The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Act, 1973

Current legal status not independently verified. 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text below is the official Pakistan Code text as retrieved; whether it is still in force, or has since been amended or repealed, has not been independently checked.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 it is expedient to provide for the establishment of an Authority for making all arrangements for the planning, development and management of Muhammad Bin Qasim Port at Phitti Creek, hereinafter referred to as Port Qasim, and associated facilities and industries and for matters incidental thereto; It is hereby enacted as follows:— CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY

• Section 1: Short title, extent and commencement
• Section 2: Definitions. In this Act unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
• Section 3: Declaration of Port area.⸺(1) The Federal Government may, by notification in the official
• Section 4: Establishment of the Authority.⸺(1) There shall be established an Authority to be known
• Section 5: Management.⸺(1) The general direction and administration of the Authority and its affairs
• Section 6: Constitution of the Board.⸺(1) The Board shall consist of not less than three and not more
• Section 7: Remuneration and conditions of service. The Chairman and each member shall receive
• Section 8: Duties and functions of Chairman and members.⸺(1) The Chairman and members shall
• Section 9: Headquarters of the Authority and meetings of the Board.⸺2[(1) Authority shall have
• Section 10: Master­plan and master­programme.⸺The Authority shall prepare a master­plan and a
• Section 11: Preparation of schemes by local bodies or agencies.⸺(1) The Authority may, pursuant
• Section 12: Manner and form, etc., of scheme.⸺All schemes under section 11 shall be prepared in
• Section 13: Powers 2[and Functions] of the Authority.⸺(1) Subject to the other provision of this Act,
• Section 14: Tolls and charges may be remitted in special cases. The Board may, in special cases,
• Section 15: Board’s lien for tolls and charges
• Section 16: Owner’s lien for freight
• Section 17: Discharge of Shipowner’s lien for freight. Upon the production to any officer appointed
• Section 18: Goods may be removed to warehouse
• Section 19: Recovery of tolls and charges by sale of goods
• Section 20: Removal of unclaimed goods
• Section 21: Power to distrain vessels for non­payment of rates, etc
• Section 22: Port­clearance not to be granted till rates, etc., paid . If the Board shall give to the officer
• Section 23: Alternative remedy by suit. Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 15, 16, 17,
• Section 24: Surplus of port dues to be paid to Board. The surplus, if any, of the moneys credited
• Section 25: Right of Board to maintain pilots.­(1) The Board shall have the right of maintaining pilots
• Section 26: Approval and publication of bye­laws. No bye­law, or alteration or revocation of a
• Section 27: Removal, etc., of building. The Board 2[or any officer authorized by the Board] shall not
• Section 28: Private wharves, etc., prohibited
• Section 29: Power to permit erection of private wharves, etc. The Board may, by an order in writing
• Section 30: Power to amend schemes. Any scheme prepared under section 11 may at any time be
• Section 31: Execution of schemes, etc., through local bodies and agencies
• Section 32: Borrowing powers
• Section 33: Utilization of building material. Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for
• Section 34: Liability to acquisition. All land in private ownership within the Port area shall be liable
• Section 35: Entry upon land, preliminary surveys, etc
• Section 36: Compensation for damage. Where any damage is caused to any land in consequence of
• Section 37: Power to acquire land
• Section 38: Land to be marked out, measured and planned. Where any land is proposed to be
• Section 39: Notice to persons interested
• Section 40: Enquiry and award by Deputy Commissioner. On the day so fixed, or on any other day
• Section 41: Compensation. Where any land is acquired under this Act, there shall be paid
• Section 42: Matters to be considered in determining. In determining the amount of compensation to
• Section 43: Factors to be ignored in determining compensation. In determining compensation as
• Section 44: Vesting of land in the Authority. Immediately on the making of the award under section
• Section 45: Acquisition. In cases of urgency, the Deputy Commissioner may immediately after the
• Section 46: Power of Deputy Commissioner to call for information. With a view to acquiring any
• Section 47: Authority to give direction. The Authority may give directions to the Deputy
• Section 48: Appeals
• Section 49: Deputy Commissioner and authorised officer to have powers of civil court, etc
• Section 50: Appointment of officers, servants, etc. The Authority may, from time to time, appoint
• Section 51: Recruitment, conditions of service, etc. The Authority shall, by regulations made with
• Section 52: Members and officers to be public servants. The Chairman, members, officers and
• Section 53: Indemnity. No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Authority,
• Section 54: Delegation of powers to Chairman, etc. The Authority may, by general or special orders,
• Section 55: Port Qasim Authority Fund
• Section 56: Budget
• Section 56A: Surplus to be remitted to Federal Consolidated Fund
• Section 57: Audit and Accounts. 1[division concerned] (1) The accounts of the Authority shall be
• Section 58: Penalty
• Section 59: Penalty for evading rates, etc. Any person who removes or attempts to remove, or abets
• Section 60: Compensation for damage to property of Board
• Section 60A: Fines and penalties to be credited to the Federal Consolidated Fund
• Section 61: Cognizance of offences
• Section 62: Recovery of dues as arrears of land revenue. All fees and sums due on account of
• Section 63: Submission of yearly reports and returns. (1) The Authority shall submit to the 2[division
• Section 64: Members not personally liable. No member shall be liable for any contract made or
• Section 65: Limitation of suits, etc
• Section 66: Board not responsible for certain acts of its officers and servants. The Board shall not
• Section 67: Power to dispose of land. The Authority may retain, or may lease, sell, exchange, rent or
• Section 68: Power of Government to make rules. The Federal Government may, by notification in
• Section 69: Power of Authority to make regulations
• Section 70: Control of 1[division concerned] over acts and proceedings of Board. All acts and
• Section 71: Transfer of Phitti Creek Project Cell to the Authority
• Section 71A: Responsibilities of Master, regarding damages and declaration, etc. The Master,
• Section 71B: Port to be pollution free, etc
• Section 71C: Environmental Pollution etc
• Section 72: Dissolution of Authority and transfer of its assets and liabilities