Transport Legislation

Table of Contents

Federal Laws and Policies

Criteria for Enrollment of National / International Transport Companies with Ministry of Communications for International Road Transport Operations

A few parameters involving Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CC&I) or Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) have been set forth by the Ministry of Communications to allow Transport Operators to operate vehicles under International Transport Agreements.

National Trucking Policy, 2007

The National Trucking Policy seeks to modernize and upgrade the sector to comply with international standards in freight vehicle standards and operational capabilities.

National Trade and Transportation Facilitation Strategy, 2016

It calls for improved transit facilities and processes for the transport and carriage of goods and services to and from the international market.

National Transport Policy of Pakistan, 2018

This Policy provides a vision, governance principles, policy objectives, contributions for each sub-sector, and implementation arrangements. It aims to provide safe, affordable, efficient, durable, and environmentally friendly means of transport under the umbrella of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring reliable access to jobs, markets, education, and other services for all.

Key provisions

  • The state of Pakistan’s Transport Sector
  • The need for a National Transport Policy and Master Plan
  • National Transport Vision for Pakistan
  • Principles for the Governance of Pakistan’s Transport Sector
  • National Transport Policy Objectives
  • Policy directions for each of the transport sub-sectors
  • Implementation arrangements

National Freight and Logistics Policy, 2020

The National Freight and Logistics Policy (NFLP) shall be objectives-led, and target-driven. The objectives and targets shall guide the development of the logistics sector leading to informed decision-making at all levels of the government. The targets will be made ‘SMART’ (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound).

Key provisions:

  • State of Pakistan’s Freight and Logistics Sector
  • Justification for the NFLP (rationale and potential benefits)
  • Vision, principles, and objectives
  • Policy actions (includes road, rail, maritime, air transport, etc.)
  • Implementation, monitoring, and evaluation (NFLP Steering Committee and NFLP Secretariat)

National Highway Safety Ordinance, 2000

Legislation that provides ground rules for safe driving on the National Highways.

Key provisions:

  • Sections 3-17 – Licensing requirements and rules to that effect
  • Sections 18-38 – Registration of road vehicles and rules to that effect
  • Sections 39-40 – Construction, equipment, and maintenance of road vehicles
  • Sections 41-64 – Control of traffic and rules to that effect
  • Sections 65-89 – Offences, penalties, procedures, and powers of police officers
  • Sections 90-93 – Establishment of a police for motorways and national highways

Balochistan Transport Laws

Motor Vehicles Act, 1939

Legislation that governs motor vehicles, particularly those temporarily leaving or visiting Pakistan, and provides for insurance of motor vehicles against third-party risks.

Key provisions:

  • Section 92 – Power of Central Government to make Rules
  • Section 94 – Necessity for insurance against third-party risk
  • Section 95 – Requirements of policies and limits of liability
  • Sections 96-97 – Duty of insurers in respect of third-party risks and rights of third-parties
  • Section 98 – Duty to give information as to insurance
  • Section 99 – Settlement between insurers and insured persons
  • Section 101 – Insolvency of insured persons not to affect liability of insured or claims by third parties
  • Section 102 – Effect of death on certain causes of action
  • Section 103 – Effect of certificate of insurance
  • Section 104 – Duty to surrender certificate on cancellation of policy
  • Section 105 – Duty of insurer to notify registering authority cancellation or suspension of the policy
  • Sections 106-107 – Production of certificate of insurance
  • Section 108 – Co-operative Insurance
  • Section 109 – Duty to furnish particulars of vehicles involved in accidents
  • Section 110 – Power to appoint a person to investigate and report on an accident
  • Section 111 – Power to make rules
  • Section 125 – Driving an uninsured vehicle

The Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965

A law that was passed to amend and consolidate the law relating to motor vehicles in the Province of West Pakistan (as it was known then). 

Key provisions:

  • Sections 3-22 – Licensing of drivers of motor vehicles
  • Sections 23-43 – Registration of motor vehicles
  • Sections 44-69 – Control of transport vehicles
  • Sections 70-72 – Punjab road transport board
  • Sections 72A-73G – Urban transport company
  • Sections 73-74 – Construction, equipment, and maintenance of motor vehicles
  • Sections 75-96 – Control of Traffic
  • Sections 97-118 – Offences, penalties, procedures, and powers of police officers

The Stage Carriages (Cancellation of Permits of Absentees) Regulation, 1969

This regulation provides an overview of how the provincial government may make rules to provide for: (a) The procedure for determining actual owners of stage carriages; (b) The procedure for issuance of permits to the actual owners of stage carriages.

Key provisions:

  • Paragraph 3 – Issuance of permit to ply stage carriage and cancellation of said permit
  • Paragraph 4 – Procedure after the cancellation of the permit
  • Paragraph 5 – Punishment for contravention of paragraphs 3 and 4
  • Paragraph 6 – Ascertaining actual owner of stage carriage
  • Paragraph 7 – Power to make rules

The West Pakistan Requisitioning of Stage Carriages (Temporary Powers) Ordinance, 1970

An Ordinance to provide for requisitioning of stage carriages.

Key provisions:

  • Section 3 – Requisitioning of motor vehicles
  • Section 4 – Appeal
  • Section 5 – Power to give effect to orders
  • Section 6 – Power to search, and seize
  • Section 7 – Permit not necessary
  • Section 8 – Payment of repair chargers, taxes, etc
  • Section 9 – Compensation
  • Section 10 – Sabotage
  • Section 10 – Penalty
  • Section 11 – Release form requisition
  • Section 12 – Jurisdiction of Courts barred

The Balochistan Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2021

An Act to further amend the Balochistan Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.

Key provisions

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transport Laws

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mass Transit Act, 2016

An Act to provide for the planning, establishment, regulation, and management of modern and sustainable mass transit and complementary urban mobility systems in the Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Key provisions:

  • Sections 3-5 – Establishment, Powers and Functions of Authority
  • Sections 6-12 – Management and Operation of Authority
  • Sections 13-16 – The Fund, Audits and Accounts and Annual Report
  • Sections 17-27 – Development, Amenities and Facilities in the Mass Transit System (including penalties and restrictions)
  • Sections 28-32 – The Urban Transport Company

The Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965

An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to motor vehicles in the Province of West Pakistan.

Key provisions:

  • Sections 3-22 – Licensing of drivers of motor vehicles
  • Sections 23-43 – Registration of motor vehicles
  • Sections 44-69 – Control of transport vehicles
  • Sections 70-72 – Punjab road transport board
  • Sections 73-74 – Construction, equipment, and maintenance of motor vehicles
  • Sections 75-96 – Control of traffic
  • Sections 97-118 – Offences, penalties, procedures, and powers of police officers

The West Pakistan Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1958

An Act to consolidate the law relating to the imposition of tax on motor vehicles in West Pakistan (as it was called then).

Key provisions:

  • Section 3 – Imposition of tax
  • Section 4 – Obligation of persons keeping motor vehicles to make declaration and to pay tax
  • Section 5 – Obligation to make additional declaration and to pay further tax
  • Section 6 – Service of special notice to make declaration and to pay tax
  • Section 7 – Grant of licence
  • Section 8 – Penalty for omission to comply with the provisions of section 4
  • Section 9 – Penalty for keeping a motor vehicle without a licence or failure to pay tax.
  • Section 10 – Recovery of a tax or additional tax imposed under section 8 or section 9
  • Section 11 – Recovery of arrears of tax
  • Sections 12-13 – Appeals, Exemptions and Deductions
  • Section 14 – Bar to jurisdiction of Civil and Criminal Courts in matters of taxation
  • Section 16 – Punishment

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sales Tax on Services Special Procedure (Transportation or Carriage of Petroleum Oils through Oil Tankers) Regulation, 2018

A Regulation to facilitate services of inter-city transportation or carriage of petroleum oils.

Key provisions:

  • Paragraph 3 – Rate of Tax
  • Paragraph 4 – Tax invoices
  • Paragraph 5 – Withholding of tax
  • Paragraph 6 – Returns
  • Paragraph 7 – Application of other provisions

Punjab Transport Laws

The Punjab Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1958

An Act to consolidate the law relating to the imposition of tax on motor vehicles in Punjab.

Key provisions:

  • Section 3 – Imposition of tax
  • Section 4 – Obligation of persons keeping motor vehicles to make declarations and to pay tax
  • Section 5 – Obligation to make additional declaration and to pay further tax
  • Section 6 – Service of special notice to make a declaration and to pay tax
  • Section 7 – Grant of licence
  • Section 8 – Penalty for omission to comply with the provisions of section 4
  • Section 9 – Penalty for keeping a motor vehicle without a licence or failure to pay tax.
  • Section 10 – Recovery of a tax or additional tax imposed under section 8 or section 9
  • Section 11 – Recovery of arrears of tax
  • Sections 12-13 – Appeals, Exemptions and Deductions
  • Section 14 – Bar to jurisdiction of Civil and Criminal Courts in matters of taxation
  • Section 16 – Punishment

The Punjab Highways Ordinance, 1959

An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the law relating to highways in the province of Punjab.

Key provisions:

  • Sections 3-4 – Highway Authorities
  • Sections 5-15 – Powers of Highway Authorities
  • Sections 16-18 – Improvement of highways
  • Sections 19-23 – Duties of highway users
  • Sections 24-25 – Procedure and penalties

Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969

It aims to set the ground rules in the transport sector of Punjab such as the power to make inquiries of an applicant for a driving license, testing officers, etc.

Key provisions:

  • Rules 5-27 – Licensing of drivers of motor vehicles
  • Rules 28-53 – Registration of motor vehicles
  • Rules 54-125 – Control of transport vehicles
  • Rules 150-215 – Construction, equipment and maintenance of motor vehicles
  • Rules 216-239 – Control of traffic
  • Rules 240-268 – Halting of Motor Vehicles in Public Places: Control of Stands

Sindh Transport Laws

Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969

It aims to set the ground rules in the transport sector of Sindh such as power to make inquiries of applicant for driving license, testing officers etc.

Key provisions:

  • Rules 5-27 – Licensing of drivers of motor vehicles
  • Rules 28-53 – Registration of motor vehicles
  • Rules 54-125 – Control of transport vehicles
  • Rules 150-215 – Construction, equipment and maintenance of motor vehicles
  • Rules 216-239 – Control of traffic
  • Rules 240-268 – Halting of Motor Vehicles in Public Places: Control of Stands

The Karachi Metropolitan Transport Authority Ordinance, 1999

It aims to formulate and implement a sound transport policy and to plan, promote, organize and implement programs for construction, development, operation, repairs and maintenance of the metropolitan transport system of Karachi including dynamic and comprehensive mass transit systems and other allied works as entrusted to it by the government.

Key provisions:

  • Sections 4-9 – Establishment and management of the authority
  • Section 10 – Powers and functions of the authority
  • Sections 11-12 – Appointment of managing director, officers, servants etc.
  • Sections 13 – Delegation of powers to the Chairman etc.
  • Sections 14-16 – Finance