National Book Foundation Act, 1972

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THE NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION ACT, 1972 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Establishment of the Foundation 
4.  Constitution of the Foundation 
5.  Managing Director 
6.  Functions of the Foundation 
7.  Audit 
8.  Power to make rules 
9.  [Omitted] 
 
 
  
 
 

 
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THE NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION ACT, 1972 
ACT NO. XIX OF 1972 
[25th September, 1972]  
An Act to provide for the establishment of a Foundation for making books available at 
moderate prices. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment of a Foundation for making books 
available at moderate prices, and for matters ancillary thereto;  
 It is hereby enacted as follows:—  
 1. Short title, extent and commencement. —(1) This Act may be called the National Book 
Foundation Act, 1972.  
 (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)  “books” shall include text books, reference books and other books on religion 
and other books and reading material for use by students and the general public; 
and  
(b)  “Foundation” means the Foundation established under this Act.  
 3.  Establishment of the Foundation. —(1) As soon as may be after the commencement of 
this Act, the Federal Government may, for the purpose of making books available at moderate prices, 
by notification in the official Gazette, establish a National Book Foundation, hereinafter referred to as 
the Foundation.  
 (2) The Foundation shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal 
with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable.  
 4. Constitution of the Foundation.—(1) The management, overall control and supervision of 
the affairs of the Foundation shall vest in a Board of Governors consisting of the following members, 
namely:—  
 
 (1)  the Minister for Education and Provincial Coordination, who shall also be the chairman of 
the Board;  
 (2)  the Secretary, Ministry of Education and Provincial Coordination;  
  
 (3)  one representative of each of the Provinces;  
  
 (4)  one representative of the  areas not forming part of any p rovince, to be appointed by the  
Federal Government;  
 
 (5)  a representative of the University Grants Commission;  
 
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 (6)  the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen of Education Board;  
(7)  (i)  five persons to be appointed by the Federal Government from amongst eminent 
 educationists scholars, scientists, men of letters and persons connected with 
 education or the production of books;  
 (ii)  five representatives of whom one shall be a female to be elected by the National 
 Assembly of Pakistan from amongst themselves;  
  
 (8)  the Managing Director of the Foundation, to be appointed by the Federal Government; and 
  
 (9)  the Secretary of the Foundation, to be appointed by the Federal Government.  
 (2)  The members of the Board of Governors, other than the ex-officio members, shall hold 
office for three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.  
 (3) The office of the Foundation shall be at Islamabad.   
 5. Managing D irector. The Managing Director shall be the chief executive officer of the 
Foundation and shall, subject to the general supervision of the Chairman of the Board of Governors, 
be responsible for carrying out the objects of the Foundation as laid down by the  Board from time to 
time.  
 6. Functions of the Foundation. The following shall be the functions of the Foundation, 
namely:—  
(a)  to receive any money or financial grants from the Federal Government, the 
Provincial Governments, local bodies and any statut ory or non -statutory 
corporation;  
(b)  to collect, accept or otherwise receive from any person, body, association, 
institution or organization any subscription or donation made to the Founda - 
tion;  
(c)  to undertake writing of books and to encourage writers to produce good books;  
(d)  to undertake the tra nslation of foreign and locally -produced books into the 
national and regional languages of the country and vice versa; 
(e)  to arrange the original publication and re -production of local books as well as 
those published abroad;  
(f)  to import foreign books and to undertake the distribution of books among the 
educational institutions and the general public;  
(g)  to encourage the writers and the book trade in general in the production of books 
and making them available to the students and the general public at moderate 
prices;  
(h)  to provide technical know-how and financial assistance and to take other steps 
aimed at fostering interest in books and in reading; and  
 
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(i)  to initiate such other activities and programmes as may assist in the task of book 
development, book promotion, advancement of literacy and dissemination of 
knowledge by means of the printed word.  
 7. Audit. The accounts of the Foundation shall be audited annually by the Auditor- General of 
Pakistan and the balance-sheet and statements of assets and liabilities shall be duly considered by the 
Board of Governors.  
 8. Power to make rules. The Foundation may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this 
Act.  
 9. 1[Omitted] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RGN Date:-22.04.2024 
 1Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (XXVII of 1981), s. 3 and Sch., II.