DISABLED PERSONS, (EMPLOYMENT AND REHABILITATION) ORDINANCE, 1981

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THE DISABLED PERSONS (EMPLOYMENT AND 
REHABILITATION) ORDINANCE, 1981 
(XL of 1981) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions  
3. National Council 
4. Functions of the National Council 
5. Provincial Councils 
6. Functions of the Provincial Councils 
7. Meetings of the Councils 
8. Duties of Secretary 
9. Appointment of Committee 
10. Establishments to employ disabled persons 
11. Establishment to pay to the Fund 
12. Registration of disabled persons  
13. Establishment of training centers 
14. Establishments to furnish information  
15. Power to debar  further employment  
16. Appeal 
17. Fund 
18. Power to exempt 
19. Delegation of power 
20. Penalty  
21. Cognizance of offence s, etc  
22. Power to make rules 
TEXT 
1
THE DISABLED PERSONS (EMPLOYMENT AND REHABILITATION) 
ORDINANCE, 1981 
(XL of 1981) 
[29th December, 1981] 
An 
Ordinance 
to provide for the employment, rehabilitation and welfare of disabled persons. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the employment, rehabilitation and 
welfare of disabled persons and for matters connected therewith. 
AND WHEREAS the President is satisfied that circumstances exist which 
render it necessary to make immediate action; 
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Proclamation of the fifth day of July, 
1977, read with the Provisional Constitution Order, 1981 (C.M.L.A. Order No. 1 of 
1981), and in exercise of all powers enabling h im in that behalf, the President is 
pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Ordinance may be called 
the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981. 
(2) It extends to 
2
[whole] of 
3
[the Punjab]. 
 (3) It shall come into force on such day as the 
4
[Government] may, by 
notification in the official Gazette, appoint. 
2. Definitions .– In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the 
subject or context,– 
 
5
[(a) “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Provincial Council;] 
(b) "commercial establishment" and "industrial establishment" shall have 
the same meaning as in the West Pakistan Industrial and Commercial 
Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance, 1968 (W.P. Ordinance No . 
VI of 1968) 
6
[;] 
(c) "disabled person" means a person who, on account of injury, disease 
or congenital deformity, is handicapped for undertaking any gainful  
                                                 
1This Ordinance was made by the President on 24 th December, 1981; and, was published in the Gazette of Pakistan 
(Extraordinary), dated 29th December, 1981, Pages 543-549. 
2Substituted for the words “the whole” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 
2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.3; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
3Substituted for the word “Pakistan” by the Disabled Person s (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 
2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.3; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
4Substituted for the word s “Federal Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Re habilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
5Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e. f. 11.2.2012, 
s.4; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
6Misprinted in the Gazette as “full-stop”. 
profession or employment in order to earn his livelihood, and includes 
a person who is blind, dea f, physically handicapped or mentally 
retarded; 
(d) "disease" includes the physical or mental condition arising from the 
imperfect development of any organ; 
(e) "employee" means a regular or whole -time employee whether 
employed on daily, weekly or monthly basis, and includes an 
apprentice; 
(f) "establishment" means a Government establishment, a commercial 
establishment or an industrial establishment, in which the number of 
workers employed at any time during a year is not less than one 
hundred; 
(g) "Fund" m eans the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Fund 
established under section 17; 
7
[(gg) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;] 
8
[(h) “Government Establishment” includes any autonomous or semi -
autonomous body, university, college, professional school a nd any 
other organization, controlled or managed by the Government;] 
9
[(i)  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *  ] 
(j) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made by the  
10
[Government] 
or, as the case may be, the 
11
[Government]; 
(k) "Provincial Council" means a Pr ovincial Council established under 
section 5; and 
12
[(l)  “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Provincial Council
13
[.] ] 
14
[3.  National Council.–*  *  *  *  *  *  * * * *   ] 
15
[4.  Functions of the National Council.–*  *  *  *  * * *   ] 
                                                 
7Inserted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.4; 
and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
8Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.4; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
9Omitted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.4; 
and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
10Substituted for the word “Federal Gov ernment” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
11Substituted for the word “Provincial Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
12Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.4; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
13Misprinted in the gazette as “semi-colon”. 
14Omitted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (X III of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.5; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
15Omitted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.5; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
16
[5. Provincial Co uncil.– The Government shall, by notification in the official 
Gazette, establish a Council to be called the Provincial Council for the Rehabilitation 
of Disabled Persons consisting of the following members:– 
 (a) Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare , Women Development 
and Bait ul Maal Department, who shall also be its Chairman; 
 (b) Secretary to the Government, Labour Department; 
 (c) three members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, including at 
least one woman member, to be nominated by the Government; 
 (d) one representative of the Home Department of the Government not 
below the rank of Deputy Secretary; 
 (e) one representative of the Planning and Development Department of 
the Government not below the rank of Deputy Secretary; 
 (f) one repres entative of the Health Department of the Government not 
below the rank of Deputy Secretary; 
 (g) one representative of the Education Department of the Government not 
below the rank of Deputy Secretary; 
 (h) one representative of the Inform  ation, Culture a nd Youth Affairs 
Department of the Government not below the rank of Deputy Secretary; 
 (i) one representative of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 
 (j) Administrator of the Punjab Zakat and Ushr Council; 
 (k) one representative of the Punjab Social Services Board; 
 (l) one representative of the registered trade unions to be nominated by 
the Labour Department of the Government; 
 (m) four persons 
17
[including at least two women] to be nominated by the 
Government from amongst the persons engaged in t he welfare work of 
disabled persons; and 
(n) Director (Programme) of the Government, Social Welfare Department, 
who shall also be the Secretary of the Provincial Council.] 
18
[6. Functions of the Provincial Council .– Subject to any direction given by the 
Government, the Provincial Council shall– 
 (a) execute the policy made by the Government for the employment, 
rehabilitation and welfare of disabled persons; 
 (b) undertake appropriate projects for purposes of welfare of disabled 
persons; 
                                                 
16Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.6; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
17Inserted by the Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act 2014 (IV of 2014) , w.e.f. 12.3.2014, s.2 and the Schedule; and 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 2733-2744. 
18Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.7; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
 (c) issue directions to an employment exchange or any other body for the 
implementation of the projects of the Provincial Council;  
 (d) take stock of the extent of functional disabilities of disabled persons; 
 (e) evaluate, assess and coordinate the execution of its policies; 
 (f) have overall responsibility for the achievement of the purposes of this 
Ordinance;  
 (g) conduct survey of the disabled persons who are desirous of being 
rehabilitated; 
 (h) conduct medical examination and provide treatment to the disabled 
persons; 
 (i) provide training to the disabled persons; and 
(j) take such other measures as are necessary for carrying out the 
purposes of this Ordinance.] 
19
[7. Meetings of the Provincial Council .– (1) The meetings of the Provincial  
Council shall be held at such ti me and at such places as the Chairman may direct 
and shall be presided over by the Chairman. 
 (2) The meetings of the Provincial Council shall be conducted in 
accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed, and until such procedure is 
prescribed, in such manner as the Chairman may direct. 
 (3) The powers and functions of the Chairman shall, in his absence, be 
exercised and performed by such member of the Provincial Council as the Chairman 
may appoint. 
 (4) Six members of the Provincial Council shall co nstitute quorum for a 
meeting of the Council. 
 (5) All orders and decisions of the Provincial Council shall be authenticated 
by the signature of the Chairman or a member of the Provincial Council authorized by 
the Chairman.] 
8. Duties of Secretary.– The Secretary shall exercise such powers and perform 
such functions as may be assigned to him by the Chairman. 
9. Appointment of Committee .– The 
20
[* * * * ] Provincial Council may appoint 
such Committee consisting of such of its members as it thinks fit, and may refer to them 
any matter for consideration and report: 
Provided that the Council may, if it considers necessary, co-opt any person to a 
Committee. 
10. Establishments to employ disabled persons .– (1) Not less than 
21
[three 
                                                 
19Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.8; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
20Omitted the words “ National Council or a” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 
(XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.9; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
21Substituted by the Punjab Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act  2015 (XX of 2015), w.e.f. 
14.4.2015, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), page 4729, which were substituted for the words “one 
percent] of the total number of pe rsons employed by an establishment at any time 
shall be disabled persons whose names have been registered with the Employment 
Exchange of the area in which such establishment is located and against whose 
names in the register maintained under section 12 an  endorsement exists to the 
effect that they are fit to work. 
(2) The disabled persons employed against any post in pursuance of sub -
section (1) shall be entitled to the terms and conditions which are not less 
favourable than those of the other persons empl oyed by the establishment against 
similar posts. 
(3) When calculating the percentage of the posts in an establishment for 
the purposes of employment of disabled persons, the fraction of 0.5 and above shall 
count as a whole number. 
11. Establishment to pay to the Fund.– An establishment which does not employ a 
disabled person as required by section 10 shall pay in to the Funds each month the 
sum of money it would have paid as salary or wages to a disabled person had he been 
employed. 
12. Registration of disa bled persons .– (1) Any disabled person desirous of 
being employed or otherwise rehabilitated may have his name registered in the 
register maintained by an Employment Exchange in such form and in such manner 
as may be prescribed by the 
22
[Government]; and th e Employment Exchange shall 
refer all names so registered to the Provincial Council. 
(2) The Provincial Council shall, if it thinks necessary, cause each 
disabled person registered under sub-section (1) to be assessed as to the nature of 
his functional disability and also as to his aptitude and the nature of work he is fit to 
do by a medical officer authorised by it in his behalf or by such assessing board 
consisting of not less than one medical officer as it may appoint, and the medical 
officer or, as the case  may be, the assessing board shall submit its report to the 
Provincial Council in such form as may be prescribed by the 
23
[Government]. 
(3) If the disabled person is considered by the Provincial Council fit to 
work, it shall so inform the Employment Exchange, i ndicating the nature of work for 
which he may be employed or the trade or vocation in which he may be trained, and 
an endorsement to that effect shall be made against his name in the register. 
(4) If the disabled person is not considered by the Provincial Council fit to 
work, the Provincial Council shall inform the Employment Exchange accordingly for 
an endorsement to that effect being made against his name in the register, and the 
Provincial Council shall take such measures for his rehabilitation as it thinks fit. 
(5) If a person is declared by the Provincial Council not to be a disabled 
person, his name shall be struck off the register. 
13. Establishment of training centers.– The Provincial Council shall arrange for 
                                                                                                                                                        
percent” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.10; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
22Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
23Substituted for the word s “Provincial Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) 
Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
the training of disabled persons in such trades or vocations as it thinks fit, and shall 
establish training centers in such trades or vocations and in such manner as may be 
prescribed by the 
24
[Government]. 
14. Establishments to furnish information .– Every Establishment shall furnish 
to such person or authority such information required for the implementation of the 
provisions of this Ordinance in such form and in such manner as the 
25
[Government] 
may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify. 
15. Power to debar further employment .– (1) The Provincial Council may debar 
from further employment or training for such period as may be specified by it any 
disabled person who, without valid reason, refuses to accept or abandons his 
employment or training under this Ordinance or otherwise acts in a manner 
detrimental to the interests of the trade or profession in which he is employed or 
undergoing training. 
(2) No disabled person shall be debarred under sub -section (1) unless he 
has been given an opportunity of being heard. 
16. Appeal.– (1) Any person aggrieved by an order under section 15 may prefer 
an appeal to the 
26
[Government] within thirty days of the date of the order. 
(2) The 
27
[Government] may call for the record of the case and may, after 
giving the parties an opportunity of being heard or after making such further enquiry 
as it thinks fit, stay or suspend the operation of the order or may pass such order 
as it thinks fit. 
17. Fund.– (1) There shall be established by the 
28
[Government] a Fund to be 
known as the Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Fund which  shall comprise– 
(a) all sums paid by the establishment under section 11;  
29
[(b) all grants, if made by the Federal Government, Government or local 
bodies; and ] 
(c) donations, if any, made by private individuals . 
 
30
[(2) The funds shall be administered by the Pr ovincial Council in 
consultation with the Government.] 
                                                 
24Substituted for the word s “Provincial Government” by the Disabl ed Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) 
Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
25Substituted for the word s “National Council” by the Disabled Persons (Employment  and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.11; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
26Substituted for the words “National Council” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.12; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
27Substituted for the words “National Council” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.12; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
28Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
29Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.13; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
30Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.13; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
18. Power to exempt .– The 
31
[Government] may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, exempt any establishment or class of establishments from the operation of 
all or any of the provisions of this Ordnance. 
19. Delegation of power.– 
32
[(1) * * * * * * * *   ] 
33
[(2) The Provincial Council may, subject to such conditions as it may 
specify, delegate any of its powers or functions to any of its members.] 
20.  Penalty.– Any establishment which fails to pay into th e Fund any sum it is 
required to pay under section 11 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to 
one thousand rupees and, in the case of non -payment of fine, with an additional 
fine which may extend to ten rupees for every day during which the payme nt of 
fine is not made. 
21.  Cognizance of offences, etc.– (1) No court inferior to that of a Magistrate of 
the first class shall try an offence punishable under this Ordinance. 
(2) No court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this 
Ordinance except upon a complaint in writing made by, or under the authority of, the 
National Council or the Provincial Council. 
22.  Power to make rules .–  (1) The 
34
[Government] may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance. 
 
35
[(2) *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * *    ] 
                                                 
31Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
32Omitted by the Disabled Persons (Em ployment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.14; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
33Substituted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.14; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
34Substituted for the words “Federal Government” by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 
2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, s.2; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146. 
35Omitted by the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) (Amendment) Act 2012 (XIII of 2012), w.e.f. 11.2.2012, 
s.15; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), pages 40143-40146.