PAKISTAN NURSING COUNCIL ACT, 1973

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THE PAKISTAN NURSING COUNCIL ACT, 1973 
(XXVI of 1973) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Establishment of the council 
4. Terms of office of members 
5. Casual vacancies 
6. Vacancy, etc., not to invalidate proceedings 
7. Meetings of the council 
8. President and vice-president 
9. Executive committee 
10. Officers and servants of the council 
11. Provincial nursing examination board 
12. Recognition of institutions or authority conducting training 
13. Reciprocal recognition of qualification 
14. Certification of certain persons as possessed of recognized qualification 
15. Effect of recognition 
16. Institutions to furnish information required by council 
17. Inspection of institution 
18. Withdrawal of recognition 
19. Maintenance of the register 
20. Procedure for registration 
21. Removal of name from the register 
22. Disqualification for registration 
23. Prohibition of employment of unregistered nurses, etc 
24. Penalty for certain offenses 
25. Annual report 
26. Power to make regulations 
27. Repeal and saving 
SCHEDULE 
 
 
TEXT 
THE PAKISTAN NURSING COUNCIL ACT, 1973 
(XXVI of 1973) 
[9th February, 1973] 
An 
Act 
to amend and consolidate the laws relating to registration and training of nurses, 
midwives and health visitors. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to amend and consolidate the laws relating to 
registration and  training of nurses, midwives and health visitors and to provide for 
matters ancillary thereto; 
It is hereby enacted as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be called the 
Pakistan Nursing Council Act, 1973. (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 repugna nt in the subject or 
context– 
a) "Board" means a Provincial Nursing Examination Board constituted 
under section 11; 
b) "Council" means the Pakistan Nursing Council established under 
section 3; 
c) "Member" means a member of the Council; 
d) "Prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made under section 26; 
e) "Recognized higher qualifications'' means a qualification granted by an 
institution established and maintained by the Federal Governments 
which is declared to be a recognized higher qualification for the 
purposes of t his Act, and includes a qualification which was, 
immediately before the commencement of this Act, recognized higher 
qualification under the Pakistan Nursing Council Act, 1952 (LIX of 
1952); 
f) "Recognized qualification" means a qualification granted by a Boar d 
which is declared to be a recognized qualification for the purposes of 
this Act and includes– 
i) a qualification specified in the schedule; and 
ii) a qualification which was, immediately before the 
commencement of this act, a recognized qualification under the 
Pakistan Nursing Council Act, 1952 (LIX of 1952); 
g) "Register" means the register of nurses, midwives, health visitors and 
nursing auxiliaries maintained under section 19; 
3. Establishment of the council .– (1) The Federal Government shall, as soon 
as may be, establish a Council to be called the Pakistan Nursing Council, which shall 
consist of the following members, namely: 
Ex-Officio Members 
a) The Director General Health, Government of Pakistan; 
b) The Chief Administrative Officer, by whatever name called, of the 
Health Services of each Provincial Government; 
c) The Chief Nursing Administrative Officer, by whatever name called, of 
the Federal Government; 
d) The Chief Nursing Administrator, by whatever name called, of the 
Armed Forces Nursing Service, 
e) The Superintendent of N ursing Services of each Provincial 
Government or, if there is no such Superintendent in a Province;, the 
person holding the corresponding office. 
Other Members 
f) One nurse from each Province, to be elected by the Provincial Board; 
g) One nurse-midwife from each Province, to be elected by the Provincial 
Board; 
h) Three members elected by the Pakistan Nurses Federation from 
amongst its members, one of whom is a nurse, one a nurse -midwife, 
and one a health; 
i) One member elected by the Medical and Dental Council from amo ngst 
its members; 
j) Two members to be elected by the National Assembly from amongst its 
members; 
k) One lady member of each Provincial Assembly to be elected by the 
Provincial Assembly from amongst its members; 
l) One health visitor from each Province, to be elect ed by the Provincial 
Board; 
m) Two members nominated by the Federal Government, of whom– 
i) one shall be an experienced educationist, and 
ii) one shall be nursing instructor of an institution maintained by the 
Government. 
(2) The Council established under subsection (1)  shall be a body 
corporate having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, among 
others, to acquire, hold and dispose of property, and shall by its name sue and be 
sued. 
4. Terms of office of members .– (1) Subject to the provisions of this section,  
an elected or nominated member shall hold office for a term of 3 years from the date 
of his election or nomination, as the case may be. 
(2) An elected or a nominated member may at any time resign his office by 
writing under his hand addressed to the President  of the Council and the seat of 
such member shall thereupon become vacant. 
(3) An elected or a nominated member shall be deemed to have vacated 
his seat– 
a) if he ceases to represent the particular interest which he was 
elected or nominated to represent or to hol d any office or 
appointment by virtue of which he was qualified to be elected or 
nominated; or 
b) if he is declared by the Council to have been absent without 
sufficient cause from three consecutive meetings of the Council. 
(4) An elected or a nominated member sh all be eligible for re election or 
re-nomination but not for more than two consecutive terms. 
5. Casual Vacancies .– A casual vacancy in the office of a member shall be 
filled for the  remainder of the term of such member by election or nomination of 
another person in his place in the same manner in which such member was elected 
or nominated. 
6. Vacancy, etc., not to invalidate proceedings .– No act or proceeding of the 
Council shall be invalid merely on the grounds of existence of any vacancy in, or any 
defect in the constitution of, the Council. 
7. Meetings of the council .– (1) The Council shall, for the purpose of 
transacting its  business, meet at least once every six months at such times and 
places as the Council may deem fit or as the President of the Council may 
determine. 
(2) Special meetings may be held at such times and places as the Council 
may deem fit or as the President of the Council may determine. 
(3) A written notice with respect to the time, place and object of any 
special meeting shall be sent by post by the Se cretary to the Council to all the 
members at least seven days before the day fixed for such meeting. 
(4) Unless otherwise prescribed, fourteen members shall form a quorum 
for the meeting of the Council; and all decisions of the Council shall be made by a 
majority of the members present and voting. 
8. President and vice -president.– (1) Unless prevented by circumstances 
beyond its  control, the Council shall, at its first meeting to be presided over by a 
member elected for the purpose, elect from among its members a President and a 
Vice-President. 
(2) The President or the Vice -President of the Council shall hold office as 
such for so long as he continues to be a member. 
9. Executive committee .– (1) The Council shall constitute an Executive 
Committee consisting of the Preside nt, the Vice -President and seven other persons 
elected by it from amongst its members and may constitute such other committees 
for general or special purposes as the Council may deem necessary for carrying out 
the purposes of this Act. 
(2) The President and th e Vice-President of the Council shall respectively 
be President and the Vice-President of the Executive Committee. 
(3) The Executive Committee shall exercise and perform such powers and 
functions as are, or may be, conferred or imposed upon it by or under this Act. 
10. Officers and servants of the council .– (1) The Council shall appoint a 
Registrar of the  Council and may appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other 
officers and servants as it may deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of this 
Act. Provided that the Council may, if it thinks fit, require the Registrar to perform the 
functions of Secretary and the Treasurer or any of them. 
(2) The Council shall with the previous sanction of the Federal 
Government, determine the terms and conditions of service and  fix the pay and 
allowances of the officers and servants. 
11. Provincial nursing examination board .– (1) The Provincial Government 
shall constitute a Provincial Nursing Examination Board consisting of such persons 
as the Provincial Governments may, in consulta tion with the Federal Government 
appoint. 
(2) The functions of Boards shall be to confer, grant or issue diplomas, 
licenses, certificates or other documents stating or implying that the holder, grantee 
or recipient, thereof has acquired a qualification in nurs ing, midwifery, health visiting, 
public health nursing or auxiliary nursing and to desiring to obtain such qualifications. 
(3) A Board shall conduct its proceedings in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
12. Recognition of institutions or authority conducting traini ng.– (1) Any 
institution or  authority which conducts any courses of study of training in general 
nursing, midwifery, health visiting, public health nursing, auxiliary nursing or nursing 
aide (Naid) may apply to the Council for recognition. 
(2) The Council may, if it is satisfied after such inquiry as it may think fit to 
make that the institution or authority making an application under sub -section (1) 
fulfills such requirements as may be prescribed for the purpose, grant the recognition 
applied for. 
13. Reciprocal recognition of qualification.– (1) The Council may, for settling a 
scheme of reciprocity or recognition of qualifications, enter into negotiations with any 
authority in a foreign country which, by the law of such country, is entrusted with the 
maintenance of, or is authorized to maintain, a register of nurses, midwives, or 
health visitors. 
(2) The Council may, in pursuance of any scheme of reciprocity settled 
under sub-section (1), by notification in the official Gazette, declare in respect of any 
qualification or higher qualification granted by any authority in such country that such 
qualification or such higher qualification, only when granted after the date specified 
in the notification, shall be a recognized qualification or a recognized higher 
qualification for the purposes of this Act. 
(3) Notwithstanding that a scheme of reciprocity has not been settled 
under sub -section (1), the Federal Government may, after consultation with the 
Council, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that a qualification o r higher 
qualification granted by an institution or authority of a foreign country shall, for such 
period and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the modification, 
be a recognized qualification or a recognized higher qualification fo r the purposes of 
this Act. 
14. Certification of certain persons as possessed of recognized 
qualification.– (1) Where, upon an application made in this behalf, the Council is 
satisfied that a person is, by reason of qualifications granted by an institution out side 
Pakistan and of experience gained in Pakistan possessed of qualifications not 
inferior to a recognized qualification, it may with the approval of the Federal 
Government, certify that such person possesses qualifications which entitle him to 
be regarded as possessing a recognized qualification. 
(2) A person in favor of whom a certificate under sub -section (1) has been 
granted shall be deemed to be possessed of a recognized qualification for the 
purposes of this Act. 
15. Effect of recognition .– (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other 
law for the time being in force. 
a) a person possessing a recognized qualification shall be entitled to be 
enrolled in the register, 
b) a person possessing a recognized higher qualification shall be entitled 
to have such qualif ication entered as a supplementary qualification in 
the register; and 
c) no person shall, after the commencement of this Act, be entitled– 
i) to be enrolled in the register as a nurse, midwife, health visitor, 
public health nurse or nursing auxiliary unless such  person 
possesses a recognized qualification; or 
ii) to have any of his qualifications which is not a recognized higher 
qualification entered as a supplementary qualification in the 
register. 
16. Institutions to furnish information required by council .– (1) Every 
institution or authority which conducts any course of study or training for the purpose 
of preparing candidates for any recognized qualification or recognized higher 
qualification, or applies for the recognition of any qualifications granted by it, shall 
furnish to the Council such information as it may, from time to time, require relating 
to– 
a) the course of study and training; 
b) examinations conducted during such courses of study and training; 
c) the ages at which admissions are allowed to such courses of study and 
training; and 
d) any other matter generally pertinent to the requirements for its 
recognition. 
17. Inspection of institution .– (1) The Executive Committee may cause to be 
inspected by any person nominated by it any Institution or authority which conducts 
course of study or training for the purpose of preparing candidates for a recognized 
qualification or a recognized higher qualification and to attend examinations held by 
such Institution or authority. 
(2) The persons nominated under sub -section (1) shall report t o the 
Executive Committee on the suitability of the Institution or authority for the purposes 
of training and the adequacy of training imparted therein. 
(3) The Executive Committee shall forward a copy of a report made under 
sub-section 
(2) to the Institution or a uthority concerned for making such observations 
thereon as it may think fit to make within the period specified by the Committee. 
(4) Upon the expiry of the period specified under sub -section (3) the 
Executive Committee shall, together with the observations, i f any, made by any 
Institution or authority, submit the report to the Council with such recommendations 
thereon as it may think fit to make. 
18. Withdrawal of recognition.– (1) Where, after considering a report submitted 
under sub section (4) of section 17, the Council is of opinion– 
a) that the courses of study or training required to be undergone for 
obtaining a recognized qualification or recognized higher qualification 
or conditions for admission to such courses of study or training or the 
standards of profici ency acquired by the candidates at the 
examinations held by the Board, are not in conformity with or fall short 
of the standards required by the regulations, or 
b) that an Institution or authority recognized by the Council for the training 
of Nurses, Midwives , Health Visitors or Nursing Auxiliaries does not 
satisfy the prescribed requirements as to courses of study and training 
for obtaining recognized qualifications or recognized higher 
qualifications the Council shall send a statement to that effect together  
with a copy of the report submitted by the Executive Committee to the 
Federal Government 
(2) Upon the receipt of a statement under sub section (1), the Federal 
Government shall forward it with such remarks thereon as it may think fit to make to 
the Institution or authority concerned for the submission within a specified period of 
such explanation as the Institution or authority may like to offer. 
Upon the expiry of the period specified under sub -section (2), the Federal 
Government may, after considering the ex planation, if any, offered by any Institution 
or authority, direct the Council to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure 
compliance by the 
(3) Institution or authority with the requirements of this Act and 
Regulations. 
(4) Without prejudice to any steps tha t may be taken by it under sub -
section (3) with respect to an Institution or authority, the Council may, by notification 
in the official Gazette, declare that any qualification granted by such Institution or 
authority which is a recognized qualification or  a recognized higher qualification 
shall, if it is granted after a date specified in the notification, cease to be a 
recognized qualification or, as the case may be, a recognized higher qualification. 
(5) The Council may, by notification in the official Gazette, declare that any 
qualification granted outside Pakistan which is a recognized qualification or a 
recognized higher qualification shall, if it is granted after a date specified in the 
notification, cease to be a recognized qualification or, as the case m ay be, a 
recognized higher qualification. 
19. Maintenance of the register .– The Council shall, for the purpose of 
registration of  nurses, midwives, health visitors and nursing auxiliaries possessing 
recognized qualifications or recognized higher qualifications , maintain a register in 
which shall be entered such particulars relating to the persons registered as may be 
prescribed. 
20. Procedure for registration .– (1) Any person possessing a recognized 
qualification or recognized higher qualification who is not disqua lified for registration 
under section 22 may make an application, accompanied by the prescribed fee, for 
registration of his name in the register. 
(2) The Council shall, if it is satisfied that the applicant possesses a 
recognized qualification or recognized h igher qualification and is not disqualified for 
registration under section 22, register the name of the applicant in the register. 
(3) No application under sub -section (1) shall be rejected except after 
giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard. 
21. Removal of name from the register .– (1) The Council may, if it is satisfied 
that a person  has, after his registration, become disqualified for such registration, 
remove the name of such person from the register and thereupon such person shall 
cease to be so reg istered, provided that no name shall be so removed except after 
giving the person affected an opportunity of being heard. 
(2) The Council may, at any time for reasons to be recorded in writing, 
restore in the register the name of any person which has been remo ved therefrom 
under sub-section (1). 
22. Disqualification for registration .– (1) A person shall be disqualified for 
registration in the register if he– 
a) has been convicted of any offence under this Act or of any other 
offence which in the opinion of the Council  implies a defect of 
character; or 
b) has, at any inquiry held by the Council in which the person was given a 
reasonable opportunity of being heard, been found guilty of such 
conduct as is considered regulations derogatory to his profession in 
accordance with the regulations made under section 26. 
23. Prohibition of employment of unregistered nurses, etc .– (1) No hospital, 
asylum, infirmary, dispensary or lying in hospital maintained or aided by the Federal 
Government or a Provincial Government or a local authorit y shall employ therein any 
person as nurse, midwife, health visitor or nursing auxiliary unless such person– 
a) is registered in the register; or 
b) is a trainee at an institution recognized for the purpose by the Council 
and is certified by the head of that Ins titution to have already received 
sufficient training to be able to perform his duties safely and 
satisfactorily. 
24. Penalty for certain offenses .– (1) A person shall be punishable with 
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 6 month s, or with 
a fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both, 
a) he procures or attempts to procure the registration of his name in the 
register, or abets the procurement of such registration of any name by 
making or causing to be made in any manne r whatsoever any false or 
fraudulent statement, representation or declaration; or, 
b) he, not being registered in the register, represents that he is so 
registered, or uses with his name any title or any word or letter 
representing or calculated to represent that he is so registered; or 
c) he practices as a nurse, midwife, health visitor or nursing auxiliary in 
contravention of any Regulations made under section 26. 
25. Annual report.– (1) The Council shall submit to the Federal Government, as 
soon as possible after the end of every year, a report on the conduct of its affairs 
during that year. 
 (2) The Federal Government may at any time require the Council to furnish 
it with: 
a) a report on any subject with which the Council is concerned; 
b) any return, statement, statisti cs or other information regarding any 
matter under the control of the Council; or 
c) a copy of any document in the charge of the Council and the Council 
shall comply with every such requisition. 
26. Power to make regulations .– (1) The Council may, with the previo us 
sanction of the Federal Government, make Regulations for carrying out the purposes 
of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing 
power, such Regulations may provide for– 
a) the management of the property of the Counci l and the maintenance 
and audit of its accounts; 
b) the manner in which the elections of the President, Vice -President and 
members shall be conducted; 
c) the summoning and holding of the meetings of the Council or of a 
Board, the conduct of business thereat and the number of members 
necessary to constitute a quorum; 
d) prescribing the functions of the Executive Committee, the summoning 
and holding of meetings thereof, the times and places at which such 
meetings shall be held, and the number of members necessary to 
constitute a quorum; 
e) prescribing the powers and duties of the President and the Vice -
President; 
f) prescribing the terms and conditions of service and the powers and 
duties of the officers and servants of the Council; 
g) prescribing the standard courses of traini ng for nurses, midwives, 
health visitors and nursing auxiliaries, courses of training for teachers 
of nurses, midwives, health visitors and nursing auxiliaries, and 
courses of training in nursing administration; 
h) prescribing the conditions for admission to courses of training as 
aforesaid; 
i) prescribing the standards of examination and other requirements to be 
satisfied for declaration of any qualification as recognized qualification 
or recognized higher qualification; 
j) regulating the practice of nurses, midwiv es, health visitors and nursing 
auxiliaries and for prohibiting persons not registered in the register 
from so practicing; 
k) prescribing fees to be charged for registration or for any other purpose 
of the Act; 
l) prescribing fees for recognition of any Institution or authority; and 
m) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed. 
27. Repeal and saving .– (1) The Pakistan Nursing Council Act, 1952 (IIX of 
1952), hereinafter referred to as the said Act, and the West Pakistan Nursing 
Services Ordinance, 1959 (W.P. Ordinance No. L of 1959) are hereby repealed. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the said Act and without prejudice to 
section 24 of the General Clauses Act, 1987 (X of 1987); 
a) the Pakistan Nursing Council constituted under the said Act and 
functioning immediate ly before the commencement of this Act shall, 
until the establishment of the Council under this Act, discharge the 
functions of and be deemed to be, the Council established under this 
Act; 
b) any scheme of reciprocity settled under the said Act and subsisting  
immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue in 
force and be deemed to be a scheme of reciprocity settled under this 
Act; 
c) any register of nurses, midwives, health visitors and nursing auxiliaries 
which was maintained immediately before t he commencement of this 
Act under the said Act and the persons registered in such register shall 
be deemed to be the register maintained and persons registered 
therein under this Act; 
d) any qualification entered as a supplementary qualification in any 
register under the said Act shall be deemed to be the supplementary 
qualification entered in the register under this Act, notwithstanding that 
such qualification is not a recognized higher qualification; 
e) any regulation or bye -law made under the said Act and in f orce 
immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to 
be and continue in force as, a regulation made under this Act; 
f) any officer or other employee of the Pakistan Nursing Council 
appointed under the said Act shall be deemed to be an offic er or 
employee appointed by the Council under this Act; 
g) all assets, rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, 
movable and immovable, and all interest therein and all debts, liabilities 
and obligations of the Pakistan Nursing Council cons tituted under the 
said Act and subsisting immediately before the commencement of this 
Act shall stand transferred to and be deemed to be assets, rights, 
powers, authorities, privilege, property and interest of the Council 
established under this Act; and 
h) anything done or any action taken or any proceeding commenced 
under any of the provisions of the said Act shall continue in force and 
be deemed to have been done, taken or commenced under the 
corresponding provision of this Act. 
(3) All assets, rights, powers, a uthorities and privileges and all property, 
movable or immovable, and all interests therein and all debts, liabilities and 
obligation of the Nursing Services Council of West Pakistan constituted under the 
West Pakistan Nursing Services Ordinance, 1959 (W.P . Ordinance, No. L of 1959) 
and subsisting immediately before the commencement of this Act shall stand 
transferred to and be deemed to be the assets, rights, powers, authorities, privileges, 
of Baluchistan, the North -West Frontier, the Punjab and Sindh to such extent and in 
such manner as the Federal Government may direct. 
 
 
THE SCHEDULE 
[see section 2(f)] RECOGNIZED QUALIFICATION A. General Nursing 
Certificate or Diplomas in Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, Naids and Dais 
granted by a Provincial Nursing Board. 
 
B. Post-Graduate Nursing 
 
Post-Graduate Certificates or Diplomas in Nursing issued by an Institution 
established and maintained by the Federal Government or a Provincial Government.