Updated: Tuesday December 03, 2013/AthThulatha Muharram 30, 1435/Mangalavara Agrahayana 12, 1935, at 04:19:31 PM

[1][1]The Punjab Social Services Board Ordinance, 1970

(Pb Ordinance II of 1970)

[12 October 1970]

An Ordinance to provide for the constitution of a Social Services Board to perform certain functions

Preamble.– WHEREAS it is expedient to establish a Social Services Board to promote social welfare, to co-ordinate and integrate social welfare programmes and to provide an opportunity to the citizens at large to participate in the social welfare movement, and to make provision for matters connected therewith;

            NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the Martial Law Proclamation of 25th March, 1969, read with the Provisional Constitution Order, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the Governor of the Punjab is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:-

1.         Short title, extent and commencement.– (1) This Ordinance may be called the Punjab Social Services Board Ordinance, 1970.

            (2)        It extends to the whole of the Punjab.

            (3)        All provisions of this Ordinance except provisions relating to voluntary corps shall come into force at once, while the provisions relating to voluntary corps shall come into force on such date as the Governor may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint.

2.         Definitions.– In this Ordinance, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or the context:-

        (a)  “Board” means the Punjab Social Services Board established under section 3;

        (b)  “Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board;

        (c)  “employees” mean the officers, advisors and servants of the Board and include persons who enter into agreement with the Board to serve it on honorary basis;

       (d)  “Executive Committee” means the Executive Committee of the Board;

        (e)  “Government” means the Government of the Punjab;

        (f)  “member” means a member of the Board;

        (g)  “President” means the President of the Board;

       (h)  “province” means the Province of the Punjab;

         (i)  “rules” mean the rules made under this ordinance;

         (j)  “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Board and the Executive Committee;

        (k)  [2][2][* * * * * * * * * * * *]

    [3][3][(l)  “voluntary social welfare agency” means an organisation registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961;

      (m)  “voluntary worker” means a person working in a Voluntary Social Welfare Agency.]

3.         Establishment of the Board.– As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Ordinance, Government shall establish a Board to be called the Punjab Social Services Board.

[4][4][4.    Constitution of the Board.– (1) The Board shall consist of–

        (a)  a President;

        (b)  a Vice-President;

        (c)  a Chairman;

        (d) a Secretary; and

        (e)  ex-officio and nominated members specified in sub-sections (6) and (7).

            (2)        The Governor shall be the President of the Board and shall act as such in his individual capacity.

            (3)        The Minister for Social Welfare shall be the Vice-President of the Board.

            (4)        The President shall, by notification in the official Gazette, nominate a person as Chairman of the Board.

            (5)        The Director-General, Social Welfare, Government of the Punjab shall be ex-officio Secretary of the Board.

            (6)        The Secretaries to Government of the Punjab Social Welfare, Education, Finance and Health Departments shall be ex-officio members of the Board.

      [5][5][(7)         The President shall, by notification in the official Gazette, nominate six members from amongst the members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, of which at least two shall be women, six members from whole of the Province of the Punjab from amongst renowned social workers committed to the cause of public welfare and experts in the field of education, public health, environment and poverty alleviation, one eminent jurist and one financial expert of good repute:

            Provided that the President shall nominate the members of the Provincial Assembly on the recommendation of the Speaker of Provincial Assembly and remaining members on the recommendation of the Government.]

5.         Temporary vacancies.– (1) If the Chairman is temporarily unable to perform his duties, for any reason, the President may nominate a Vice-President or member to act as Chairman until the Chairman can perform his duties.

            (2)        If there is a temporary vacancy in the office of the Secretary, the Government may nominate a member or officer of the Board to perform the duties of the Secretary during the subsistence of that vacancy.

[6][6][6.    Tenure of Chairman and nominated members.– (1) Subject to sub-section (3), the term of the Chairman and the members nominated under sub-section (7) of Section 4 shall be three years and they shall be eligible for reappointment for a term not exceeding three years at a time.

            (2)        The Chairman and the members nominated under sub-section (7) of section 4 shall work on an honorary basis but they will be entitled to such allowances and facilities as may be determined by the President.

            (3)        The President may, in the public interest, order that the Chairman or the members nominated under sub-section (7) of Section 4 shall cease to hold office from such date as may be specified in the notification published in the official Gazette:

            Provided that the President shall obtain recommendations from the Government in this behalf.]

7.         Resignations.– The Chairman or any of the members nominated under sub-section (7) of section 4 may resign by tendering resignation, in writing to the President.

[7][7][8.    Meetings of the Board.– (1) The meetings of the Board shall be held at least twice in a year and shall be presided over by the president and in his absence by the Vice-President in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by rules.]

9.         Functions of the Board.– The functions of the Board shall be–

            (i)  to formulate policies with regard to the objectives of the Board;

           (ii)  to plan, co-ordinate, integrate, evaluate and intensify social welfare programmes in the Province [8][8][in collaboration with the public and private sector];

     [9][9][(iii)  to provide professional and technical assistance and grants-in-aid to those voluntary social welfare agencies which work on non-profit basis, to evaluate their performance and functioning through a voluntary check and balance mechanism, and to perform such other functions in respect of these agencies as may be entrusted to the Board by or under any law;]

          (iv)  to control the raising and utilisation of funds by voluntary social welfare agencies for social welfare objectives and to [10][10][develop mechanism] for their audit;

           (v)  [11][11][* * * * * * * * * * * *]

          (vi)  [12][12][to train social workers in theory and practice of social welfare].

         (vii)  to arrange and control study tours abroad of social workers;

        (viii)  to secure enactment or change of laws relating to social welfare; and

          (ix)  to inculcate in the citizens of the Province, particularly the students and the youth, the spirit of serving the cause of social welfare with dedication.

[13][13][10.            Executive Committee.– (1) There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board which shall exercise the executive powers of the Board for implementation of the policies of the Board.

            (2)        The Executive Committee shall consist of a Chairman and four members.

            (3)        The Chairman of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

            (4)        The following members of the Board shall be members of the Executive Committee:-

            (a)  Three of the numbers nominated on the Board under Sub-Section (7) of section 4; and

            (b)  the Director-General, Social Welfare, Government of the Punjab, who shall also act as Secretary of the Executive Committee.

            (5)        The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in every three months.]

11.    Employees of the Board.– (1) The Board may appoint such employees as it may consider necessary for the efficient performance of its functions on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the rules:

            Provided that until the rules are framed, the Board may appoint employees on ad hoc basis on such terms and conditions as it may deem fit.

            (2)        Subject to the rules, the Board shall be competent to take disciplinary action against its employees.

12.    Functionaries of the Board to be public servants.– The Chairman, Secretary and employees of the Board and Government servants allocated to the service of the Board shall be deemed to be public servants within the meanings of section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

13.    Bar to political activities.– The Chairman and employees of the Board shall not take part in politics.

14.    Delegation of power.– The Board may delegate to the Chairman, or any member or committee or officer of the Board any of its powers under this Ordinance or the rules.

15.    Funds of the Board.– (1) The funds of the Board shall consist of such funds as may be raised by the Board or as may be allocated to it by the Government by or under any law or otherwise.

            (2)        The Board may make arrangements for the collection of Zakat, Fitrah, donations, charities and other contributions.

            (3)        The Board may enter into industrial or commercial ventures to build up its funds.

16.    Custody and operation of funds.– (1) The funds of the Board shall be kept in any scheduled bank which is approved by the Board for the purpose.

            (2)        The funds shall be operated by the Secretary under the directions of the Board.

17.    Accounts and audit.– (1) The accounts of the Board shall be audited by an auditor who is a Chartered Accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Ordinance, 1961[14][14] and is appointed by the Board for the purpose.

            (2)        The Board shall produce all books of account and documents and furnish such explanation and information as the auditor may require for the purposes of audit.

18.    Annual report.– The Board shall, as soon as possible, after the close of every financial year, submit an annual report to the Government on the conduct of its affairs for that year.

19.    General provisions.– (1) The Board shall maintain liaison with all Departments of Government carrying on social welfare activities and may tender advice to those departments through the President or Secretary.

            (2)        The Board shall have the powers to address various officers of Government and correspond with them direct:

            Provided that the matters requiring orders of the Government shall be submitted by the Board through its administrative department.

            (3)        The Government may require any Government servant or any class of Government servants, by general or special order, to carry out the policies of the Board.

20.    Power to make rules.– (1) Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, and with the approval of the Government, the Board may make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Ordinance.

            (2)        In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing powers, such rules may provide for–

            (a)  the appointment of committees of the Board to deal with specific matters;

            (b)  the procedure to be followed at the meetings of the Board and the quorum required at such meetings;

            (c)  the terms and conditions of the service of the employees of the Board;

            (d) the preparation and authentication of annual budget of the Board;

            (e)  the mode of operation and expenditure of the funds of the Board;

            (f)  the powers and duties of the President, Vice-President, Chairman, Executive Committee, Secretary, members, etc;

            (g)  the recruitment, allowances and training of voluntary workers;

            (h) organisation, maintenance and control of voluntary corps; and

            (i)   prosecution of persons personating as functionaries of the Board specified in section 11 or as members of the voluntary corps.


[1][1]This Ordinance was promulgated by the Governor of the Punjab on 9th October, 1970; published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 12th October, 1970, pages 327-333; saved by Article 281 of the Interim Constitution of Pakistan (1972); and, validated by the Validation of Laws Act, 1975 (LXIII of 1975).

[2][2]Omitted by the Punjab Social Services Board (Amendment) Act, 1994 (III of 1994).

[3][3]Substituted ibid.

[4][4]Ibid.

[5][5]Substituted by the Punjab Social Services Board (Amendment) Act 2004 (XXII of 2004).

[6][6]Substituted by the Punjab Social Services Board (Amendment) Act, 1994 (III of 1994).

[7][7]Substituted by the Punjab Social Services Board (Amendment) Act, 1994 (III of 1994).

[8][8]Inserted by the Punjab Social Services Board (Amendment) Act 2004 (XXII of 2004).

[9][9]Substituted ibid.

[10][10]Ibid, for the word “arrange”.

[11][11]Omitted ibid.

[12][12]Substituted ibid.

[13][13]Ibid.