Constitution

Part IV · Provinces · Provincial Assemblies

Governor’s assent to Bills

Article 116

Amended by 8th Amendment (1985) · 18th Amendment (2010)

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English · authoritative

1[(1)

When a Bill has been passed by the Provincial Assembly, it shall be presented to the Governor for assent.

(2)

When a Bill is presented to the Governor for assent, the Governor shall, within 2[ten] days,–

(a)

assent to the Bill; or

(b)

in the case of a Bill other than a Money Bill, return the Bill to the Provincial Assembly with a message requesting that the Bill, or any specified provision thereof, be reconsidered and that any amendment specified in the message be considered.

3[(3)

When the Governor has returned a Bill to the Provincial Assembly, it shall be reconsidered by the Provincial Assembly and, if it is again passed, with or without amendment, by the Provincial Assembly, by the votes of the majority of the members of the Provincial Assembly present and voting, it shall be again presented to the Governor and the Governor shall 4[give his assent within ten days, failing which such assent shall be deemed to have been given].]

(4)

When the Governor has assented 5[or is deemed to have assented] to a Bill, it shall become law and be called an Act of Provincial Assembly.

(5)

No Act of a Provincial Assembly, and no provision in any such Act, shall be invalid by reason only that some recommendation, previous sanction or consent required by the Constitution was not given if that Act was assented to in accordance with the Constitution.]

Urdu · official translation (2018)

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Amendment notes (5)›
  1. 1Substituted by P. O. No. 14 of 1985, Article 2 and Schedule, for “Article 116”.
  2. 2Substituted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), section 38, for “thirty”.
  3. 3Substituted by the Constitution (Eighth Amdt.) Act, 1985 (18 of 1985), section 15, for “clause (3)”.
  4. 4Substituted by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amdt.) Act, 2010 (10 of 2010), section 38, for “not withhold his assent therefrom”.
  5. 5Inserted ibid.

How to cite

In a petition
Article 116 of the Constitution
With heading
Article 116 of the Constitution (Governor’s assent to Bills)
In full
Article 116, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973

English text as amended up to 21 November 2025 (27th Amendment), published by Ministry of Law and Justice / National Assembly of Pakistan. The English text is authoritative. Official PDF, page 84