its owner or any person acting on his behalf contravenes any of the provisions 
of this Act or the rules or orders made thereunder ; 
 
   
 
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(d)       it ceases to conform to the requirements of registration under section 5 or, in 
the case of a hotel, to the prescribed minimum criteria for the class assigned to 
it ; or 
 
(e)       its  owner  fails  to  enter  the  names  and  other  particulars  of  guests  in  the 
prescribed register. 
 
 9. Obligation of the transferee, etc., of a hotel and restaurant. Where a hotel or 
restaurant registered and licensed under this Act is transferred or assigned to, or devolves upon, any 
person, it shall be incumbent upon that person to report, within one month of its taking effect, to the 
Controller the fact of such transfer, assignment or devolution and obtain a fresh licence under this 
Act. 
 
 10. Controller to fix fair rates.―(1) The Controller may fix fair rates to be charged for 
board, lodging and other service provided in a hotel at such amount as, having regard to the  
prescribed principles governing fair rates and the classification of hotels, he deems just. 
 
 (2) The Controller may either fix a consolidated rate for lodging, board and service, or for 
lodging and service only or fair rates separately for― 
 
(a)       lodging with reference to the nature of the accommodation and the number of 
guests to be accommodated ; 
 
(b)       board, partial or full ; and 
 
(c)       other service. 
 
 (3) Fair rates may be fixed separately for daily and monthly guests.  
  
 Explanation.― A guest who agrees to reserve accommodation, or for whom accommodation 
is reserved, for a period of one month or more shall be deemed to be a monthly guest, provided he 
actually stays for one month or more or has actually paid in advance for one month ; and where the 
reservation is not for any specified period or is for a period less than a month, the guest shall be 
deemed to be a daily guest. 
 
 (4) The Controller  may fix  fair  rates  to  be  charged  for board  and  o ther  s ervice 
provided in a restaurant at such amount, as having regard to the prescribed principles governing fair 
rates and to all the circumstances, he deems just. 
 
 (5) The Controller may from time to time revise the fair rates fixed by h im under this 
section. 
 
 (6) An order fixing or revising fair rates shall take effect on the first day of such month 
following the month in which the order is made as may be specified therein. 
 
 (7) Until such time as fair rates are fixed in relation to any hotel or restaurant under this 
section, the rate, if any, charged by such hotel or restaurant, immediately before this Act becomes 
   
 
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applicable to i t, for equivalent lodging, board or service to th at provided, shall be deemed to be  the 
fair rates fixed under this section. 
 
 11. Controller to fix limit of persons to be accommodated in any room.―(1) The 
Controller may fix the maximum number of guests to be accommodated in each room or other 
unit of accommodation in a hotel. 
 
 (2) No  room for which an order has been made under sub-section (1) s hall be used to 
accommodate any number of guests in excess of the number specified in the order, except with 
the previous permission of the Controller in writing. 
 
 (3) The Controller may from time to time revise any order made by him under sub- section 
(1) so as to increase or reduce the number of guests specified in such order. 
 
 12. Rules of establishment of hotel and restaurant. Every owner shall prepare the rules of 
the establishment in respect of his hotel or restaurant conforming with the provisions of this Act and 
the rules made thereunder and get them approved by the Controller.  
 
 13. Fair rates, etc., to be displayed.―(1) The fair rates, the maximum number of guests 
that may be accommodated in a room or unit of accommodation in a hotel and the rules of the 
establishment shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner in the office and in the public rooms, if 
any, of every hotel. 
 
 (2)  The  fair  rates  and  the  rules  of  the  establishment  shall  be  displayed  in  a 
conspicuous manner in the office and the hall and rooms of every restaurant.  
 
 14. Reservation of accommodation at the instance of Controller.― (1) Subject to such 
directions as may be given in this behalf by the Federal Government, the Controller may by  o rder  
direct  the  owner  or  the  manager  of  a  hotel  to  reserve  in  the  hotel  such accommodation as 
may be specified in the order. 
 
 (2) Subject to any direction by the Federal Government in this behalf, the Controller may 
allot the accommodation reserved under sub-section (1) to any p erson and such person sh all 
thereupon be deemed to be a guest at the hotel in relation to the accommodation allotted to him. 
 
 (3) Where any accommodation is reserved under sub-section (1), the owner or the manager 
of the ho tel shall make the accommodation so reserved, or such portion of it as the Controller may 
direct, available to the Controller for occupation by the person to whom it has been allotted, at the 
expiry of forty-eight hours from the service upon him of a notice in writing in this behalf by the 
Controller. 
 
 (4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the owner or the manager of the hotel from letting 
any accommodation reserved under sub-section (1) to a guest other than the person to whom such 
accommodation is allotted by the Controller, upon the condition that if and when a  notice is 
received from the Controller under sub-section (3) such guest will vacate the accommodation within 
forty-eight hours of the receipt of such notice.  
 
   
 
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 15. Charge in excess of fair rates prohibited.―(1) Notwithstanding any agreement to the 
contrary, no owner shall charge a guest or customer any amount in excess of the fair rates. 
 
 (2) Any agreement for the payment of any charges in excess of the fair rates shall be void in 
respect of such excess, and shall be construed as if it were an agreement for payment of the fair 
rates. 
 
 (3) Any sum paid by a guest in excess of the fair rates shall be recoverable at any time within 
a period of six months from the date of payment from the owner or the manager of the hotel to whom 
it was paid, or from the legal representative of either of these persons, and without prejudice to any 
other mode of recovery which may be open to him, the guest may deduct such amount from any sum 
payable by him for his accommodation. 
 
 16. Controller's power to prohibit certain trades and occupations. The Controller may, 
by order in writing, prohibit, within one hundred yards of a hotel or restaurant, the carrying on of 
any trade, profession, occupation or industry which in his opinion is likely to be— 
 
(i)        injurious to the health and well being of guests or customers or a hazard to 
their safety ; 
 
(ii)       a nuisance as defined in the Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860) ; or 
 
(iii)     offensive to good taste. 
 
 17. Eviction of guests .―(1) Except as hereinafter provided, no guest at a hotel shall  be 
evicted or refused board or other service so long as he pays, or is ready and willing to pay, the fair 
rates and observes the displayed rules of the establishment and conforms with the provisions of this 
Act and the conditions prescribed thereunder. 
 (2) A guest or a customer who has been guilty of conduct which amounts to nuisance, or is a 
source of  annoyance to oth er guests or customers, or threatens or intimidates any other guest or 
customer, or is likely to endanger the person or life of any individual in a hotel or restaurant, may 
be evicted by the owner or manager of the hotel or restaurant, provided that, if the own er or 
manager has good reason to apprehend an immediate breach of peace or commission of an offence 
by the  guest or customer, he may use such force as may be necessary to restrain the guest or 
customer from so doing and shall immediately intimate the fact to the local police. 
 
 (3) Any guest or customer aggrieved by eviction or refusal of board or other services under 
sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) may lodge a complaint with the Controller who shall, after holding 
summary enquiry in the prescribed manner, pass such order as he may deem fit. 
 
 18. Procedure and powers of Controller.―(1) The Controller shall not refuse 
registration, or cancel or suspend the licence, of a hotel or restaurant, except after holding 
summary enquiry in the prescribed manner. 
 
 (2) For the purpose of holding an enquiry under sub-section (1) or any other enquiry which 
he may deem necessary for the purposes of this Act, the Controller shall have the same powers as are 
vested in a civil court in respect of― 
   
 
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(a)       proof of facts by affidavit ; 
 
(b)       summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on 
oath ; 
 
(c)       compelling the production of documents and other material evidence; and 
 
(d)       issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses. 
 
 
 19. Additional powers of Controller.―For the purposes of this Act, the Controller may― 
 
(i)        call for such information, reports, or returns from an owner or a manager as 
may be necessary for satisfying himself that the provisions of this Act, the 
rules and orders made thereunder are being duly complied with ; 
 
(ii)       require  an  owner  or  a  manager  to  produce  before  himself  or  an  officer 
designated by him for the purpose any book  of account, document or other 
papers in his possession or pow er whi ch contain or are b elieved to contain 
information relating to  the hotel or restaurant of which he is the owner or 
manager ; 
 
(iii)     require an owner or a manager to undertake through an agency qualified to do 
so scientific tests of water, food and other articles of human consumption at 
the cost of the owner, to determine their quality and conformity with  the 
requirements of health and hygiene ; 
 
(iv)      d eclare the site of any restaurant not registered under this Act, a fit site for a 
restaurant and issue directive to the management of su ch a restaurant to 
improve,  within  a period  of six  months from  the date  of such  order,  the 
conditions, services and facilities at the restaurant to conform to the prescribed 
minimum criteria ; 
 
(v)       call for any other information relating to development of hotel industry. 
 
 20.  Apprenticeship scheme and training policy of employees. ―  The Controller shall― 
 
(i)        ensure that apprentices in a hotel or restaurant do not exceed ten per cent of 
the employees in any specified trade ; 
 
(ii)       fix, with due regard to the salaries of the regularly employed staff, the stipend 
to  be  paid  to  an  apprentice  over  and  above  the  cost  of  his  training  and 
determine the duration of his apprenticeship ; 
 
(iii)     lay down the age limit, educational qualifications, standards of physical fitness 
and psychological and mental health of apprentices ; 
 
   
 
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(iv)      di rect the programming for training various categories of employees of hotels 
and restaurants at a recognised vocational institution at the various specialised 
courses run thereat so that the percentage of qualified trained staff in a hotel or 
restaurant attains, within a reasonable time, the minimum standard as may be 
determined by the Controller ; and 
 
(v)       lay down the maximum percentage of untrained staff that may be employed at 
a hotel or restaurant at any time. 
 
 21. Provision of medical facilities.―(1) The owner of every hotel registered and licenced 
under this Act shall provide the following medical facilities for guests, namely: ― 
(i)        One and two star hotels: 
 
(a) A doctor on call available in close proximity of the hotel premises.  
 
(b)   First aid equipment and a reasonable stock of life saving drugs. 
 
(c)     Two employees trained and qualified in first aid. 
 
(d)     Ensure availability of an ambulance, van or car to rush patients to 
a hospital in emergencies. 
 
(ii)       Three star hotels: 
 
(a)     As in sub clauses (a) to (c) in clause (i). 
 
(b)     A drug store or chemist’s shop with twenty-four hours’ service, if 
no existing in close proximity. 
 
(c)     An ambulance or van.  
 
(iii)     Four and five star hotels: 
 
(a)    A doctor on call available in close proximity of the hotel premises. 
 
(b)    A separate consulting room with reasonable stock of life saving drugs 
and first aid equipment. 
 
(c)    Four employees trained and qualified in first aid. 
 
(d)    An ambulance or a van convertible into an ambulance in emergency. 
 
(e)    A drug or chemist's shop with twenty-four hours' service, if not 
existing in close proximity. 
 
   
 
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 (2) The management of a hotel shall take all possible care and provide all necessary medical 
aid without any loss of time to a guest suffering from any serious attack, including heart attack and 
haemorrhage, or an accident. 
 
 22. Offences and Penalties.― (1) Any owner who fails to apply for registration within 
the time specified in section 5 shall be liable to pay to  the Controller a penalty of such sum not 
exceeding five thousand rupees as the Controller may impose  and, in the case of a continuing 
failure, an additional penalty which may extend to one thousand rupees for every day after the first 
during which he has persisted in the failure. 
 
 (2) Any owner or manager who serves any food or beverage which is injurious to health, or 
who does not take sufficient care to ensure protection of food and beverage against contamination 
through flies or in any other way, or serves any food or beverage in unclean or contaminated 
utensils, shall be liable to pay to the Controller a penalty of such sum not exceeding one thousand 
rupees as the Controller may impose. 
 
 (3) Any owner or manager who fails to comply with any o rder passed or direction given 
under the provisions of this Act by the Controller or any other authority prescribed in this behalf 
shall be liable to pay to the Controller a penalty of such sum not exceeding one thousand rupees 
as the Controller may impose. 
 
 (4) Any owner or manager who charges a guest or customer any amount in excess of the fair 
rates shall, in addition to refund such guest or customer the amount charged in excess of fair rates, be 
also liable to pay to the Controller a penalty of such sum not exceeding one thousand rupees as the 
Controller may impose  for such excess charging for the first time and, in  the case of any su ch 
subsequent excess charging, a penalty not exceeding two thousand rupees. 
 
 (5) If a restaurant not registered under this Act fails to carry out the directive issued under  
clause  (iv)  of  section  19  within  the  period  specified  therein,  the  Controller  may suspend the 
operation of such restaurant and may also impose a penalty of such sum not exceeding five thousand 
rupees as the Controller may impose on the owner of such restaurant. 
 
 (6) If the owner or manager of a hotel or restaurant not licensed under this Act advertises it as 
a hotel or restaurant, or in any manner whatsoever uses the star sign, he shall be liable to pay to the 
Controller a penalty of such sum not exceeding one thousand rupees as the Controller may impose 
and, in the case of his continuing to so advertise or use the star sign, an additional penalty which 
may extend to two hundred rupees for every day after the first during which he so continues or uses 
star sign. 
 
 (7) Any owner who fails to comply with the provisions of section 21 shall be liable to one or 
more of the following penalties, namely:― 
 
(a)       Penalty of such sum not exceeding two thousand rupees as the Controller may 
impose ; 
 
(b)       forfeiture of licence ; and 
 
(c)       cancellation of registration. 
   
 
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 23.  Contravention by companies, etc.  If  the  person  contravening,  or  failing  to comply 
with,  any provision  of this  Act  or  any rule,  order  or  direction  made  or issued thereunder is a 
company or other body corporate, every director, secretary or other officer or agent  thereof,  unless  
he  proves  th at  the  contravention  or failure  took  place  without  his knowl edge or that he 
exercised due diligence to prevent its taking place, shall be liable to the penalty provided for such 
contravention or failure. 
 
 24. Mode of recovery.― Any sum imposed as penalty under this Act shall be 
recoverable as an arrear of land revenue. 
 
 25. Appeal and Revision.― Any person aggrieved by an order under this Act may, 
within thirty days of the date of the order, prefer an appeal to― 
 
(a)       the Deputy Controller, where such order has been passed by an Assistant 
 Controller ; 
 
(b)       the Controller, where such order, not being an order passed in appeal under 
clause (a), has been passed by a Deputy Controller ; 
 
(c)       the prescribed appellate authority, where such order, not being an order passed 
in appeal under clause (b), has been passed by the Controller. 
 
 (2) The Federal Government may of its own motion, or on the application of any owner 
or manager aggrieved by an order passed under sub-section (1) within the prescribed time and in the 
prescribed manner, pass such order in relation thereto as it thinks fit: 
 
 Provided that no order against an owner or  a m anager s hall be p assed unless he h as b een 
given an opportunity of showing cause against it and of being heard. 
 
 26. Indemnity.― No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Federal 
Government, the Controller, a Deputy Cont roller, an Assistant Controller, the Provincial 
Government, any officer or authority subordinate to the Federal Government or a Provincial 
Government, or a member of the Committee in respect of anything which is in good faith done 
or intended to be done under this Act. 
 
 27. Power to exempt ― The Federal Government may, by noti fication in the official 
Gazette, exempt any hotel or restaurant from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this  Act  
for  such  period,  and  on  such  conditions,  if  any,  as  may  be  specified  in  the notification. 
 
 28. Delegation of powers.―(1) The Federal Government may, by notification 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— 
 
(a)       by any officer or authority subordinate to the Federal Government ; or 
 
   
 
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(b)       by any Provincial Government or by any officer or authority subordinate to 
such Government. 
 
 (2) A Provincial Government may, with the approval of the Federal Government, constitute a 
Hotels and Restaurants Committee to perform, within the Province, all or any of the functions of the 
Committee. 
 
 29. Power to make rules.―(1) The Federal Government may, by notification in 
theofficial Gazette, make 1rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
 (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality to the foregoing power, such 
rules may provide for― 
 
(a)       fixation and revision of criteria for the registration and classification of hotels 
and restaurants ; 
 
(b)       lowering or altering the  classification  of a hotel, if in  the opinion of  the 
Controller it fails to maintain the prescribed standard of classification already 
assigned ; 
 
(c)       the manner of issuance of “Sign Shields” including star classification of hotels 
and restaurants for display in hotels and restaurants at conspicuous places ; 
 
(d)       principles governing fair rates; 
 
(e)       determining  the  format,  content  and  display  of  fair  rates  for  hotels  and 
restaurants ; 
 
(f)        matters in relation to which the Committee may render aid and advice ;  
 
(g)       meetings of the Committee ; 
 
 
(h)       fixation of fees for registration and licences ; 
 
(i)        form of a certificate of medical fitness referred to in section 5 and the time at 
which it shall be submitted to the Controller ; 
 
(j)        manner of holding summary enquiry ; and 
 
(k)       any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. 
 
 30. Other laws not applicable.― Nothing contained in the Sarais Act, 1867 (XXII of 
1867), or the Karachi Hotels and Lodging-Houses (Control) Act, 1950 (LXV of 1950), shall apply 
to a hotel or restaurant to which this Act for the time being applies. 
 
 231. R epeal. The Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants Ordinance, 1976  (XXXIX of 1976), is 
hereby repealed. 
 
_____________ 
 
 
 
1For the Pakistan Hotel and Restaurants Rules, 1977, see S.R.O. No. 1150(I)/77 dated 6/12/77 , Gaz., of P., 1977, Ext., (Islamabad), Pt. II, pages 
2017-2067. 
2This Section has been omitted in its application to the Islamabad Capital Territory, see Ordinance No. 27 of 1981, s. 5 and Sch., IV.  
           
 
RGN Dated: 31-03-2026