DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY RAWALPINDI ACT 2013

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THE DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY RAWALPINDI ACT 
2013 
(XI of 2013) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. The Authority 
4. Governing Body 
5. Executive Board 
6. Powers and functions of the Executive Board 
7. Powers of the Executive Board to borrow 
8. Administrator 
9. Powers and functions of the Administrator 
10. Meetings 
11. Appointments 
12. Annual report and accounts 
13. Delegation of powers 
14. Committees 
15. Authority Fund 
16. Budget, audit and accounts 
17. Power to cancel allotment 
18. Conversion of property to a different use 
19. Removal of building erected or used in contravention of the Act 
20. Power to frame regulations 
21. Act not to override other laws 
22. Transfer and savings 
23. Appeal 
24. Validation 
25. Removal of difficulty 
 
TEXT 
1
THE DEFENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY RAWALPINDI ACT 2013  
(XI of 2013) 
[14th January, 2013] 
An 
Act 
to provide for the establishment of Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi. 
Preamble.– Whereas it is expedient to establish Defence Housing Authority 
Rawalpindi for the purpose and object of carrying out Schemes and projects of land 
development inter alia  for the welfare of the bereaved families of martyrs, war 
injured, disabled and other persons of the defence f orces to boost their morale ; to 
provide financial security in recognition of their selfless services for the defence of 
the nation; and, to provide for ancillary matters; 
It is enacted as follows:– 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act  may be called the 
Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi Act 2013. 
(2) It extends to the Specified Area in Rawalpindi 
2
[Division]. 
(3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken 
effect on and from 15 August 2010. 
2. Definitions.– In this Act– 
(a) “Administrator” means the Administrator appointed under the Act; 
(b) “Authority” means Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi established under 
the Act; 
(c) “Chairman” means Chairman of the Governing Body; 
(d) “Executive Board” means Executive Board constituted under the Act; 
(e) “Governing Body” means Governing Body constituted under the Act; 
(f) “Government” means Government of the Punjab;  
(g) “member” means a member of the Authority and includes the 
Chairman; 
(h) “prescribed” means prescribed by the regulations framed under th e 
Act; 
(i) “President” means President of the Executive Board; 
3
[(j)  “project” means any project of construction, repair, renovation, 
maintenance, up -gradation and development of land or area 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by the Punjab Assembly on 7th January 2013; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab on 12th January 
2013; and published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 14th January 2013, pages 2029-2034. 
2Substituted for the word “District”  by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 2. 
undertaken or planned by the Authority to achieve a particular aim in 
the Specified Area;] 
(k) “Scheme” means any Scheme, plan, facility 
4
[,] project for development 
of land for residential or  commercial 
5
[or other mixed]  use undertaken, 
planned or made and approved by the Authority under the Act; 
(l) “Secretary” means Secretary of the Authority; 
(m) “Specified Area” means all land owned, purchased or procure d by, or 
vested in or leased to the Army Welfare Housing Scheme or the 
Defence Housing Authority Islamabad constituted under any law before 
the commencement of the  Act in Rawalpind i District and such other 
land as may, from time to time, be purchased or procured by, or leased 
to the Authority in Rawalpindi 
6
[Division] and notified by the 
Government; and 
7
[(n)  “welfare and rehabilitation activities” mean activities done or 
undertaken by the Authority, for the welfare and rehabilitation of 
serving or retired personnel of defence forces, inter alia , officers, 
soldiers, bereaved families of Shuhada, war wounded or disabled 
personnel, or other people.] 
3. The Authority.– (1) There shall be established an A uthority to be known as 
Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate , having perpetual succession 
and a common seal with power to  purchase, procure, hold and dispose of property 
and shall, by the said name, sue and be sued.  
(3) The head office of the Authority shall be at Rawalpindi. 
(4) The Authority shall comply with all laws, rules, regulations and bye -
laws for the time being in force in the Specified Area. 
(5) While designing, planning and executing a Scheme in the Specified 
Area, the Authority shall adhere to the master plan of 
8
[concerned District in 
Rawalpindi Division] and ensure that all public roads and revenue paths leading to 
and from the adjoining areas and access to graveyards shall, as far as possible, be 
maintained and no change or alteration shall be made in such roads, paths or 
access except with the prior approval of the Government. 
(6) Subject to the financial viability of a Scheme, the Autho rity shall 
reserve in a Scheme in the Specified Area  at least fifty percent  quota for the 
                                                                                                                                                                                     
3Substituted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025  (VIII of 2025),  published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 3(a). 
4Substituted for the word “or” by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in 
the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 3(b). 
5Inserted by the Act Ibid.  
6Substituted for the word “ District” by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 3(c). 
7Substituted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 3(d). 
8Substituted for the words “ Rawalpindi District” by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 
2025), published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 4(a). 
bereaved families of the martyrs, war injured, disabled and junior ranks from sepoys 
to junior commissioned officers of the defence forces. 
9
[(7) In particular and wi thout prejudice to the generality of the provisions of 
this Act, the Authority shall take all such measures and exercise all such powers as 
may be necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Act, as well as, to carry out 
any other work or activity connected therewith, or ancillary thereto.] 
4. Governing Body.– (1) The general administration, supervision and control of 
the affairs of the Authority shall vest in the Governing Body, which shall consist of– 
(a) Secretary, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of 
Defence; 
Chairman 
(b) Adjutant General Pakistan Army; Vice Chairman 
(c) Director General, Welfare and Rehabilitation, 
Pakistan Army; 
Member 
(d) Commissioner, Rawalpindi Division; Member 
(e) Administrator; Member 
(f) Director General, Rawalpindi Development 
Authority; and 
Member 
(g) Secretary. Member/Secretary 
(2)  The Governing Body shall– 
(a) review the progress and activities of the Authority; 
(b) lay down policy for the guidance of the Executive Board; 
(c) consider and approve the budget and audit reports of the Authority; and 
(d) transact such other business of the Authority as the Executive Board 
may place before it. 
5. Executive Board .– (1) There shall be an Executive Board which shall 
exercise such administrative, executive and financial powers  of the Authority and do 
all such acts and things as the Governing Body may delegate or assign to it. 
(2) The Executive Board shall consist of– 
(a) Adjutant General, Pakistan Army; President 
(b) a serving or retired Major General of Pakistan Army to be 
nominated by the Chief of Army Staff; 
10
[Member] 
(c) Administrator; Member 
(d) Secretary of the Authority to be appointed by the President; 
and 
Secretary 
(e) two residents of Schemes of the Authority. co-opted 
Members 
                                                           
9Added by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 4(b). 
10Substituted for the word “Vice President” by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 5. 
(3) The Government shall, for a perio d not exceeding five years at a time, 
appoint the co-opted members  in accordance with the regulations but they shall 
serve during the pleasure of the Government. 
(4) In the performance of its functions, the Executive Board shall comply 
with the directions of the Governing Body. 
6. Powers and functions of the Executive Board.– (1) Subject to all applicable 
laws and provisions of this Act, the Executive Board may take such measures and 
exercise such powers as may be necessary for the proper planning and development 
of the Specified Area and for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, the 
Executive Board may, in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations– 
(a) purchase, procure, hold,  manage, reclaim and take possession of any 
property in the Specified Area; 
(b) prepare, plan, develop, notify, execute, implement,  maintain, manage 
and regulate any Scheme in the Specified Area; 
(c) enter into contracts, arrangements, joint ventures, and agreements with 
any person, for the preparation, planning, development, execution, 
implementation and maintenance  of Schemes in the Specified Area 
and for carrying out the purposes of this Act; 
(d) incur any expenditure and procure plant, machinery, equipm ent, 
instruments and necessary materials; 
(e) carry out, maintain, arrange, manage and provide all facilities, services 
and utilities, including water, electricity, gas and sewerage in Schemes 
in the Specified Area so as to ensure that the property is maintained up 
to the required standards for the benefit of the residents; 
(f) plan, approve and execute mergers and amalgamations with other 
housing Schemes or cooperative housing societies subject to the 
approval of the competent authorities of those housing Schemes or 
housing societies for merger or amalgamation;  
11
[(g)  impose, vary, and recover any fee or charges for rendering of any 
service within any scheme in the specified area including fee for 
registration with the Authority, transfer fee to be imposed  on transfer of 
a plot within the Authority, management fee, development or re -
development charges or additional development charges, maintenance 
fee, dues and other charges through the committee formed through 
regulations;] 
(h) lease, purchase, procure, s ell, exchange, mortgage, rent out or 
otherwise dispose of any property vested in the Authority; 
(i) cancel or re-plan any Scheme or part thereof in the Specified Area; 
                                                           
11Substituted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 6(a). 
(j) apply for acquisition of land to the Government for initiation and 
completion of the  process of land acquisition in accordance with the  
law governing land acquisition; 
12
[*] 
13
[(ja)  carryout welfare and rehabilitation activities in accordance with the 
provisions of this Act; and] 
(k) do all such acts, deeds and things that may be necessary  or expedient 
for the purpose of proper preparation, planning, development, execution, 
implementation, management and maintenance of residential and 
commercial facilities 
14
[including arrangement of security] in the Schemes 
in the Specified Area. 
(3) The Executive Board shall meet as and when required or considered 
necessary by the Administrator in consultation with the President. 
(4) The Executive Board shall transact such business at a meeting as the 
Administrator may place before it. 
7. Powers of the Exec utive Board to borrow .– Subject to the Government 
rules and guidelines, the Executive Board may obtain loans for purposes of 
generating capital for its Schemes. 
8. Administrator.– (1) The Chief of Army Staff shall nominate a person not 
below the rank of Br igadier (serving or retired) of Pakistan Army  as Administrator of 
the Authority. 
(2) The Administrator shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority. 
9. Powers and functions of the Administrator.– (1) Subject to the provisions of 
this Act and the r egulations, the Administrator shall exercise all executive powers of 
the Authority delegated or otherwise, in accordance with the policy laid down by the 
Governing Body and the directions or decisions of the Executive Board. 
(2) The Administrator may, either by himself or through any officer appointed 
by the Executive Board in this behalf, carry on the correspondence and shall sign, verify, 
pursue and file all pleadings and such other documents on behalf of the Authority, in any 
suit, appeal, petition and proceedings which may be instituted, prepared and filed by or 
against the Authority in or before any court, tribunal or authority. 
(3) The Administrator may, with the approval of the Executive Board, delegate 
any of his specified powers to any of his subord inate staff, including but not limited to 
signing contracts, pleadings or any other legal instrument on behalf of the Authority. 
(4) Subject to the conditions of delegation of the authority , the authorized 
officer shall exercise the power of signing the in strument after  its approval by the 
Executive Board or, as the case may be, the Administrator. 
                                                           
12The word “and” omitted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2 025 (VIII of 2025), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 6(b). 
13Inserted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 6(c). 
14Inserted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 6(d). 
10. Meetings.– (1) The Governing Body shall meet at least once every year, on 
such date, time and place as may be fixed by the Chairman.  
(2) The Chairman and, in  his absence, the Vice Chairman of the 
Governing Body shall preside over the meeting of the Governing Body. 
(3) The President and, in his absence, the 
15
[most senior Member of the 
Executive Board] shall preside over the meeting of the Executive Board.  
(4) The quorum of a meeting of the Governing Body or the Executive 
Board shall be a majority of the total membership, the fraction being counted as one. 
(5) The Secretary shall record, maintain and keep the minutes of all the 
meetings of the Governing Body or the Executive Board 16[.] 
11. Appointments.– 
17
[(1)] The Executive Board  may in such manner and on 
such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, appoint such officers, 
functionaries, employees, staff, experts, consultants and advisors as may be 
necessary for purposes of this Act. 
18
[(2)  The persons appointed or hired under sub -section (1) shall not, 
directly or indirectly, during employment or engagement with the Authority, and for 
a period not exceeding two years thereafter enter into employment, consultat ion, or 
otherwise engage in any manner whatsoever with any entity that competes or 
conflicts with the activities of the Authority, as may be prescribed: 
Provided that nothing contained in this sub -section shall apply to any such 
employment, consultation or  engagement, made after seeking prior approval of the 
Executive Board.] 
12. Annual report and accounts. – As soon as may be after the conclusion of a 
financial year but before 31 st day of December, the Executive Board shall, submit to 
the Governing Body a g eneral report on its affairs including accounts, balance sheet 
and audit for the financial year. 
13. Delegation of powers.– Subject to this Act and the specified conditions , the 
Governing Body, the Executive Board and the Administrator may authorize any person 
to perform such functions and duties as may be assigned to him in writing. 
14. Committees.– The Governing Body or  the Executive Board may constitute 
such committees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of their 
respective functions and as sign to such committees such functions as may be 
deemed necessary. 
15. Authority Fund.– (1) There shall be a fund to be known as  the Defence 
Housing Authority  Rawalpindi Fund which shall vest in the Authority and to which 
shall be credited all moneys received by the Authority. 
                                                           
15Substituted for the word “Vice President” by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 7. 
16Misprinted in the Gazette. 
17Numbered as “(1)”  by the Def ence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 8. 
18Added by the Act ibid. 
(2) The fund shall be kept in a scheduled bank or financial i nstitution and 
shall be utilized and regulated in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(3) The funds may , with the approval of the Executive Board,  be invested 
in any banking, financial or non-banking financial institution. 
16. Budget, audit and accounts.– The budget of the Authority shall be approved 
by the Governing Body and its accounts shall be maintained and audited in such 
manner as may be prescribed. 
17. Power to cancel a llotment.– The Governing Body or the Executive Board 
may cancel, revoke or rescind any allotment, transfer, license, lease or agree ment in 
respect of any plot or housing unit in a Scheme in the Specified Area if the allottee, 
transferee, licensee or l essee fails to pay the dues or installments , including 
development charges , in respect of such plot, or housing unit  within three months 
from the date of receipt of the demand notice in writing or within such extended time 
as the Governing Body or the Executive  Board may, in special cases, fix and 
thereupon the plot or the housing unit, with or without construction thereon, shall be 
resumed and shall vest in the Authority. 
18. Conversion of property to a different use .– (1) If a person converts any 
property in a Scheme in the Specified Area to a use or purpose other  than the one 
provided under the  Scheme, without the previous written approval of the Authority, 
such person shall be liable to fine which may extend to two thousand rupees per day 
from the date of the conversion of the property till the default continues. 
(2) The Authority shall not impose the fine under sub-section (1) unless the 
person concerned is afforded an opportunity of hearing. 
19. Removal of building erected or used in contravention of the Act .– (1) If 
any land is used or building, structure, work on land is erected, constructed or used 
in contravention of the provisions of this  Act or any regulations or orders made 
thereunder, or in contravention of the Scheme or without the permission of the 
Authority, the Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf, may, by order in 
writing, require the owner, occupier, user or person in control of such land, building, 
structure, work on land to remove, demolish or alter the building, structure or  work or 
to use it in such manner as may bring such erection, construction or use in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act. 
(2) If an order under sub -section (1), in respect of any building, structure , 
work or land is not complied with in such time, a s may be specified therein, the 
Authority or any person authorized by it in this behalf, may, after giving the person 
concerned an opportunity of being heard, remove, demolish or alter the building, 
structure or work, or stop the use of the land, or seal the building, premises and in so 
doing, may use such force as may be necessary and may also recover the cost 
thereof from the person responsible for the erection, construction, or use of the 
building, structure, work or land. 
19
[20.  Power to frame regulatio ns and bye -laws.- (1) The Governing  Body 
may, on the recommendation of Executive Board, for carrying out the purposes of 
                                                           
19Substituted by the Defence Housing Authority Rawalpindi (Amendment ) Act 2025 (VIII of 2025), published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 29 January 2025, pp. 2709-2710, s. 9. 
this Act, 
 frame regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or any 
other law, regulations or bye-laws for the time being in force in the Specified Area. 
(2) For carrying into effect the purposes of sub -section (1), the Executive 
Board may make bye -laws not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and 
regulations made thereunder and any other law, rules, regulations and bye-laws, for 
the time being in force.] 
21. Act not to override other laws .– The provisions of this Act shall be in 
addition to and not in derrogation of any other law for the time being in force. 
22. Transfer and savings.– (1) After the repeal of the Defence Housing Authority 
Islamabad Ordinance 2010 (XV of 2010 ) and on commencement of this Act, to the 
extent of the Specified Area in District Rawalpindi– 
(a) all assets, rights, powers, authorities and privileges and all property, 
movable and immovable,  cash and bank balance s, reserve funds, 
investments and all other interests and rights in or arising out of such 
property and all liabilities and obligations of whatever kind of the 
Defence Ho using Authority Islamabad , shall be t ransferred to and 
vested in the Authority;  
(b) all contracts and agreements entered into, all rights acquired and all 
matters and things agreed to be done by, with or for the Defence 
Housing Authority Islamabad  shall be deemed to have been entered 
into, acquired or agreed to be done by, with or for the Authority; 
(c) all leases executed, all grants made and all lands vested in the name of 
the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad shall be deemed to be leases 
executed, grants made and, property vested in the name of the Authority; 
(d) all contracts, projects, Schemes, work (whether in progress or not) and all 
guarantees, undertakings, obligations, liabilities and mortgages, executed 
or subsisting in the name of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad 
shall be deemed to be contracts, projects, Schemes, works, guarantees, 
undertakings, obligations, liabilities and mortgages of the Authority; 
(e) all pending disputes in respect of the Defence Housing Authority 
Islamabad, shall stand transferred to and be decided by the 
Administrator and any  party aggrieved by his decision shall have the 
right of appeal to the Executive Board whose decision thereon shall be 
final; 
(f) all suits, petitions and other legal proceedings instituted by or against 
the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad, shall be deemed to be suits, 
petitions, and proceedings by or against the Authority;  
(g) all allotments and transfers of plots, whether residential, commercial or 
otherwise, made by the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad  shall be 
deemed to be allotments and transfers made by the Authority; and 
(h) all bye -laws and regulations in force immediately before the 
commencement of this Act  made by the Defence Housing Authority  
Islamabad, shall continue to remain in force until , altered or repealed 
by the regulations framed under the Act.  
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (1), the Executive Board 
may– 
(a) alter the area of any plot involving duplicate allotments and re -allot the 
same in such manner as it may consider appropriate; and 
(b) pass such orders i n respect of transfer of plots involving duplicate 
allotments as it may deem fit. 
23. Appeal.– Any person aggrieved by an order of cancellation under section 1 7, 
or imposition of fine under section 1 8, or an order under section 1 9, or an order of 
the Executive Board under section 2 2 may, within fifteen days of the communication 
of the order, file an appeal before the Governing Body, whose decision shall be final. 
24. Validation.– All actions taken by the Authority from 15  August 2010 till the 
commencement of this Act shall , to the extent they are consistent with this Act,  be 
valid. 
25. Removal of difficulty.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any provision of 
this Act, the Government may, within two years of the commencement of this Act, give 
such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, as it may consider 
necessary for the removal of such difficulty.