ACT NO. XXVII OF 1976
An Act to provide for the establishment of Pakistan Study Centres in the Universities for the Study of languages, literature, social structure, customs attitudes and motivation, of the people of various regions of Pakistan.
WHEREAS it is expedient for national cohesion, to provide the establishment of Pakistan Study Centres in the Universities for the study of languages, literature, social structure, customs, attitudes and motivation, of the people of various regions of Pakistan.
It is hereby enacted as follows:
1. Short title, extent and commencement:
(1) This Act may be called the Pakistan Study Centres Act, 1976. (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 repugnant in the subject or context.
(a) "Board" means the Board of Governors referred to in sub- section (1) of section 6.
(b) "Centre" means a Pakistan Study Centre established under section 3 and except in that section and section 4, includes the Institute.
(c) "Commission" means the University Grants Commission (now HEC).
(d) "Director" means the Director of a Centre or Institute.
(e) "Institute" means the National Institute of Pakistan Studies, University of Islamabad.
(f) "Regulations" means regulations made under section
(g) And "Rules" means rules made under section 11.
3. Establishment of Centre and the Institute:
As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the Federal Government may be notified in the official Gazette, establish a Pakistan Study Centre in a University specified in the notification and the national Institute of Pakistan Studies in the University of Islamabad.
4. Function of Centre. A Centre shall ---
(a) Engage in the study of languages literature, social, structure, customs, attitudes and motivation of the people of various regions of Pakistan.
(b) Establish undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate degree and other programmes, in the relevant discipline in accordance with the standard and requirements of the University in which the Centre is established.
(c) Promote cooperation in interdisciplinary relationship with other centres, teaching and research establishments.
(d) Arrange conferences, seminars and refresher courses for the development of teaching and research.
(e) And promote teaching and research in particular subjects as assigned to it by the Federal Government in consultation with the University in which the centre is established.
5. Function of Institute. The Institute shall ---
(a) Engage in high level teaching and research.
(b) Train research workers.
(c) Establish MA, M. Phil, Ph. D and other programmes in the relevant discipline in accordance with the standard and requirements of the University of Islamabad.
(d) Promote cooperation in interdisciplinary relationship with other centres, teaching and research establishments.
(e) Conduct teaching and research in such particular fields as is assigned to it by the Federal Government in consultation with the University of Islamabad.
6. Board of Governors:
(1) The management, overall control and supervision of the affairs of a Centre established in a University shall vest in a Board of Governors consisting of the following members, namely:-
(a) Vice-chancellor of the University, who shall also be its Chairman.
(b) A representative of Commission.
(c) A representative of the Pakistan History Commission.
(d) A representative of Ministry of Education.
(e) A representative of National Educational Council.
(f) Dean of the Faculty of the University.
(g) Two experts in the relevant discipline to be nominated by the Federal Government on the recommendation of the Commission.
(h) One expert in the relevant discipline to be nominated the syndicate of the University.
(i) One expert in the relevant discipline to be nominated by the Academic Council of the University.
(j) And Director of the Centre.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provision, a Board shall have the power to:
(a) Approve the academic and research programme of the Centre with the concurrence of the Academic Council of the University in which the Centre is established.
(b) Lay down the rules of admission to the Centre.
(c) Institute fellowships for promotion of research in the discipline concerned.
(d) Create, suspend or abolish such posts as may be necessary.
(e) Appoint teachers and other officers.
(f) And hold control and administer the funds of the Centre.
(3) A member of a Board referred to in clause (g) of sub-section (1) shall hold office for such term as may be determined by the Federal Government.
(4) The meeting of the Board shall be held as and when called by the Chairman.
Provided that not less than two meetings shall be held in each year and the period between such meetings shall not be more than twelve months.
(5) In the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions, a Board shall be subject to such special or general instructions as may be issued by the Commission from time to time.
6. A Board may, for the speedy and efficient working of the Centre, delegate to the Director such of its powers as it may deem necessary.
7. Director:
(1) The Director shall be appointed by the Federal Government after consultation with the Commission and the University in which the Centre concerned is established on such remuneration and other terms and conditions of service as may be determined by the Federal Government. (2) The Director shall perform such other functions and exercise such powers as may be assigned or delegated to him by the Board. (3) The Director shall be the academic and executive head of the Centre and secretary of the Board, and shall be responsible to the Board for carrying out the objectives of the Centre. (4) The Director may be writing under his hand addressed to the Chairman resign from his office.
8. Academic Committee:
(1) At each Centre there shall be an Academic Committee consisting of the following members, namely:
(a) Director of the Centre, who shall also be its convener.
(b) All professors and associate professors of the Centre.
(c) Two experts to be nominated by the Commission.
(2) The Committee may associate such other experts as it may consider necessary. (3) The Committee shall prepare and submit to the Board the academic and research programmes of the Centre.
9. Funds Each Centre shall have a fund to which shall be credited:
(a) Grants made by the Federal Government, the Provincial Government and the Commission.
(b) Contributions and donations from individuals, local bodies, corporations, organizations and agencies.
(c) And incomes from fees.
10. Audit and Accounts etc:
(1) The accounts of a Centre shall be maintained in such form and manner as may be prescribed by Rules. (2) The accounts of a Centre shall be audited once in every year by an auditor appointed by the Commission on such remuneration, if any, to be paid by the Centre, as the Commission, may fix. (3) A Centre shall submit through the Commission to the Federal Government a copy of its audited annual accounts, together with the observation of the Director, if any there on, and a report on the activities of the Centre during preceding year. (4) A Centre shall furnish to the Federal Government such information relating to its activities as may be asked for by the Federal Government from time to time.
11. Power to make Rules:
The Federal Government may notify in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purpose of this Act, including rules to regulate the financial and administrative matters relating to a Centre.
12. Power of making Regulations:
A Centre may, with the approval of the Commission, make such regulations, concerning academic matters, not inconsistent with the rules, as it may consider necessary for carrying out purposes of this Act.