The Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants Act, 1976

Partly in force — federal text; provincial/ICT scope varies (see notes). Source: Pakistan Code (single official PDF, 2026-08-21). The text below is the official Pakistan Code text as retrieved; whether it is still in force, or has since been amended or repealed, has not been independently checked.

WHEREAS the Provincial Assemblies of the Punjab, Sind and North-West Frontier Province, and Parliament, exercising the powers of the Provincial Assembly of Baluchistan under Article 234 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, have passed resolutions under Article 144 of the Constitution to the effect that Parliament may by law regulate the standards of service and amenities for tourists in hotels and restaurants; It is hereby enacted as follows:―

• Section 1: Short title, extent, application and commencement.― (1) This Act may be called the
• Section 2: Definitions.― In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,―
• Section 3: Appointment of Controller, Deputy Controllers and Assistant Controllers .―(1) The
• Section 4: Setting up of Advisory Committee. As soon as may be after the commencement of this
• Section 5: Registration of hotels and restaurants.―(1) The owner of every hotel and restaurant
• Section 6: Classification of hotels.―Subject to such general or particular directions as the
• Section 7: Issue of licence.― (1) Every owner shall, after registration of his hotel or restaurant
• Section 8: Refusal and cancellation of registration and licence.― (1) The Controller may
• Section 9: Obligation of the transferee, etc., of a hotel and restaurant. Where a hotel or
• Section 10: Controller to fix fair rates.―(1) The Controller may fix fair rates to be charged for
• Section 11: Controller to fix limit of persons to be accommodated in any room.―(1) The
• Section 12: Rules of establishment of hotel and restaurant. Every owner shall prepare the rules of
• Section 13: Fair rates, etc., to be displayed.―(1) The fair rates, the maximum number of guests
• Section 14: Reservation of accommodation at the instance of Controller.― (1) Subject to such
• Section 15: Charge in excess of fair rates prohibited.―(1) Notwithstanding any agreement to the
• Section 16: Controller's power to prohibit certain trades and occupations. The Controller may,
• Section 17: Eviction of guests.―(1) Except as hereinafter provided, no guest at a hotel shall be
• Section 18: Procedure and powers of Controller.―(1) The Controller shall not refuse
• Section 19: Additional powers of Controller.―For the purposes of this Act, the Controller may―
• Section 20: Apprenticeship scheme and training policy of employees. ― The Controller shall―
• Section 21: Provision of medical facilities.―(1) The owner of every hotel registered and licenced
• Section 22: Offences and Penalties.― (1) Any owner who fails to apply for registration within
• Section 23: Contravention by companies, etc. If the person contravening, or failing to comply
• Section 24: Mode of recovery.― Any sum imposed as penalty under this Act shall be
• Section 25: Appeal and Revision.― Any person aggrieved by an order under this Act may,
• Section 26: Indemnity.― No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Federal
• Section 27: Power to exempt ― The Federal Government may, by notification in the official
• Section 28: Delegation of powers.―(1) The Federal Government may, by notification in the
• Section 29: Power to make rules.―(1) The Federal Government may, by notification in
• Section 30: Other laws not applicable.― Nothing contained in the Sarais Act, 1867 (XXII of