PUNJAB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT 2019

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THE PUNJAB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT 
2019  
(VI OF 2019) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Incorporation 
4. Composition of the Authority 
5. Disqualification of the members 
6. Meetings 
7. Functions of the Authority 
8. Delegation of powers 
9. Committees 
10. Director General 
11. Employees 
12. Technical Experts 
13. Registration 
14. Fund 
15. Budget and accounts 
16. Bank Accounts 
17. Audit 
18. Annual report 
19. Penalty 
20. Cognizance and summary trial 
21. Compounding of offence 
22. Non-compliance of standards and procedures 
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23. Appeal 
24. Public Servants 
25. Indemnity 
26. Rules 
27. Regulations 
28. Removal of Difficulties  
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TEXT 
1THE PUNJAB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT 2019  
(VI OF 2019) 
 
[March 1st, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to establish the Punjab Skills Development Authority. 
It is necessary to establish the Punjab Skills Development Authority to 
promote and regulate the technical education and v ocational training sector in the 
Punjab; and, for ancillary matters. 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commence ment.– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Skills Development Authority Act 2019. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, specify; and, the Government may specify different 
dates for the enforcement of various provisions of the Act.  
2. Definitions.– In this Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Skills Development Authority Act 2019; 
(b) “Authority” means Punjab Skills Development Authority established 
under the Act; 
(c) “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the  Authority; 
(d) “Director General” means the Director General of the Authority; 
(e) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(f) “institute” means a public or private technical education and vocational 
training institute  offering diploma or certificate courses in any skill, 
trade, vocation or profession; 
(g) “member” means a member of the Authority and, where the context so 
requires, includes the Chairperson and the Director General; 
(h) “non-official member” means a member, othe r than an ex officio  
member, of the Authority; 
(i) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or regulations;  
(j) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; and 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 27 February 2019; assented to by the Governor of the 
Punjab on 28 February 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 01 March 2019, pp.2045 – 
2050. 
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(k) “rules” means the rules made under the Act. 
3. Incorporation.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, establish Punjab Skills Development Authority. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession 
and a common seal, with powers to enter into contracts, acquire and, subject to 
subsection (3), dispose of both movable and immovable property  in accordance with 
law, and may, by the said name, sue or be sued. 
(3)  The Authority shall not dispose of any immovable property without prior 
approval of the Government. 
(4) The Authority shall have its main o ffice in  Lahore and may, with the 
prior approval of the Government, establish regional offices at such places as may 
be necessary. 
4. Composition of the Authority .– (1) The Authority shall consist of the 
Chairperson and  not less than five but not more than nine members, including at 
least one female member  from the industry, agriculture or  services sector, and 
professionals from the technical education and vocational training sector  and shall 
also include two members of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, one f rom the 
treasury benches to be nominated by the Government and one from the opposition 
to be nominated by leader of the opposition. 
(2) Secretaries to the G overnment, Industries, Commerce and Investment 
Department, Finance Department, Labour and Human Reso urce Department and 
School Education Department shall be ex officio members of the Authority. 
(3) The Director General shall be the Secretary of the Authority.  
(4) The Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment, Punjab shall 
be the Chairperson of th e Authority, and the Government shall appoint the non -
official members of the Authority on such terms and conditions as may be 
prescribed and until so prescribed as the Government may determine.   
(5) Subject to sub -section (6), the term of appointment of t he non-official 
members shall be three years but any of them may, subject to satisfactory 
performance, be appointed for a second term but no one shall be appointed for more 
than two consecutive terms. 
(6) The non -official members shall serve during the ple asure of the 
Government and the Government may, at any time, appoint another person as the 
non-official member for the remaining term of the outgoing member. 
 (7) In case, the office of the Chairperson is vacant temporarily or 
otherwise, by reason of leave , illness, or any other cause for a period not exceeding 
three months, the Government shall make such arrangement for the performance of 
duties of the office of the Chairperson as it may deem appropriate. 
(8) A non -official member may resign by writing und er his hand and the 
Government may, in the prescribed manner, appoint an eligible person for the 
remaining term of such member. 
(9) No act or proceedings of the Authority shall be invalid merely by reason 
of any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Authority. 
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5. Disqualification of the members.– No person shall be appointed or shall 
continue as the non-official member who: 
(a) is or, at any time, has been convicted of an offence involving moral 
turpitude; 
 (b) is or, at any time, has been adjudicated as an insolvent; 
 (c)  is found to be of unsound mind; or 
(d)  has a financial interest or an interest, directly or indirectly, in conflict 
with the interest of the Authority and has failed  to disclose , in writing,  
such interest to the Government. 
6. Meetings.– (1) The Authority shall meet at least once in every quarter. 
(2) The Director General shall arrange for a meeting of the Authority on the 
direction of the Chairperson or on a requisition in writing of not less than four 
members. 
(3) The Chairperson shal l preside over a meeting of the Authority and , in 
his absence, the meeting shall be presided over by the member duly nominated by 
the Chairperson from amongst the non-official members. 
(4) Four members, including at least three non-official members, shall 
constitute the quorum for a meeting. 
(5) The Authority shall take decisions by the majority of its members 
present and voting, and in case of a tie, the person presiding the meeting shall have 
a casting vote. 
(6) The decisions of the Authority shall be rec orded in writing and signed 
by the Chairperson and Director General. 
(7) The Director General shall arrange the conduct of meetings and 
maintain a complete record of the minutes and the decisions of the Authority at each 
meeting in the prescribed manner. 
7. Functions of the Authority.– The Authority shall: 
(a) implement national policies and standards in relation to technical 
education and vocational training;  
(b) register and regulate public and private institutes;  
(c) register and regulate public and private technical  education and 
vocational training bodies and assessment agencies; 
(d) regulate the enforcement of the apprenticeship laws and policies 
relatable to the technical education and vocational training; 
(e) regulate training standards for teachers and evaluators; 
(f) conduct performance audit of technical education and vocational 
training institutes; 
(g) devise and enforce  mechanisms for the inspection, monitoring and 
evaluation of technical education and vocational training institutes, 
bodies and assessment agencies to ensure  compliance with  the 
national and the provincial standards; 
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(h) encourage technical education and vocational training institutes to 
develop syllabi and design courses according to and in conformity with 
the international standards and demands , and national and  terrestrial 
requirements and standards; 
(i) validate conformity of the curricula with national standards and its 
relevance to specific level descriptor; 
(j) establish a labour market information cell in order to ascertain the skills 
required to be imparted,  supply and demand of the skilled 
professionals in local, national and international markets; 
(k) devise and implement an integrated social marketing and 
communication strategy for technical education and vocational training 
sector; 
(l) set guidelines for the establishment of career guidance and counseling 
mechanisms in technical education and vocational training sector; 
(m) establish linkages and coordinate with international and national bodies 
and agencies for promotion and development of technical education 
and vocational training sector; and  
(n) perform such other functions as may be incidental to the functions 
mentioned above or as the Government may assign or as may be 
prescribed. 
8. Delegation of powers. – The Authority may, subject to such conditions and 
limitations as it may deem fit to impose, delegate any of its powers or functions to the 
Chairperson, Director General, a committee constituted by it, a member or 
employee, except the powers to:  
(a) frame, amend or repeal regulations;  
(b) approve policy decisions, guidelines or procedures for the  operation 
of the fund;  
(c) determine the terms and conditions of service of the  employees of 
the Authority;  
(d) constitute committees;  
(e) approve the annual budget, audited accounts and annual reports of the 
Authority; and  
(f) consider audit reports of the Authority. 
9. Committees.– (1) The Authority may constitute such committees as it may 
deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Act.  
 (2) The composition and functions of the committees shall be such as the 
Authority may determine or as may be prescribed. 
 
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10. Director General .– (1) The Government shall appoint the Director General  
who possesses the prescribed qualifications and experience. 
(2) The Director General shall be appointed on such terms and conditions 
as may be prescribed and, until so prescribed, as the Government may determine.  
 (3) The Director General shall be the Chief Executive Officer and Principal 
Accounting Officer of the Authority and, subject to the general supervision, control 
and direction of the Authority, shall exercise such administrative and financial powers 
of the Authority as the Authority may delegate to him or as may be prescribed. 
 (4) The Director General may resign from his office by serving thirty days’ 
prior notice or on payment of thirty days’ pay in lieu of the notice.  
 (5) The Government may remove the Director General by serving thirty 
days’ prior notice or on payment of thirty days’ pay in lieu of the notice. 
11. Employees.– (1) The Authority may appoint such persons in its service, as 
may be necessary for the performance of its functions, on such terms and conditions 
as may be prescribed.  
 (2) Subject to the terms and conditions of appointment, the Authority may, 
at any time, terminate the services of an employee by serving thirty da ys’ prior notice 
or on payment of thirty days’ pay in lieu of the notice in the prescribed manner. 
12. Technical Experts .– The Authority or any of its committees may invite any 
technical expert or any other person having specialized knowledge of any subjec t or 
the representative of a Government institution for assistance in the performance of 
its functions. 
13. Registration.– (1) After the commencement of the Act, no person, institute, 
public or private technical education and vocational training body, asse ssment 
agency or organization engaged in any technical education and vocational training 
sector service delivery shall commence its business until it is registered with the 
Authority under the Act.  
(2) Any person, institute , public or  private technical ed ucation and 
vocational training body, assessment agency  or organization engaged in any 
technical education and vocational training  sector service delivery , existing before 
the commencement of the Act , shall, within six months of the commencement, apply 
to the Authority for registration in such manner as may be prescribed.   
(3) The Authority may charge fee for the registration  or renewal of 
registration and for other services  at such rate and in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
(4) The Authority may , subje ct to reasonable notice and after affording 
hearing to the person concerned , suspend or cancel the registration made under 
sub-section (1) on  account of any contravention of  the standards or violation of any 
prescribed procedure.  
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14. Fund.– (1) There shal l be formed a Fund to be known as the Punjab Skills 
Development Authority Fund which shall vest in the Authority.  
(2) The Fund shall consist of: 
(a) the grants received from the Government;  
(b) the grants received from any other government, authority or 
agency; 
(c) income from fees charged by the Authority;  
(d) donations made to the Authority; and  
(e) any other income and monies received by the Authority.  
 (3) The Fund shall be maintained in such manner as may be prescribed.  
 (4) The Fund shall be utilized to meet the ex penses of the Authority in 
connection with the discharge of its functions under the Act.  
 (5) The Authority shall not incur any debt  without prior approval in writing 
of the Government. 
15. Budget and accounts .– (1) The Director General shall, before the 
commencement of a financial year, prepare a statement of the estimated receipts 
and expenditure for the next financial year and submit it to the Authority for approval.  
 (2) The Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other records relating 
to its fi nancial affairs including its income and expenditure and its assets and 
liabilities in such form and manner as may be prescribed.  
 (3) As soon as may be after the end of each financial year, the Authority 
shall prepare and approve in the manner prescribed , statements of account of the 
Authority which shall include a balance -sheet and an account of income and 
expenditure. 
16. Bank Accounts .– Subject to general instructions of the Government, t he 
Authority shall open and maintain its accounts at such schedul ed banks as it may , 
with the approval of the Government, determine. 
17. Audit.– (1) The Auditor General of Pakistan shall annually audit the accounts 
of the Authority. 
(2) The Government may, in addition to the audit under subsection (1), 
cause the annual accounts of the Authority audited, in the prescribed manner by a 
Chartered Accountant or a firm of Chartered Accountants. 
18. Annual report.– (1) The Director General shall, by 30 September each year, 
submit annual performance report to the Authority enume rating all the activities, 
developmental initiatives undertaken and targets achieved during the previous 
financial year for the betterment of the technical education and vocational training 
sector and the future plans and projects. 
(2) The Authority shall submit the report to the Government which shall lay 
the report in Provincial Assembly of the Punjab within ninety days of its receipt. 
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19. Penalty.– Any person, institute, public or private technical education and 
vocational training body, assessment agenc y or organization engaged in any 
technical education and vocational training sector service delivery that contravenes 
the provisions of section 13 of the Act shall be liable to punishment which may 
extend to six month but which shall not be less than fifteen days and with fine which 
may extend to one million but which shall not be less than two hundred thousand 
rupees. 
20. Cognizance and summary trial .- (1) No court shall take cog nizance of an 
offence under the  Act except on a complaint in writing filed by the Director General 
or an officer of Authority duly authorized for the purpose.  
(2) A Magistrate of the first class shall conduct the trial of an offence under 
the Act in accordance with the provisions of Chapter XXII of the Code of Criminal 
Procedure 1898 (V of 1898) relating to the summary trials. 
21. Compounding of offence.– (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Authority or an 
officer of the Authority specifically authorized in this behalf may, at any stage, 
compound an offence under the Act subject to t he deposit of administrative penalty 
which shall not be less than two hundred thousand rupees. 
(2) An offence under the  Act shall not be compoundable if the accused 
had been previously convicted under the Act or his previous offence had been 
compounded by the Government or the officer authorized by the Government. 
22. Non-compliance of standards and procedures .- The Authority may impose 
on any person, institute, public or private technical education and vocational training 
body, assessment agency or organiz ation engaged in any technical education and 
vocational training sector service delivery that fails to comply with prescribed 
standards and procedures, the administrative penalty at such rate , not exceeding 
rupees five hundred thousand, and in such manner as may be prescribed. 
23. Appeal.– Any person, institute, public or private technical education and 
vocational training body, assessment agency or organization engaged in any 
technical education and vocational training sector service delivery , aggrieved by an 
administrative order under the Act, may, within thirty days of the receipt of the order, 
prefer an appeal to such appellate authority as may be prescribed. 
24. Public Servants .– The Director General, members, employees and other 
persons authorized to p erform or exercise any function or power under the  Act, or 
rendering services to the Authority as agents, advisors or consultants, shall be 
deemed to be public servants within the meanings of section 21 of Pakistan Penal 
Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860). 
25. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or any other legal proceedings shall lie 
against the Authority, the Chairperson, members, Director General and any 
employee of the Authority, in respect of anything done or intended to be done in 
good faith under the Act.  
26. Rules.– The Government may, by notification  in the official Gazette , make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
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27. Regulations.– Subject to the Act and the rules, the Authority may , with prior 
approval of the Government,  frame regulations for the  efficient performance of its 
functions under the Act.  
28. Removal of Difficulties .– If any difficulty arises in giving  effect to any 
provision of the Act, the Government may, within one year of the commencement of 
the Act, make such order as may be  necessary and consistent with the provision s of 
the Act.