Pakistan Science Foundation Act, 1973

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THE PAKISTAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACT, 1973 
 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definition 
3. Establishment of the Foundation 
4. Functions of the Foundation 
5. Board of Trustees 
6. Chairman of the Foundation 
7. Members of the Board 
8. Meetings of the Board 
9. Quorum at the meeting of the Board 
10. Executive Committee 
11. Delegation of powers 
12. Ad hoc Committees 
13. Funds 
14. Budget 
15. Accounts and Audit 
16. Appointments of officers and servants 
17. Annual Report 
18. Regulation 
19. [Repeal.] 

 
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THE PAKISTAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACT, 1973 
 1ACT No. III OF 1973  
  [31st January, 1973] 
An Act to provide for the establishment of the Pakistan Science Foundation. 
 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the establishment of the Pakistan Science 
Foundation and for matters ancillary thereto;  
 
 It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Pakistan Science 
Foundation Act, 1973. 
 
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan. 
  
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
 
2. Definition. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 
  
(a) "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Foundation; 
 
(b) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Foundation; and 
 
(c) "Foundation" means the Pakistan Science 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, by notification in the official Gazette, establish a Pakistan 
Science Foundation to promote and finance scientific activities h aving a  bearing on t he socio-
economic needs of the country. 
(2) The Foundation shall be a body corporate by the  name of the Pakistan Science 
Foundation, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions 
of this Act, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and shall by the 
said name sue and be sued. 
  
(3) The head office of the Foundation shall be at Islamabad. 
 
4. Functions of  the Foundation.—(1) The  Foundation sh all function as a  financing 
agency for— 
 
 
 
1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Gaz. of P., 1973, Ext., Pt. III, p. 27. 
 
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 (i) the establishment of comprehensive s cientific and t echnological in formation 
 and dissemination centres; 
 (ii) the promotion of basic and fundamental research in the universities and 
 other institutions on scientific p roblems relevant to the so cio- economic 
 development of the country; 
 (iii) the utilisation of the results of scientific and technological research including 
 pilot plant studies to prove the technical and economic feasibility of processes 
 found to be promising on a laboratory scale; 
(iv) the establishment of science centres, clubs, mus eums, herbaria and 
planetaria; 
(v) the promotion of scientific societies, associations and academies engaged in 
spreading the cause of scientific knowledge in general or in the pursuit of a 
specific scientific discipline or technology in particular; 
(vi) the o rganisation of periodical science conferences, symposia and 
seminars; 
(vii) the exchange of visits of scientists and technologists with other countries; 
(viii) the grant of awards, prizes and fellowships to individuals engaged in 
developing processes, products and inventions of consequence to the economy 
of the country; and 
(ix) special scientific surveys not undertaken by any other organization and 
collection of scientific statistics related to the scientific effort of the 
country. 
(2) The Foundations shall also— 
(i) review the progress of scientific research sponsored by it and evaluate the 
results of such research; 
(ii) maintain a National Register of highly qualified and talented scientists of 
Pakistan, including engineers and doctors, in or outside the country and to 
assist them, in collaboration with the concerned agencies in finding 
appropriate employment; and 
 (iii) establish liaison with similar bodies in other countries. 
 (3) In the performance of its functions, the Foundation shall be guided on questions of  
policy by the instructions, if any, given to it by the Federal Government which shall be the sole  
judge as to whether a question is a question of policy. 
 
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5. Board of Trustees. The general direction, conduct and management of the affairs of the 
Foundation, including administration of its funds, shall vest in a Board of Trustees consisting of the 
following members namely:— 
Whole-time members 
(i) the Chairman; 
(ii) one eminent scientist;  
(iii) the Director of Finance; 
to be appointed by the President;  
Part-time members 
(iv)   the Chairman of the National Science Council; 
(v)    four scientists to be nominated by the National Science Council; and 
(vi)   eleven eminent scientists to be nominated by the President. 
(2) The remuneration and other terms and conditions of service of the C hairman and the 
two other whole-time members of" the Board' shall be such as may be determined by the President. 
1[6. Chairman of the Foundation.—(1) The Chairman of the Board shall be the Chairman 
of the  Foundation and shall be appointed from amongst eminent scientist of the country having 
experience of research and scientific administration:— 
(2) The  Chairman shall, subject to sub-section (3), hold  office for a term not exceeding 
three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment 
 
 (3) The President may at any time terminate the appointment of the Chairman without notice 
and without assigning any reason.]. 
2[7. Members of the Board.—(1) The members of the Board, other than the ex-officio 
member shall, subject to sub-section (3), hold office for a term not exceeding three years and shall 
be eligible for re-appointment or re-nomination, as the case may be. 
 
 (2) A member, other than an ex -officio member, may at any time resign his office by writing 
under his hand addressed to the President but shall continue to perform his functi ons until his 
resignation has been accepted. 
(3) The President may at any time  terminate the appointment or, as the case may b e, 
nomination of any member of the Board without notice and without assigning any reason]. 
 
1 Subs, by the Pakistan Science Foundation (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1979 (13 of 1979), s. 2. 
2 Subs. by the Pakistan Science Foundation (Amdt.) Ordinance, 1979 (13 of 1979), s. 3. 
 
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8. Meetings of the Board.—(1) The meetings of the Board shall be held at least twice 
a year and shall be presided over by the Chairman or, in his absence, by its whole-time scientist 
member. 
(2) All decisions at a meeting of the Board shall be taken by a majority of the votes of the 
members present and voting. 
 9. Quorum at the meeting of the Board. To constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Board 
not less than nine members shall be present. 
 10. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the 
Chairman and the two other whole-time members of the Board. 
11. Delegation of powers. The Board may, from time to time, delegate to the Chairman or 
the Executive Committee such of its powers and functions as it may consider necessary. 
12. Ad hoc Committees. The Foundation may set up ad hoc committees consisting of 
university professors and other leading scientists and experts to scrutinize applications for financial 
assistance for carrying out scientific research submitted to the Foundation by the univ ersities or 
other institutions or by individual scientific workers or groups of scientific workers and to review 
and evaluate the results of research sponsored by the Foundation. 
13. Funds. The funds of the Foundation shall consist of— 
 (a) grants made by the Federal Government and the Provincial Governments; 
 (b) donations and endowments; and 
 (c) income from other sources. 
14. B udget. The Foundation shall cause to be p repared and approve a  statement of its 
receipts and expenditure for each financial year. 
15. Accounts and Audit.—(1) The  funds of the Foundation shall be kept in a p ersonal 
ledger account of the Foundation with the State Bank of Pakistan or with any Branch of the 
National Bank of Pakistan acting as an agent of the State Bank. 
(2) The  accounts of the Foundation shall be maintained in such form and manner as the   
Auditor-General  of  Pakistan  may  determine  in  consultation  with  the  Federal Government. 
(3) The accounts of the Foundation shall be audited by o ne or more auditors who are 
chartered accountants within the meaning of  the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961 (X of  
1961) and are appointed by the Foundation in consultation with the Auditor-General of Pakistan. 
16. Appointments of officers and servants.—(1) The Foundation may appoint such 
officers and servants, and engage such consultants or experts, as it may consider necessary for 
the efficient performance of its Functions, on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit. 
(2) In fixing the terms and conditions of service of its officers and servants, the Foundation 
 
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shall as nearly as may be conform to the scales of pay, allowances and conditions of service 
applicable to the corresponding class of employees of the Federal Government. 
17. Annual Report.—(1) The annual report of the Foundation, which shall, among other 
things, clearly bring out the benefits accruing to the nation as a result of the activities sponsored by 
the Foundation, shall be prepared by the Chairman and submitted, through the Board, to the  
Federal Government alongwith the audited accounts of the Foundation. 
(2) The annual report alongwith the audited accounts of the Foundation shall be laid before 
the National Assembly. 
 18. Regulation. The Foundation may make Regulations for the efficient conduct of it affairs.  
 19. [Repeal.] Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 
1981(XXVIIof 1981), s. 3 and Sch., II.