Part V · Relations Between Federation and Provinces · Special Provisions

Broadcasting and telecasting

Article 159

Amended by 27th Amendment (2025)

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English · authoritative

(1)

The Federal Government shall not unreasonably refuse to entrust to a Provincial Government such functions with respect to broadcasting and telecasting as may be necessary to enable that Government—

(a)

to construct and use transmitters in the Province; and

(b)

to regulate, and impose fees in respect of, the construction and use of transmitters and the use of receiving apparatus in the Province:

Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as requiring the Federal Government to entrust to any Provincial Government any control over the use of transmitters constructed or maintained by the Federal Government or by persons authorized by the Federal Government, or over the use of receiving apparatus by person so authorized.

(2)

Any functions so entrusted to a Provincial Government shall be exercised subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Federal Government, including, notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, any conditions with respect to finance, but it shall not be lawful for the Federal Government so to impose any conditions regulating the matter of broadcast or telecast by, or by authority of, the Provincial Government.

(3)

Any Federal law with respect to broadcasting and telecasting shall be such as to secure that effect can be given to the foregoing provisions of this Article.

(4)

If any question arises whether any conditions imposed on any Provincial Government are lawfully imposed, or whether any refusal by the Federal Government to entrust functions is unreasonable, the question shall be determined by an arbitrator appointed by the Chief Justice of ¹[Federal Constitutional Court].

(5)

Nothing in this Article shall be construed as restricting the powers of the Federal Government under the Constitution for the prevention of any grave menace to the peace or tranquillity of Pakistan or any part thereof. C HAPTER 1.—F INANCE Distribution of Revenues between the Federation and the

Urdu · official translation (2018)

This article was changed after 31 May 2018. The official Urdu translation below does not include that change, so rely on the English text.

The Urdu text of this article is not available yet. It is being transcribed from the National Assembly’s official Urdu translation. Open the official Urdu PDF.