Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1973

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THE PAKISTAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION ACT, 1973  
 
 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
__________ 
 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
     __________ 
               CHAPTER II 
ESTABLISHMENT AND INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION 
3.  Establishment of the Corporation 
3A. Application of Act VII of 2023 
       __________ 
               CHAPTER III  
             MANAGEMENT 
4.  Board 
5.  [Omitted] 
6.  Removal of independent members 
7.  Meetings of the Board 
8.  Director-General 
9.  Delegation of powers 
                CHAPTER IV 
   FUNCTIONS OF THE CORPORTION 
10.   
 

 
  
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 `                CHAPTER V 
         ESTABLISHMENT 
11. Employment of officers and staff 
12.  Transfer of Radio Pakistan servants to the Corporation 
        __________ 
 
                 CHAPTER VI 
         FINANCE 
13.  Sources of income 
14.  Budget for capital and development expenditure 
15.  Borrowing power 
16.  Audit and accounts 
17.  [Omitted] 
18.  Reports 
19.  Transfer of assets and liabilities of Radio Pakistan 
20.  Liquidation of Corporation 
      CHAPTER VII 
    RULES AND REGULATIONS 
21.  Power to make rules 
22.  Power to make regulations 
22A. Removal of difficulties 
23. [Omitted] 
 
  
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THE PAKISTAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION ACT, 1973 
 
ACT No. XXXII OF 1973 
[9th February, 1973] 
An Act to establish a Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment of a Broadcasting Corporation to 
ensure effective operation and growth of broadcasting as a function-oriented public service medium, 
general improvement in the quality of programmes, speedy implementation of projects and better 
utilisation of talent, and for matters connected therewith; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
CHAPTER I 
 PRELIMINARY 
 
 1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Pakistan 
Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1973.  
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
(3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on the twentieth 
day of December, 1972. 
2. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 
(a) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation;  
(b)  “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board; 
(c) “Corporation” means the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation established under 
section 3; 
1[ca  “division concerned” means the division to which business of the Corporation 
stands allocated;] 
2[(d) “Member” means a Member of the Board;] 
(e)  “regulation” means a regulation made under this Act;  
(f)  “rule” means a rule made under this Act; 
 
1[(fa) “secretary” shall have the same meaning as assigned thereto in the Rules of 
Business, 1973; 
(fb) “SOE Act” means the State -Owned Enterprises (Ġovernance and Operations ) 
Act, 2023 (VII of 2023); and] 
(g)  “station” means any production, receiving, or transmitting unit, fixed or 
mobile. 
 
1Ins. and added by Act No. VI of 2024, s. 2. 
2
Subs. by Ord. No. XCIV of 2002, s.2. 
 
  
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CHAPTER II 
ESTABLISHMENT AND INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION 
 
3. Establishment of the corporation.—(1) As from the commencement of this Act, there 
shall be established a Corporation to be called the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. 
 
(2) The Corporation shall be a body corporate by the  name of the Pakistan Broadcasting 
Corporation, having p erpetual succession and a common seal, with power to hold and dispose  of 
property, and shall by the said name sue and be sued. 
 
1[3A. Application of Act VII of 2023 .—(1) The provisions of the State -Owned Enterprises 
(Governance and Operations) Act, 2023 (VII of 2023) shall apply to the Pakistan Broadcast ing 
Corporation which shall be deemed to be a state-owned enterprises for the purposes of the said Act.  
 
(2) Where any inconsistency arises in a provision of the said Act and a provision of this Act 
for the purpose of governance of the corporation as a st ate-owned enterprise, the provisions of the 
said Act shall prevail.] 
 
CHAPTER III 
MANAGEMENT 
 
                1[4. Board.—(1) The general direction and the administration of the Corporation shall vest in 
a Board consisting of__ 
 
S. 
No. 
Membership Status 
(1) (2) (3) 
1. A person to be appointed by the Federal Government from 
amongst the independent members Chairman 
2. Secretary of the division concerned or in his absence his 
nominee not below the rank of an officer in BPS-20 or 
equivalent 
Member 
3. Additional Foreign Secretary or in his absence his nominee not 
below the rank of an officer in BPS-20 or equivalent 
Member 
4. Additional Secretary Finance or in his absence his nominee not 
below the rank of an officer in BPS-20 or equivalent 
Member 
5. Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) or in 
his absence his nominee not below the rank of an officer in BPS-
20 or equivalent 
Member 
6. Managing Director, Pakistan Television Corporation or in his 
absence his nominee not below the rank of an officer in BPS-20 
or equivalent 
Member 
7. Director General 
Member- 
cum- 
Secretary 
8. A representative of the Interior Division not below the rank of an 
officer in BPS-20 or equivalent Member 
9. 
Nine eminent independent members to be appointed by the Federa l 
Government including not less than one from each province, 
Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit -Baltistan and Azad Jammu and 
Kashmir 
Members 
 
1Ins. and subs. by Act No. VI of 2024, ss. 2A-3. 
 
  
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 (2) The members, other than ex-officio members, shall hold off ice for a term of three years 
and shall be eligible for re -appointment but in no case for more than two consecutive terms and they  
may, by writing under their hand addressed to the Federal Government by  giving a notice of not less  
than one month, resign their offices: 
Provided that the resignation shall not take effect until it has been accepted by the Federal 
Government.  
(3) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub -section (1), 
the Board shall have full powers with regard to― 
(a)  the preparation of the annual revenue budget of the Corporation and approval 
of the budget and expenditure not included in its annual budget for capital and 
development expenditure; 
(b)  the formulation and implementation of all programs and policies; and 
(c)  the making of plans for infrastructural and technological development within 
the country and for promotion of the Corporation's interests, abroad.] 
5. 1[Omitted] 
 2[6. Removal of independent members. ―The Federal Government may, by notifi cation in 
the official Gazette, remove an independent member in accordance with the provisions of the  SOE 
Act.] 
 
 7. Meetings of the Board.―(l) The Board shall meet at such time and such place as may be 
prescribed by regulations: 
 
Provided that not less than one meeting of the Board shall be held 1[at least once in a 
quarter]. 
 
 2[(2) Not less than fifty percent of total membership of the Board including not less than four 
independent and one ex-officio members shall constitute quorum for a meeting of the Board.] 
  (3) The Chairman, or in his absence a 1[member] authorised by him, shall preside at the 
meetings of the Board. 
 
   2[8. Director-General.―(1) There shall be a Director General of the Corporation who shall 
be its chief executive officer to be appointed by the Board in such manner and on such terms and 
conditions as may be prescribed by the Board. 
 
 (2) The Director General shall― 
 
(a)  be responsible for the management of the Corporation and for its procedures in 
financial and. other matters under delegation from the Board and subject to the 
oversight and directions of the Board; 
 
(b)  ensure the proper implementation of strategies and polici es approved by the 
Board; and 
 
(c)  put in place appropriate arrangements to ensure that funds and resources are 
properly safeguarded and are used economically, efficiently and effectively 
and in accordance with the state -owned enterprise business plan, th e primary 
objective and all statutory obligations.] 
 
1Omitted and Subs. by Ord. No. XCIV of 2002, ss. 5 and 7. 
2Subs. by Act No. VI of 2024, ss.  4-6. 
 
  
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9. Delegation of powers.—The Board may, from time to time, delegate any of its 
powers to the Director-General or any other officer of the Corporation. 
 
 
 
CHAPTER IV 
FUNCTIONS OF THE CORPORATION 
 
 
10. (1) The functions of the Corporation shall be— 
(a)  to provide broadcasting services for general reception in all parts of Pakistan 
and the territorial water thereof and on board ships and aircrafts (such services 
being hereafter referred to as Home Services) and in other countries and places 
(such services being hereafter referred to as External Services) for the 
purposes of disseminating information, education and entertainment through 
programmes which maintain a proper balance in their subject-matter and a 
high general standard of quality and morality; 
(b)  to broadcast such programmes as may promote Islamic ideology, national 
unity and principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social 
justice as enunciated by Islam, discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian, 
linguistic and provincial prejudices and reflect the urges and aspirations of 
the people of Pakistan; 
(c)  to broadcast in the Home Services such special programmes as the 1[Board] 
may, from time to time, direct; 
(d)  to broadcast programmes in the External Services to such countries and in 
such languages and at such times as the 1[Board] may, from time to time, 
direct; 
(e)  to bring to  public awareness the whole range of significant activity and to 
present news or events in as factual, accurate and impartial a manner as 
possible; 
(f)  to carry out instructions of the Federal Government with regard to general 
pattern or poli cies in respect of programmes, announcements and news to be 
put out on the air from time to time; 
(g)  to hold the existing, and to construct or acquire and establish or inst all 
additional, stations and apparatus; 
 
(h)  to hold the existing, and to construct or acquire additional, equipment and 
apparatus for telephony in Pakistan for purposes of broadcasting; 
(i)  to compile, prepare, print, publish, issue, circulate and distribute, with or 
without charge, such papers, magazines, periodicals, books, circulars and 
other such matter as may be  conducive to any of  the functions of the 
Corporation; and 
(j)  to collect news and information in any part of the world in any manner that 
may be deemed fit. 
 
1Subs. by Ord. No. XCIV of 2002, s. 8. 
 
  
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 (2) In the discharge of its functions the Corporation shall be guided on questions of policy by 
the instructions, if any, given to it from time to time by the Federal Government which shall be the 
sole judge as to whether a question is a question of policy. 
     _________ 
CHAPTER V 
ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 11. Employment of officers and staff.—The Board may, from time to time, employ such 
persons as it may consider necessary for the performance of its functions on such terms and 
conditions as it may prescribe by regulations. 
12. Transfer of Radio Pakistan servants to the Corporation.—(1) Notwithstanding 
anything to the contrary in any contract or agreement or in the conditions of service, the Federal 
Government may, subject to the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3), transfer persons in the service 
of Pakistan and serving in connection with the affairs of the department of the Government of 
Pakistan headed by the Director-General, Radio Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as Radio Pakistan, 
immediately before the commencement of this Act, including persons on deputation to other 
organisations in Pakistan or abroad, to the Corporation on the same terms and conditions to which 
they were entitled immediately before such commencement. 
 1[(1A) The persons transferred to the Corporation under sub-section (1) shall cease to be civil 
servants in the service of Pakistan and become employees of the corporation from the date of its 
establishment under s ection 3, on the s ame t erms and conditions to which they w ere entitled 
immediately before such transfer. 
(1B) Notwithstanding any judgement of any Court or tribunal, including the Supreme Court, 
any law, contract, agreement or the conditions of service, all actions taken, powers exercised, orders 
or instructions issued, by the Corporation in respect of terms and conditions of employees referred to 
in sub-section (1A) after their transfer to t he Corporation till the coming into force of the Pakistan 
Broadcasting Co rporation (Am endment) Act, 1996 (IV of 1996), shall be deemed to have been 
validly taken, exercised or issued by the Corporation.] 
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-section (1), only su ch members of the Information 
Service of Pakistan serving Radio Pakistan immediately before the commencement of this Act shall 
be transferred to the Corporation as opt for service in the Corporation. 
(3) The persons transferred to the Corporation under sub-section (2) shall, on such transfer, 
cease to be members of the Information Service of Pakistan. 
(4) The terms and conditions of service of the members of the Information service of Pakistan 
transferred to the corporation under sub-section (2) shall not be altered by the Corporation to their 
disadvantage. 
 
1Ins. by Act No. IV of 1996, s. 2 and shall be deemed always to have so been inserted.  
 
 
  
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 (5) No person in the service of Pakistan who is transferred to the Corporation under sub-
section (1) shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, be 
entitled to any compensation because of such transfer. 
               __________ 
CHAPTER VI 
 
FINANCE 
 
13. Sources of income.— The sources of income of the Corporation shall be— 
 
(a) grants-in-aid made by the Federal Government for approved projects of the 
Corporation; 
 
(b) moneys paid by the Federal Government for the expenditure incurred by the 
Corporation on the External Services and other services performed by the 
Corporation at the instance and on behalf of that Government; 
 
(c)  such annual subsidy as the Federal Government may grant; 
 
(d)  licence fee as the Federal Government may fix in respect of licences issued 
under section 4 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 (XVII of 1933), to 
possess wireless telegraphy apparatus; 
 
(e)  income derived from sale of programmes and broadcast time for 
advertisement; and 
 
(f)  income from other sources. 
14. Budget for capital and development expenditure.—Before the commencement of 
each financial year, the Corporation shall submit to the 1[Board] for its approval a budget for 
the capital and development expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Corporation during the 
financial year and shall no incur any expenditure of the nature of capital and development 
expenditure which is not provided for in the budget as approved by the 1[Board]. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. Borrowing power.—The Corporation may, with the previous sanction of the Federal 
Government, and on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Government, borrow in 
Pakistan currency or foreign currency. 
 
 16. Audit and accounts.—1[(1) The accounts of the Corporation shall be maintained and 
audited in accordance with the provisions of Articles 169 and 170 of the Constitution of the  Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan.] 
 (2) Copies of the audit report shall be sent to the Board and the report shall also be available 
for public inspection. 
 (3) The statement of audited accounts of the Corporation together with a report of the Board 
thereon shall be furnished to the 1[secretary finance division through the secretary of the division  
concerned] by the Corporation within six months of the close of every financial year.  
 (4) The 1[secretary finance division through the secr etary of the division concerned ] may at 
any time issue directions to the Corporation to rectify and audit objection and the Corporation shall 
comply with every such direction. 
 
1Subs. by Act No. VI of 2024, ss. 7-8. 
 
  
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 17. 1[Omitted] 
18. Reports.—(1) The Corporation shall submit to the Federal Government at such time, 
after the end of every financial year, in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed by rules, 
a report on the conduct of its affairs for that year. 
(2) The Federal Government shall cause the report to be laid the National Assembly. 
19. Transfer of assets and liabilities of Radio Pakistan.—All assets and liabilities of the 
Federal Government in relation to Radio Pakistan subsisting immediately before the commencement 
of this Act shall, unless the Federal Government, by notification in the official Gazette, otherwise 
directs, vest in the Corporation as from such commencement. 
20. Liquidation of Corporation.—No provision of law relating to the winding up of 
companies shall apply to the Corporation and the Corporation shall not be wound up save by an 
order of the Federal Government and in such manner as the Federal Government may direct. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
RULES AND REGULATIONS 
21. Power to make rules.—The Federal Government may make rules for carrying out the 
purposes of this Act. 
22. Power to make regulations.—2[(1)] The Board may, with the p revious sanction of the 
Federal Government, make regulations to provide for all matters not required to be provided for by 
rules and for which provision is necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
2[(2) The regulations made under this section on the first occasion, other than those having 
financial implications, may be made so as to have effect from the date of the establishment of the 
Corporation.] 
 
 3[22A. Removal of difficulties.—If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the 
provisions of this Act, the Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, as may appear to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty.] 
 23. 4[Omitted] 
 
 
____________ 
 
 
 
 
RGN Date: 23-08-2024 
1Omitted by Act No. IV of 1999, s. 23. 
2Re-numbered and added by Ord. No. XXXIII of 1979, s. 2. 
3Ins. by Act No. VI of 2024, s. 9. 
4Omitted by Ord. No. XXVII of 1981, s. 3 Sch. II.