Laws to Register NGOs / NPOs in Pakistan  

In the Islamic Republic of Pakistan there are numbers of laws for registration of non-profit organisations as given below 

The Trust Act, 1882

A public charitable trust is a trust which is created for the benefit of society generally or for certain sections of society. The said Act extends to the whole of Pakistan but nothing contained in the Act affects the rules of Muslim law as to waqf. A waqf under Muslim law is generally made with a pious, charitable or religious purpose. As a Trust property vests in Trustees, but waqf property vests in Almighty Allah. A trust may be created for any lawful purpose like advancement of religion, advancement of knowledge, advancement of health and safety of public, advancement of any other beneficial to making etc. The purpose of a trust is lawful unless it is forbidden by law, or is of such a nature that, if permitted, it would defeat the provisions of any law, or is fraudulent, or involves or implies injury to the person or property of another, or the Court regards it as immoral or opposed to public policy. According to the Trust Act, 1882, no trust in relation to immovable property is valid unless declared by a non-testamentary instrument in writing signed by the author of the trust or the trustee and registered, or by the will of the author of the trust or of the trustee and Trust in relation to movable property is valid unless declared as aforesaid, or unless the ownership of the property is transferred to the trustee. A Trust may be established by a deed of settlement and rules there-under under the Trusts Act, 1882. 

Company not for profit under Companies Ordinance, 1984 

Associations not for profit are formed under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 the said ordinance envisages two types of associations established for non-profit basis. An Association not for profit is an organization formed for the purpose of serving public or for mutual benefit other than pursuit of benefits. According to Section 42 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 the main objects of the Association are for promoting commerce, art, science, religion, sports, social services, charity or any other useful object, and applies or intends to apply its profits, if any, or other income in promoting its objects. The Association shall on registration enjoy all the privileges of a limited company and be subject to all its obligations, except those of using the words Limited, Private Limited or Guarantee Limited. To get registered an Association for non-profit purposes first is to obtain license under Section 42 of the Ordinance from Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan and thereafter to register the Association as a company. The association is generally a guarantee limited company having no share capital. 

Trade Organisations Ordinance, 2007 

The said ordinance extends to whole of Pakistan for the registration and regulation of trade organisations. No trade organisation shall be registered under the Ordinance or such other law unless it holds a license granted by the Federal Government authorizing it to be so registered. A trade organistaion holding a license shall be registered under the ordinance as a company with limited liability. 

The Co-operative Societies Act, 1925 

This Society is a form of organisation where persons join together voluntarily on a basis of equality of a common economic need. 

Non-profit Public Benefit Organisations (Governance and Support) Act 2003 

The said Act extends to the whole of Pakistan to provide for governance and support of non-profit public benefit organisations. Whereas non-profit public benefit organisations engaged in diverse fields, including social welfare, development, research, rights awareness and advocacy, are making significant contributions to the social and physical capital of the country, it is desirable that an enabling legislative framework be provided that promotes transparency and strengthens the capacity of such organisations while respecting the right of free association in the furtherance of lawful. The Act defines “Public Benefit Organisation” includes a society, agency or any other association of persons, natural or juristic, not controlled by any government, by whatever name described that is nonprofit, voluntary and is set up for one or more public benefit purposes and includes local branches of foreign organisations but excludes such foreign organisations operating in Pakistan to whose charter Government of Pakistan is a signatory or where a protocol exists between the Government of Pakistan and an organization. According to section 28 of the said ActThe Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 (XLVI of 1961) is repealed. 

The Societies Registration Act, 1860 

Societies or NPO’s which are registered under The Societies Registration Act, 1860 are for the promotion of literature, science or the fine arts or for the diffusion of useful knowledge, the diffusion of political education or for charitable purposes. Any seven or more persons associated for any literary, scientific, charitable purpose, the diffusion of useful knowledge, the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading rooms for general use, public museums, galleries of paintings or works of art, collections of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments or designs, management, overseeing, monitoring and providing supervisory cover to local institutions such as primary schools, middle schools, high schools, dispensaries, basic health units and rural centres and other health institution, population welfare facilities, water supply and sanitation faculties may form themselves into a society under the Act subscribing their names to a memorandum of association filing the same with the Registrar of Societies.