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THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNAL PROPERTIES OF 
MINORITIES ORDINANCE, 2001 
              
 
CONTENTS 
1.  Short title, extent, commencement and application 
2.  Definition 
3.  Ban on sale or transfer of minority communities properties 
4. Ordinance not to apply to evacuee trust properties 
5.  Punishment 
6.  Removal of difficulties 
7.  Power to make rules 
 
 
 
  
 
 

 
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THE PROTECTION OF COMMUNAL PROPERTIES OF MINORITIES 
ORDINANCE, 2001 
ORDINANCE NO. V OF 2002 
          [22nd January, 2002] 
AN 
ORDINANCE 
to protect the properties of minority communities meant for their communal use 
 WHEREAS in view of prevailing circumstances, it is the demand of the minority 
communities to protect their properties meant for their communal use ; 
 AND WHEREAS  the President is satisfied that circumstances exists which render it 
necessary to take immediate action ; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of Emergency of the fourteenth 
day of October, 1999, and the Provisional Constitution Order No.1 of  1999, read with the 
Provisional Constitution (Amendment) Order No.9 of 19 99, and in exercise of all powers 
enabling him in that behalf, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to make 
and promulgate the following Ordinance :— 
 1. Short title, extent, commencement and application .― (1) This Ordinance may be 
called the Protection of Communal Properties of Minorities Ordinance, 2001. 
 (2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
  (3) It shall come into force at once. 
 (4) It shall apply to properties belonging to the minority communities in Pakistan meant 
for their communal use. 
 2. Definition.—In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,— 
(a)  “Commission” means the National Commission for Minorities. 
(b)  “Property” means places of worship, monasteries, seminaries, vicarages, 
dharamshalas, gaoshalas, burial places, community centers, social welfare, 
educational, health and recreational institutions meant for communal use of 
minority communi ties and includes side buildings, vacant places, lands, 
residential places or offices annexed to the said properties. 
  3. Ban on sale or transfer of minority communities properties .— (1) No property of a 
minority community meant for its communal use shall  be bought, sold or tran sferred by any 
person without NOC from the Federal Government :  
 
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 Provided that nothing contained herein shall apply to a property bought, sold or 
transferred for a Housing Scheme, meant for a minority community, approved by a 
Provincial or Federal Government. 
 (2) The N.O.C. referred to in sub-section (1) may be given by the Federal Government on 
the recommendation of the National Commission for Minorities. 
 4. Ordinance not to apply to evacuee trust properties .___ Nothing in t his Ordinance 
shall apply to the evacuee trust properties forming party of Trust Pool and vested in the Federal 
Government under the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act,  1975 (XIII of 
1975). 
 5. Punishment.—Whoever buys, sells or transfe rs any property belonging to a minority 
community meant for its communal use in violation of section 3, shall be punishable with 
imprisonment of either description which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to 
fine which shall not be less than one hundred thousand rupees and the sale or transfer transaction 
shall be of no legal effect. 
 6. Removal of difficulties .___ If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the 
provision of this Ordinance, the Federal Government may make such order, not inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Ordinance, as may appear to be necessary for the purpose of removing the 
difficulty. 
 7. Power to make rules .___ The Federal Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
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RGN Date; 30-12-2025