Complete Companies Act With Schedules - 22-02-2024
Complete Companies Act With Schedules - 22-02-2024
Complete Companies Act With Schedules - 22-02-2024
&
SCHEDULES
TO THE COMPANIES ACT, 2017
Editors:
Mirza Munawar Hussain Mirza Behzad Munawar
MA, MBA, LLB, FPFA, FCIS, FCMA BA, APFA, ACMA
Cell: 0333-4249620
E-mail: mirzajee786@yahoo.com
CONTENTS
Section CHAPTERS Page No.
PART – I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement 1
2. Definitions 2
3. Application of Act to non-trading companies with purely provincial objects 8
4. Act to override 9
PART – II
JURISDICTION OF COURT
5. Jurisdiction of the Court and creation of Benches 10
6. Procedure of the Court and appeal 10
PART – III
PART – IV
Articles of Association
36. Registration of articles 23
37. Articles to be printed, signed and dated 24
38. Alteration of articles 24
39. Copies of memorandum and articles to be given to members 24
40. Alteration of memorandum or articles to be noted in every copy 24
41. Form of memorandum and articles 25
42. Licencing of associations with charitable and not for profit objects 25
43. Effect of revocation of licence 26
44. Penalty 27
45. Provision as to companies limited by guarantee 27
Conversion of a Company of Any Class into a Company of Other Class and Related Matters
46. Conversion of public company into private company and vice-versa 27
47. Conversion of status of private company into a single-member company and
28
vice-versa
48. Issue of certificate and effects of conversion 28
49. Conversion of a company limited by guarantee to a company limited by shares
29
and vice-versa
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PART – V
Allotment
67. Application for, and allotment of, shares and debentures 35
68. Repayment of money received for shares not allotted 35
69. Allotment of shares and other securities to be dealt in on securities exchange 35
70. Return as to allotments 36
Invitation of Deposits
84. Prohibition on acceptance of deposits from public 43
85. Power of company to alter its share capital 43
86. Prohibition of purchase by company or giving of loans by it for purchase of its
44
shares
87. Subsidiary company not to hold shares in its holding company 44
88. Power of a company to purchase its own shares 45
PART – VI
debenture stock
105. Duty of company and right of interested party as regards registration 51
106. Modification in the particulars of mortgage or charge 51
107. Copy of instrument creating mortgage or charge to be kept at registered office 51
108. Rectification of register of mortgages 51
109. Company to report satisfaction of charge 51
110. Power of registrar to make entries of satisfaction and release in absence of
52
intimation from company
111. Punishment for contravention 52
112. Company’s register of mortgages and charges 52
PART – VII
Chief Executive
186. Appointment of first chief executive 79
187. Appointment of subsequent chief executive 80
188. Terms of appointment of chief executive 80
189. Restriction on appointment of chief executive 80
190. Removal of chief executive 80
191. Chief executive not to engage in business competing with company's business 80
192. Chairman in a listed company 80
193. Penalty 81
194. Public company required to have secretary 81
195. Listed company to have share registrar 81
196. Bar on appointment of sole purchase, sales agents 81
Accounts of Companies92
220. Books of account, to be kept by company 93
221. Inspection of books of account by the Commission 93
222. Default in compliance with provisions of section 221 93
223. Financial Statements 94
224. Classification of Companies 94
225. Contents of Financial Statements 94
226. Duty to prepare directors’ report and statement of compliance 95
227. Contents of directors’ report and statement of compliance 95
228. Consolidated financial statements 96
229. Financial year of holding company and subsidiary 97
230. Rights of holding company’s representatives and members 97
231. Financial Statements of modaraba company to include modaraba accounts 97
232. Approval and authentication of Financial Statements 97
233. Copy of Financial Statements to be forwarded to the registrar 98
234. Omitted by The companies (Amendment) Act, 2021 98
235. Right of member of a company to copies of the Financial Statements and the
98
auditor’s report
236. Penalty for improper issue, circulation or publication of Financial Statements 98
237. Quarterly financial statements of listed companies 99
238. Power of Commission to require submission of additional statements of
99
accounts and reports
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Audit
246. Appointment, removal and fee of auditors 103
247. Qualification and disqualification of auditors 104
PART – VIII
PART – IX
PART – X
WINDING UP
Preliminary
293. Modes of winding up 132
294. Liability as contributories of present and past members 132
295. Liability of directors whose liability is unlimited 132
296. Liability of Contributory having fully paid share 133
297. Nature of liability of contributory 133
298. Contributories in case of death of member 133
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Winding Up by Court
301. Circumstances in which a company may be wound up by Court 134
302. Company when deemed unable to pay its debts 135
303. Transfer of proceedings to other Courts 135
Official Liquidators
315. Appointment of official liquidator 138
316. Removal of official liquidator 139
317. Remuneration of official liquidator 140
318. Style and title of official liquidator 140
319. General provisions as to liquidators 140
320. Statement of affairs to be made to official liquidator 140
321. Report by official liquidator 142
322. Court directions on report of official liquidator 142
323. Settlement of list of contributories and application of assets 143
324. Custody of company's properties 143
325. Power to require delivery of property 144
326. Power to summon persons suspected of having property of company 144
327. Power to order public examination of promoters, directors 144
328. Power to arrest absconding contributory 145
329. Power to order payment of debts by contributory 145
330. Power of Court to make calls 146
331. Power to order payment into bank 146
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [xii]
Enforcement of Orders
344. Power to enforce orders 149
345. Order made by any Court to be enforced by other Courts 149
346. Mode of Dealing with Orders to be enforced by other Courts 149
347. Circumstances in which company may be wound up voluntarily 149
348. Commencement of voluntary winding up 150
349. Effect of voluntary winding up on status of company 150
350. Notice of resolution to wind up voluntarily 150
351. Declaration of solvency in case of proposal to wind up voluntarily 150
352. Distinction between members and creditors voluntary winding up 151
353. Appointment of liquidator 151
354. Power to fill vacancy in office of liquidator 151
355. Notice by liquidator of his appointment 152
356. Power of liquidator to accept shares as consideration for sale of property of
152
company
357. Duty of liquidator where company turns out to be insolvent 152
358. Duty of liquidator to call general meetings 153
359. Final meeting and dissolution 153
360. Alternative provisions as to annual and final meetings in case of insolvency 154
399. Liability under sections 397 and 398 to extend to partners or directors in firm
166
or body corporate
400. Penalty for fraud by officers of companies which have gone into liquidation 167
401. Liability where proper accounts not kept 167
402. Penalty for falsification of books 167
403. Prosecution of delinquent directors 167
404. Penalty for false evidence 168
405. Penal Provisions 169
PART – XI
PART – XIII
Prospectus
446. Issue of prospectus 186
447. Restriction on canvassing for sale of securities 186
448. Registration of charges 186
449. Notice of appointment of receiver 186
450. Notice of liquidation 187
PART – XIII
GENERAL
451. Certification of Shariah compliant companies and Shariah compliant securities 188
452. Companies’ Global Register of Beneficial Ownership 188
453. Prevention of offences relating to fraud, money laundering and terrorist
189
financing
454. Free Zone Company 189
455. Filing of documents through intermediaries 189
456. Acceptance of advances by real estate companies engaged in real estate
189
projects
457. Agriculture Promotion Companies 191
458. Power to give exemptions by the Federal Government 192
458A Measures for greater ease of doing business 192
459. Quota for persons with disabilities in the public interest companies 193
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SCHEDULES
First Schedule 211
Second Schedule 255
Third Schedule 261
Fourth Schedule 264
Fifth Schedule 270
Sixth Schedule 274
Seventh Schedule 275
Eighth Schedule 285
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [1]
1
THE COMPANIES ACT, 2017
(ACT No. XIX OF 2017)
[As Amended upto 18-08-2022]
2. Definitions.–
(1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,–
(1) “advocate” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in section 2 of the Legal
Practitioners and Bar Councils Act, 1973 (XXXV of 1973);
(2) “alter” or “alteration” includes making of additions or omissions without substituting
or destroying main scheme of the document;
(3) “articles” mean the articles of association of a company framed in accordance with
the company law 2[or this Act];
(4) “associated companies” and “associated undertakings” mean any two or more
companies or undertakings, or a company and an undertaking, interconnected with
1 The Companies Act, 2017 was passed by the Senate of Pakistan on 15-05-2017 and the National Assembly of Pakistan
on 24-05-2017. It received the assent of the President on 30-05-2017 and was published in Gazette of Pakistan on
31-05-2017 at pages 181 to 610. (Another Gazetted version circulated by the SECP in 2019 inserted Table of Contents
and pages in the Gazette bear Nos. 181 to 647).
2 The term “company law” includes the Companies Act, 2017; hence, words “or this Act” appear to be superfluous.
These words were omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, dated 30-04-2020, which lapsed on
27-08-2020.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [2]
1 The term “company law” includes the Companies Act, 2017; hence, words “this Act or” appear to be superfluous.
2 Comma appears to be missing.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [4]
(17) “company” means a company formed and registered under 1[this Act or] the
company law;
(18) “company law” means the repealed Companies Act, 1913 (VII of 1913),
Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984), Companies Ordinance, 2016 (VI of
2016) and also includes this Act unless the context provides otherwise;
(19) “company limited by guarantee” means a company having the liability of its
members limited by the memorandum to such amount as the members may
respectively thereby undertake to contribute to the assets of the company in the
event of its being wound up;
(20) “company limited by shares” means a company; having the liability of its
members limited by the memorandum to the extent of amount, if any, remaining
unpaid on the shares respectively held by them;
(21) “company secretary” means any individual appointed to perform secretarial and
other duties customarily performed by a company secretary and declared as such,
having such qualifications and experience, as may be specified;
(22) “cost and management accountant” shall have the same meaning as assigned to
it under the Cost and Management Accountants Act,1966 (XIV of 1966);
(23) “Court” means a Company Bench of a High Court having jurisdiction under this
Act;
(24) “debenture” includes debenture stock, bonds, term finance certificate or any other
instrument of a company evidencing a debt, whether constituting a mortgage or
charge on the assets of the company or not;
(25) “director” includes any person occupying the position of a director, by whatever
name called;
(26) “document” includes any information or data recorded in any legible form or
through use of modern electronic devices or techniques whatsoever, including
books and papers, returns, requisitions, notices, certificates, deeds, forms,
registers, prospectus, communications, financial statements or statement of
accounts or records maintained by financial institutions in respect of its customers;
(27) “e-service” means any service or means provided by the Commission for the
lodging or filing of electronic documents;
(28) “electronic document” includes documents in any electronic form and scanned
images of physical documents;
(29) “employees’ stock option” means the option given to the directors, officers or
employees of a company or of its holding company or subsidiary company or
companies, if any, which gives such directors, officers or employees, the right to
purchase or to subscribe for shares of the company at a price to be determined in
the manner as may be specified;
(30) “expert” includes an engineer, a valuer, an actuary, a chartered accountant or a
cost and management accountant and any other person who has the power or
authority to issue a certificate in pursuance of any law for the time being in force or
any other person notified as such by the Commission;
(31) “financial institution” includes–
(a) any company whether incorporated within or outside Pakistan which
transacts the business of banking or any associated or ancillary business in
Pakistan through its branches within or outside Pakistan and includes a
government savings bank, but excludes the State Bank of Pakistan;
1 The term “company law” includes the Companies Act, 2017; hence, words “this Act or” appear to be superfluous.
These words were omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, dated 30-04-2020, which lapsed on
27-08-2020.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [5]
1 The term “company law” includes the Companies Act, 2017; hence, words “or of this Act” appear to be superfluous.
These words were omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, dated 30-04-2020, which lapsed on
27-08-2020.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [6]
greater than five hundred million rupees or such other amount or amounts as
may be specified;
(c) is working towards the innovation, development or improvement of products
or processes or services or is a scalable business model with a high potential
of employment generation or wealth creation or for such other purposes as
may be specified; or
(d) such other companies or classes of companies as may be notified by the
Commission:
Provided that a company formed by the splitting up or re-construction of an existing
company shall not be considered as a startup company;
(68) “subsidiary company” or “subsidiary”, in relation to any other company (that is to
say the holding company), means a company in which the holding company-
(a) controls the composition of the board; or
(b) exercises or controls more than one-half of its voting securities either by itself
or together with one or more of its subsidiary companies:
Provided that such class or classes of holding companies shall not have layers of
subsidiaries beyond such numbers, as may be notified,
Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause-
(i) a company shall be deemed to be a subsidiary company of the holding
company even if the control referred to in sub-clause (a) or sub-clause (b) is
of another subsidiary company of the holding company;
(ii) the composition of a company’s board shall be deemed to be controlled by
another company if that other company by exercise of power exercisable by it
at its discretion can appoint or remove all or a majority of the directors;
(iii) the expression “company” includes any body corporate;
(iv) “layer” in relation to a holding company means its subsidiary or subsidiaries;
(69) “Table” means Table in a Schedule to this Act;
(70) “turnover” means the aggregate value of sale, supply or distribution of goods or on
account of services rendered, or both, net of discounts, if any, held by the company
during a financial year;
(71) “unlimited company” means a company not having any limit on the liability of its
members;
(72) “valuer” means a valuer registered with the Commission;
(73) “voting right” means the right of a member of a company to vote on any matter in
a meeting of the company either present in person or through video-link or by proxy
or by means of postal ballot:
Provided that attending of meeting through video-link shall be subject to such
facility arranged by the company and in the manner as may be specified, save as
otherwise provided in this Act; and
(74) “wholly owned subsidiary” a company shall be deemed to be a wholly owned
subsidiary of another company or the statutory body if all its shares are owned by
that other company or the statutory body.
(2) The words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in the Securities
Act, 2015 (III of 2015) or the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act,
1997(XLII of 1997) or the Central Depositories Act, 1997 (XIX of 1997) shall have the
meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.
4. Act to override.–
Save as otherwise expressly provided herein–
(a) the provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any other
law or the memorandum or articles of a company or in any contract or agreement
executed by it or in any resolution passed by the company in general meeting or by its
directors, whether the same be registered, executed or passed, as thecase may be, before
or after the coming into force of the said provisions; and
(b) any provision contained in the memorandum, articles, contract, agreement, arrangement
or resolution aforesaid shall, to the extent to which it is repugnant to the aforesaid
provisions of this Act, become, or be, void, as the case may be.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [10]
PART–II
JURISDICTION OF COURT
5. Jurisdiction of the Court and creation of Benches.–
(1) The Court having jurisdiction under this Act shall be the High Court having jurisdictionin the
place at which the registered office of the company is situate.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law no civil court as provided in the Code
of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) or any other court shall have jurisdiction to
entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of any matter which the Court is empowered to
determine by or under this Act.
(3) For the purposes of jurisdiction to wind up companies, the expression “registered office”
means the place which has longest been the registered office of the company during the
one hundred and eighty days immediately preceding the presentation of the petition for
winding up.
(4) There shall be, in each High Court, one or more benches on permanent basis, each to be
known as the Company Bench, to be constituted by the Chief Justice of the High Court to
exercise the jurisdiction vested in the High Court under this Act:
Provided that Benches constituted under the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of
1984), shall continue to function accordingly unless otherwise notified by the respective
Chief Justice of the High Court:
Provided further that provisions of section 6 shall be effective from the date of notification
by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court within one hundred and eighty days from
the date of the commencement of this Act.
(5) There shall be a Registrar to be known as “Registrar of the Company Bench” duly notified
by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who shall be assisted by such other
officers as may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the respective High Court.
(6) The Registrar of the Company Bench shall perform all the functions assigned to it under
this Act including all ministerial and administrative business of the Company Bench such
as the receipt of petitions, applications, written replies, issuance of notices, service of
summons and such other functions or duties as may be prescribed under section 423.
(7) The Chief Justice of the respective High Court, if deemed appropriate, may also establish
a secretariat in each Company Bench of the respective High Court in such form and
manner to provide secretarial support and to perform such functions as may be
prescribed under section 423.
(f) a list of any case law along with a summary of the same on which the petitioner or
applicant is placing reliance;
(g) address for effecting service, mobile number, email and fax or any other mode
notified by the Court; and
(h) any other document as may be required by the Registrar of the Company Bench.
(3) Where any petition or application is filed under any provision of this Act, summons may be
issued by the Registrar of the Company Bench along with a copy of the petition or
application and the documents annexed therewith and the same shall be served on the
respondent through the bailiff or process-server of the Court, through registered post,
acknowledgement due, by courier and by publication in one English language and one
Urdu language daily newspaper and, in addition, if so directed by the Court through
electronic modes, and the service duly effected through any one of the modes mentioned
under this sub-section shall be deemed to be valid service.
Explanation.– “electronic modes” means service of summons on a party or other
person by electronic transmission through devices such as, facsimile, email, or in such
other form or mode as may be notified by the Court.
(4) The respondent shall file a written reply and particulars of set-off, if any, as set out in sub-
section (2) of this section with the concerned Registrar of the Company Bench within thirty
days from the date of first service through any of the modes as laid down in sub-section
(3).
(5) Where the respondent fails to file the written reply within the time prescribed in sub-
section (4), a report shall be submitted by the Registrar of the Company Bench before the
Court and the Court may pass necessary orders to proceed 1exparte and announce the
final order on the basis of the documents available on record.
(6) The Registrar of the Company Bench, on completion of receipt of all written submissions
and after ensuring that all copies of such written submissions are duly supplied to the
parties as per procedure laid down by the Court, shall present the case file to the Court
on a day fixed under notice to the parties, within forty-five days of the first service of
notices or such extended time as may be granted by the Court.
(7) The Court after consulting the counsel of the parties shall fix a date and allocate time for
hearing of the case.
(8) No adjournment shall be granted once the Court has fixed a date of hearing under
sub- section (7) and it will be duty of the parties to ensure the presence of their respective
counsel or in absence of the counsel make alternate arrangements:
Provided that only in exceptional circumstances beyond control of a party, the Court may
grant another opportunity of hearing subject to the payment of an amount of rupees ten
thousand or such higher amount as may be determined by the Court as costs to be paid to
the Court.
(9) The Court shall treat affidavits, counter affidavits and other documents filed by the parties
to the proceedings as evidence and decide the matter on the basis of the documents and
affidavits placed before the Court, in a summary manner and pass final orders within the
time stipulated in sub-section (11).
(10) In exceptional circumstances where the Court is of the view that any issue of facts requires
cross examination, the Court may order attendance of the relevant deponent or
deponents for the purposes of cross examination by such opposing party or parties as the
Court deems fit and for the purposes of this section the affidavit filed by such deponent
shall be considered as his examination-in-chief:
Provided that–
(i) the Court may refer the matter to the Registrar of the Company Bench or any other
person for recording of cross examination of the deponent who shall complete
recording of cross examination within thirty days from the date of the order of the
Court, or such extended time as may be allowed by the Court which shall not be
more than fifteen days on payment of rupees ten thousand or such higher amount
as may be determined by the Court as costs payable to the Court and to submit a
report accordingly;
(ii) all questions and answers along with any objections raised by any party shall be
duly recorded in writing; and
(iii) the Registrar of the Company Bench shall have all the powers of the Civil Court
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) for the purposes of execution of
service and summoning of deponents and conducting cross examination in
accordance with the directions of the Court.
(11) The petition presented before the Court shall be decided within a period of one hundred
and twenty days from the date of presentation of the case and for this purpose the Court
may, if it is in the interest of justice, conduct the proceedings on a day to day basis and if
the Court deems fit it may impose costs which may extend to one hundred thousand
rupees per day or such higher amount as the Court may determine against any party to
the proceeding causing the delay.
(12) The Court may, at any time, take notice of serious misstatements and material non-
disclosure of facts by any party to the proceedings and dismiss the petition or application
or close the right of defence of the respondent with costs of the proceedings and impose a
fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees whichever is higher and pass a
final order.
(13) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Registrar of the Company Bench
shall place any application for interim relief including any interlocutory order before the
Court for adjudication immediately upon its filing.
(14) Any person aggrieved by any judgment or final order of the Court passed in its original
jurisdiction under this Act may, within sixty days, file a petition for leave to appeal in the
Supreme Court of Pakistan:
Provided that no appeal or petition shall lie against any interlocutory order of the Court.
(15) Save as otherwise expressly provided under this Act, the provisions of the Qanun-e-
Shahadat (Order) 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984) and the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act
V of 1908) shall not apply to the proceedings under this section except to such extent as
the Court may determine in its discretion.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [13]
PART–III
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN
7. Powers and functions of the Commission.–
(1) The Commission shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as are conferred
on it by or under this Act.
(2) The powers and functions of the Commission under this Act shall be in addition to and not
in derogation to the powers and functions of the Commission under the Securities and
Exchange Commission of Pakistan Act, 1997 (XLII of 1997).
PART–IV
INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES AND MATTERS
INCIDENTAL THERETO
9. Obligation to register certain associations, partnerships as companies.–
(1) No association, partnership or entity consisting of more than twenty persons shall be
formed for the purpose of carrying on any business that has for its object the acquisition
of gain by the association, partnership or entity, or by the individual members thereof,
unless it is registered as a company under this Act and any violation of this section shall
be an offence punishable under this section.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding
of level 1 on the standard scale and also be personally liable for all the liabilities incurred
in such business.
(3) Nothing in this section shall apply to–
(a) any society, body or association, other than a partnership, formed or incorporated
under any law for the time being in force in Pakistan; or
(b) a joint family carrying on joint family business; or
(c) a partnership of two or more joint families where the total number of members of
such families, excluding the minor members, does not exceed twenty; or
(d) a partnership formed to carry on practice as lawyers, accountants or any other
profession where practice as a limited liability company is not permitted under the
relevant laws or regulations for such practice.
(4) A person may make an application, in such form and manner and accompanied by such
fee as may be specified, to the registrar for reservation of a name set out in the
application for a period not exceeding sixty days.
(5) Where it is found that a name was reserved under sub-section (4), by furnishing false or
incorrect information, such reservation shall be cancelled and in case the company has
been incorporated, it shall be directed to change its name.The person making application
under sub-section (4) shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 1 on the standard
scale.
(6) If the name applied for under sub-section (4) is refused by the registrar, the aggrieved
person may within thirty days of the order of refusal preferan appeal to the Commission.
(7) An order of the Commission under sub-section (6) shall be final and shall not be called in
question before any court or other authority.
11. Rectification of name of a company.–
(1) A company which, through inadvertence or otherwise, is registered by a name in
contravention of the provisions of section 10 or the name was obtained by furnishing
false or incorrect information–
(a) may, with approval of the registrar, change its name; and
(b) shall, if the registrar so directs, within thirty days of receipt of such direction,
change its name with approval of the registrar:
Provided that the registrar shall, before issuing a direction for change of the name,
afford the company an opportunity to make representation against the proposed
direction.
(2) If the company fails to report compliance with the direction issued under sub-section (1)
within the specified period, the registrar may enter on the register a new name for the
company selected by him, being a name under which the company may be registered
under this Act and issue a certificate of incorporation on change of name for the purpose
of section 13.
(3) If a company makes default in complying with the direction issued by the registrar under
sub-section (1) or continue using previous name after the name has been changed by
the registrar under sub-section (2), shall be liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard
scale.
12. Change of name by a company.–
A company may, by special resolution and with approval of the registrar signified in writing,
change its name:
Provided that no approval under this section shall be required where the change in the name of
a company is only the addition thereto, or the omission therefrom, of the expression “(Private)”
or “(SMC–Private)” or “(Guarantee) Limited” or “Limited” or “Unlimited”, as the case may be,
consequent upon the conversion of the status of a company in accordance with the provisions of
sections 46 to 49.
13. Registration of change of name and effect thereof.–
(1) Where a company changes its name the registrar shall enter the new name on the
register in place of the former name, and shall issue a certificate of incorporation altered
to meet the circumstances of the case and, on the issue of such a certificate, the change
of name shall be complete.
(2) Where a company changes its name it shall, for a period of ninety days from the date of
issue of a certificate by the registrar under sub-section (1), continue to mention its
former name along with its new name on the outside of every office or place in which its
business is carried on and in every document or notice referred to in section 22.
(3) The change of name shall not affect any rights or obligations of the company, or render
defective any legal proceedings by or against the company andany legal proceedings that
might have been continued or commenced against the company by its former name may
be continued by or commenced against the company by its new name.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [16]
15. Liability for carrying on business with less than three or, in the case of a private
company, two members.–
If at any time the number of membersof a company is reduced, in the case of a private company
other than a single member company, below two or in the case of any other company, below
three and the company carries on business for more than one hundred and eighty days while the
number is so reduced, every person who is a member of the company during the time that it so
carries on business after those one hundred and eighty days and is cognizant of the fact that it is
carrying on business with fewer than two members or three members, as the case may be, shall
be severally liable for payment of whole debts of the company contracted during that time and
may be sued therefor without joinder in the suit of any other member.
(d) an address for correspondence till its registered office is established and notified.
(2) Where the registrar is of the opinion that any document or information filed with him in
connection with the incorporation of the company contains any matter contrary to law or
does not otherwise comply with the requirements of law or is not complete owing to any
defect, error or omission or is not properly authenticated, the registrar may either require
the company to file a revised document or remove the defects or deficiencies within the
specified period.
(3) Where the applicant fails under sub-section (2) to remove the deficiencies conveyed
within the specified period, the registrar may refuse registration of the company.
(4) If the registrar is satisfied that all the requirements of this Act and the rules or regulations
made thereunder have been complied with, he shall register the memorandum and other
documents delivered to him.
(5) On registration of the memorandum of a company, the registrar shall issue a certificate
that the company is incorporated.
(6) The certificate of incorporation shall state–
(a) the name and registration number of the company;
(b) the date of its incorporation;
(c) whether it is a private or a public company;
(d) whether it is a limited or unlimited company; and
(e) if it is limited, whether it is limited by shares or limited by guarantee.
(7) The certificate under sub-section (5) shall be signed by the registrar or authenticated by
the registrar’s official seal.
(8) The certificate under sub-section (5) shall be conclusive evidence that the requirements
of this Act as to registration have been complied with and that the company is duly
registered under this Act.
(9) If registration of the memorandum is refused, the subscribers of the memorandum or any
one of them authorised by them in writing may, within thirty days of the order of refusal,
prefer an appeal to the Commission.
(10) An order of the Commission under sub-section (9) shall be final and shall not be called in
question before any court or other authority.
1 Sub-section (3) omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2021, dated 01-12-2021.
2 Words “or” appears to be missing in the Gazette.
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to time become members of the company,are a body corporate by the name stated in the
certificate of incorporation;
(b) the body corporate is capable of exercising all the functions of an incorporated company
and having perpetual succession;
(c) the status and registered office of the company are as stated in, or in connection with,
the application for registration;
(d) in case of a company having share capital, the subscribers to the memorandum become
holders of the initial shares; and
(e) the persons named in the articles of association as proposed directors, are deemed to
have been appointed to that office.
1 Number of sub-section (1) appears to be missing in the Gazette. It is inserted as editorial editing.
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1 Word “and” appears to be superfluous. Instead it should have been placed after clause (d).
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(2) The alteration shall not take effect until and except in so far as it is confirmed by the
Commission on petition:
Provided that an alteration so as to change its principal line of business shall not require
confirmation by the Commission.
(3) A copy of the order confirming the alteration duly certified by an authorised officer of the
Commission shall be forwarded to the company and to the registrar within seven days
from the date of the order.
(4) A copy of the memorandum of association as altered pursuant to the order under this
section shall within thirty days from the date of the order be filed by the company with the
registrar, who shall register the same and issue a certificate which shall be conclusive
evidence that all the requirements of this Act with respect to the alteration and the
confirmation thereof have been complied with and thenceforth the memorandum so filed
shall be the memorandum of the company:
Provided that the Commission may by order, at any time on an application by the
company, on sufficient cause shown extend the time for the filing of memorandum with
the registrar under this section for such period as it thinks proper.
(5) Where the alteration involves a transfer of registered office from the jurisdiction of one
company registration office to another, physical record of the company shall be
transferred to the registrar concerned of the company registration office in whose
jurisdiction the registered office of the company has been shifted.
(6) Where the alteration involves change in principal line of business, the company shall file
the amended memorandum of association with the registrar within thirty days, which shall
be recorded for the purposes of this Act.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
36. Registration of articles.–
(1) There may, in the case of company limited by shares and there shall, in the case of a
company limited by guarantee or an unlimited company, be registered with the
memorandum, articles of association signed by the subscribers to the memorandum and
setting out regulations for the company.
(2) Articles of association of a company limited by shares may adopt all or any of the
regulations contained in Table A in the First Schedule to this Act.
(3) In the case of an unlimited company or a company limited by guarantee, the articles, if
the company has a share capital, shall state the amount of share capital with which the
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(2) If, where any such alteration has been made, the company at any time after the date of
the alteration issues any copies of the memorandum or articles which do not conform to
the memorandum or articles as so altered it shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding of
level 1 on the standard scale for each copy so issued and every officer of the company
who is in default shall be liable to the like penalty.
42. Licencing of associations with charitable and not for profit objects.–
(1) Where it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commission that an association is to be
formed as a limited company–
(a) for promoting commerce, art, science, religion, health, education, research, sports,
protection of environment, social welfare, charity or any other useful object;
(b) such company–
(i) intends to apply the company’s profits and other income in promoting its
objects; and
(ii) prohibits the payment of dividends to the company’s members; and
(c) such company’s objects and activities are not and shall not, at any time, be against
the laws, public order, security, sovereignty and national interests of Pakistan,
the Commission may, by licence for a period to be specified, permit the association to be
registered as a public limited company, without addition of the word “Limited” or the
expression “(Guarantee) Limited”, to its name.
(2) A licence under sub-section (1) may be granted on such conditions and subject to such
regulations as the Commission thinks fit and those conditions shall be inserted in and
deemed part of the memorandum and articles, or in one of those documents.
(3) Memorandum and articles of association of a company, licenced under this section, shall
be in accordance with the form set out in Table F in the First Schedule or as near thereto
as circumstances admit and approved by the Commission.
(4) The association on registration under this section shall enjoy all the privileges and be
subject to all the obligations of a limited company.
(5) The Commission may at any time by order in writing, revoke a licence granted under
sub-section (1), with such directions as it may deem fit, on being satisfied that–
(a) the company or its management has failed to comply with any of the terms or
conditions subject to which a licence is granted; or
(b) any of the requirements specified in sub-section (1) or any regulations made under
this section are not met or complied with; or
(c) affairs of the company are conducted in a manner prejudicial to public interest; or
(d) the company has made a default in filing with the registrar its financial statements
or annual returns for immediately preceding two consecutive financial years; or
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(e) the company has acted against the interest, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan,
the security of the State and friendly relations with foreign States; or
(f) the number of members is reduced, below three; or
(g) the company is–
(i) conceived or brought forth for, or is or has been carrying on, unlawful or
fraudulent activities; or
(ii) run and managed by persons who fail to maintain proper and true accounts or
they commit fraud, misfeasance or malfeasance in relation to the company;
or
(iii) run and managed by persons who are involved in terrorist financing or
money laundering; or
(iv) managed by persons who refuse to act according to the requirements of the
memorandum or articles or the provisions of this Act or failed to carry out the
directions or decisions of the Commission or the registrar given in exercise
of the powers conferred by this Act; or
(v) not carrying on its business or is not in operation for one year; or
(h) it is just and equitable that the licence should be revoked:
Provided that before a licence is so revoked, the Commission shall give to the company
a notice, in writing of its intention to do so, and shall afford the company an opportunity to
be heard.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law, no association shall be
registered as a company with the objects as mentioned in clause (a) and the conditions
provided in clause (b) of sub-section (1) without a licence granted in pursuance of this
section.
company.
(5) The provisions of section 291, except those of sub-section (1) thereof, shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the administrator appointed under this section.
(6) Where any assets of the company are transferred, in consequence of revocation of
licence, to another company licenced under section 42, the members and officers of the
first mentioned company or any of their family members shall not be eligible to hold any
office in the later company for a period of five years from the date of transfer of such
assets.
(7) Where the licence of a company has been revoked before the commencement of this Act
and such company is not in the process of winding up, this section shall apply as if the
licence was revoked immediately after the commencement of this Act.
44. Penalty.–
If a company licenced under section 42 or any of its officers makes default in complying with
any of the requirements of sections 42 and 43 or the rules or regulations or the terms or
conditions to which the licence is subject or any directions contained in a revocation order, it
shall without prejudice to any other action be punishable by a penalty not exceeding of
level 2 on the standard scale.
memorandum and articles so filed shall be the memorandum and articles of the newly
converted company.
(5) If a company, being a private company, alters its articles in such a manner that they no
longer include the provisions which, under sub-section (1) of section 2, are required to be
included in the articles of a company in order to constitute it a private company, the
company shall–
(a) as on the date of the alteration, cease to be a private company; and
(b) file with the registrar a copy of the memorandum and articles of association as
altered along with the special resolution.
(6) If default is made in complying with the provisions of any of the preceding sub-sections,
the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding of level 2 on the standard scale.
47. Conversion of status of private company into a single–member company and vice-
versa.–
(1) A private company may be converted into a single-member company with prior approval
of the Commission in writing by passing a special resolution in this behalf by the private
company amending its memorandum and articles of association, in such a manner that
they include the provisions relating to a single-member company in the articles and
complying with all the requirements as may be specified.
(2) On an application for change in status of a company under sub- section (1), if the
Commission is satisfied that the company is entitled to be so converted, such conversion
shall be allowed by an order in writing.
(3) A copy of the order, confirming the conversion under sub-section (2), duly certified by an
authorised officer of the Commission shall be forwarded to the company and to the
registrar within seven days from the date of the order.
(4) A copy of the memorandum and articles of association as altered pursuant to the order
under sub-section (2) shall, within fifteen days from the date of the order, be filed by the
company with the registrar and he shall register the same and thenceforth the
memorandum and articles so filed shall be the memorandum and articles of the newly
converted company.
(5) If a company, being a single member company, alters its articles in such a manner that
they no longer include the provisions which are required to be included in the articles of a
company in order to constitute it a single member company, the company shall–
(a) as on the date of the alteration, cease to be a single member company; and
(b) file with the registrar a copy of the memorandum and articles of association as
altered along with the special resolution.
(6) If default is made in complying with the provisions of any of the preceding sub-sections,
the company, and every officer of the company who is in default, shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding of level 2 on the standard scale.
(4) If a company, being a limited company, alters its memorandum and articles in such a
manner that they include the provisions which constitute it as a company having
unlimited liability of its members, the company shall–
(a) as on the date of the alteration, cease to be a limited company; and
(b) file with the registrar a copy of the memorandum and articles of association as
altered along with the special resolution.
(5) If default is made in complying with the provisions of any of the preceding sub-sections,
the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding of level 2 on the standard scale.
49. Conversion of a company limited by guarantee to a company limited by shares and vice-
versa.–
(1) A company limited by guarantee may be converted into a company limited by shares with
prior approval of the Commission in writing by passing a special resolution in this behalf
by the company limited by guarantee amending its memorandum and articles of
association in such a manner that they include the provisions relating to a company
limited by shares in the articles and complying with all the requirements as may be
specified.
(2) On an application for change in status of a company under sub-section (1), if the
Commission is satisfied that the company is entitled to be so converted, such conversion
shall be allowed by an order in writing.
(3) A copy of the order, confirming the conversion under sub-section (2) duly certified by
an authorised officer of the Commission shall be forwarded to the company and to the
registrar within seven days from the date of the order.
(4) A copy of the memorandum and articles of association as altered pursuant to the order
under sub-section (2) shall within fifteen days from the date of the order be filed by the
company with the registrar and he shall register the same and thenceforth the
memorandum and articles so filed shall be the memorandum and articles of the newly
converted company.
(5) If a company, being limited by shares, alters its memorandum and articles in such a
manner that they include the provisions which constitute it a company limited by
guarantee, the company shall–
(a) as on the date of the alteration, cease to be a company limited by shares; and
(b) file with the registrar a copy of the memorandum and articles of association as
altered along with the special resolution.
(6) If default is made in complying with the provisions of any of the preceding sub-sections,
the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a
penalty not exceeding of level 2 on the standard scale.
51. Power of unlimited company to provide for reserve share capital on conversion of status
to a limited company.–
An unlimited company having a share capital may, by its resolution for registration as a limited
company in pursuance of this Act, increase the nominal amount of its share capital by increasing
the nominal amount of each of its shares, subject to the condition that no part of the amount by
which its capital is so increased shall be capable of being called up except in the event and for
the purpose of the company being wound up.
PART–V
PROSPECTUS, ALLOTMENT, ISSUE AND TRANSFER OF
SHARES AND OTHER SECURITIES
57. Prospectus.–
(1) No prospectus shall be issued by or on behalf ofa company unless on or before the date
of its publication, a copy thereof signed by every person who is named therein as a
director or proposed director of the company has been filed with the registrar.
(2) In case of any contravention of this section, the company and every person who is a
party to the issue, publication or circulation of the prospectus shall be liable to a penalty
not exceeding of level 2 on the standard scale.
(b) the company, to a penalty which may extend to ten million rupees.
61. Nature of shares or other securities.–
The shares or other securities of any member in a company shall be movable property
transferable in the manner provided by the articles of the company.
62. Shares certificate to be evidence.–
(1) A certificate, if issued in physical form under signature of authorized officer of the
company as may be specified or issued in book-entry form, specifying the shares held by
any person or shares held in central depository system shall be prima facie evidence of
the title of the person to such shares.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the articles of a company, the manner of issue of
a certificate of shares, the form of such certificate and other matters shall be such as
may be specified.
64. Payment of certain debts out of assets subject to floating charge in priority to claims
under the charge.–
(1) Where either a receiver is appointed on behalf of the holders of any debentures of a
company secured by a floating charge, or possession is taken by or on behalf of these
debenture holders of any property comprised in or subject to the charge, then, if the
company is not at the time in course of being wound up, the debts which in every
winding up are under the provisions of Part-X relating to preferential payments to be paid
in priority to all other debts, shall be paid forthwith out of any assets coming to the hands
of the receiver or other person taking possession as aforesaid in priority to any claim for
principal or interest in respect of the debentures.
(2) The periods of time mentioned in the said provisions of Part-X shall be reckoned from the
date of the appointment of the receiver or of possession being taken as aforesaid, as the
case may be.
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(3) Any payments made under sub-section (1) shall be recouped, as far as may be, out of
the assets of the company available for payment of general creditors.
(a) to invalidate any provision in force immediately before the commencement of this
Act, so long as any person then entitled to the benefit of that provision or
afterwards given the benefit thereof under sub-section (7) remains as trustee of the
deed in question; or
(b) to deprive any person of any exemption or right to be indemnified in respect of any
act or omission by him while any such provision was in force.
(7) While any trustee of a trust-deed remains entitled to the benefit or provision saved by
sub-section (6), the benefits of that provision may be given either–
(a) to all trustees of the deed, present and future; or
(b) to any named trustees or proposed trustees thereof;
by a resolution passed by a majority of not less than three-fourths in value of the
debenture-holders present in person or, where proxies are permitted, by proxy, at a
meeting called for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of the deed or, if the
deed makes no provisions for calling meetings, at a meeting called for the purpose in any
manner approved by the Court.
ALLOTMENT
67. Application for, and allotment of, shares and debentures.–
(1) No application for allotment of shares in and debentures of a company in pursuance of a
prospectus shall be made for shares or debentures of less than such nominal amount as
the Commission may, from time to time, specify, either generally or in a particular case.
(2) The Commission may specify the form of an application for subscription to shares in or
debentures of a company which may, among other matters, contain such declarations or
verifications as it may, in the public interest, deem necessary; and such form then shall
form part of the prospectus.
(3) All certificates, statements and declarations made by the applicant shall be binding on
him.
(4) An application for shares in or debentures of a company which is made in pursuance of a
prospectus shall be irrevocable.
(5) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub- section (2), or makes an
incorrect statement, declaration or verification in the application for allotment of shares,
shall be liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
68. Repayment of money received for shares not allotted.–
(1) Where a company issues any invitation to the public to subscribe for its shares or other
securities, the company shall refund the money in the case of the unaccepted or
unsuccessful applications within the time as may be specified.
(2) If the refund required by sub-section (1) is not made within the time specified, the
directors of the company shall be jointly and severally liable to repay that money with
surcharge at the rate of two percent for every month or part thereof from the expiration of
the fifteenth day and, in addition, shall be liable to a penalty of level 3 on the standard
scale.
69. Allotment of shares and other securities to be dealt in on securities exchange.–
(1) Where a prospectus, whether issued generally or not, states that application has been or
will be made for permission for the shares or other securities offered thereby to be dealt
in on the securities exchange, any allotment made on an application in pursuance of the
prospectus shall, whenever made, be void if the permission has not been applied for
before the seventh day after the first issue of the prospectus or if the permission has not
been granted before the expiration of twenty-one days from the date of the closing of the
subscription lists or such longer period not exceeding forty-two days as may, within the
said twenty-one days, be notified to the applicants for permission by the securities
exchange.
(2) Where the permission has not been applied for or has not been granted as aforesaid, the
company shall forthwith repay without surcharge all money received from applicants in
pursuance of the prospectus, and, if any such money is not repaid within eight days after
the company becomes liable to repay it, the directors of the company shall be jointly and
severally liable to repay that money from the expiration of the eighth day together with
surcharge at the rate of two percent for every month or part thereof from the expiration
of the eighth day and in addition, shall be liable to a penalty of level 3 on the standard
scale.
(3) All moneys received as aforesaid shall be deposited and kept in a separate bank account
in a scheduled bank so long as the company may become liable to repay it under sub-
section (2); and, if default is made in complying with this sub-section, the company and
every officer of the company who authorises or permits the default shall be liable to a
penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
(4) For the purposes of this section, permission shall not be deemed to be refused if it is
intimated that the application for it, though not at present granted, will be given further
consideration.
(5) This section shall have effect–
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section is inadequate, he may extend that period as he thinks fit, and, if he does so, the
provisions of sub-sections (1) shall have effect in that particular case as if for the said
period of forty five days the extended period allowed by the registrar were substituted.
(3) No return of allotment shall be required to be filed for the shares taken by the subscribers
to the memorandum on the formation of the company.
(4) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
(5) This section shall apply mutatis mutandis to shares which are allotted or issued or
deemed to have been issued to a scheduled bank or a financial institution in pursuance
of any obligation of a company to issue shares to such scheduled bank or financial
institution:
Provided that where default is made by a company in filing a return of allotment in
respect of the shares referred to in this sub-section, the scheduled bank or the financial
institution to whom shares have been allotted or issued or deemed to have been issued
may file a return of allotment in respect of such shares with the registrar together with
such documents as may be specified by the Commission in this behalf, and such return
of allotment shall be deemed to have been filed by the company itself and the scheduled
bank 1 the financial institution shall be entitled to recover from the company the amount of
any fee properly paid by it to the registrar in respect of the return.
Provided that the company may charge fee and the actual expenses incurred on such
inquiry.
(3) If the company for any reasonable cause is unable to issue duplicate certificate, it shall
notify this fact, along with the reasons within twenty days from the date of the application,
to the applicant.
(4) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
(5) If a company with intent to defraud, issues a duplicate certificate thereof, the company
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand rupees and
every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to one hundred and eighty days, or with fine which may extend to
fifty thousand rupees, or with both.
Provided that the company shall within fifteen days or, where the transferee is a central
depository, within five days from the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with it
notify the defect or invalidity to the transferee who shall, after the removal of such defect or
invalidity, be entitled to re-lodge the transfer deed with the company:
Provided further that the provisions of this section shall, in relation to a private company, be
subject to such limitations and restrictions as may have been imposed by the articles of such
company.
exceeding the limits permissible under this section and price per share proposed to
be issued;
(c) in case of listed companies discount shall only be allowed if the market price is
lower than the par value of the shares for a continuous period of past ninety trading
days immediately preceding the date of announcement by the board; and
(d) the issue of shares at discount must be sanctioned by the Commission:
Provided further that approval of the Commission shall not be required by a listed
company for issuing shares at a discount if the discounted price is not less than
ninety percent of the par value;
(e) no such resolution for issuance of shares at discount shall be sanctioned by the
Commission if the offer price per share, specified in the resolution, is less than–
(i) in case of listed companies, ninety percent of volume weighted average daily
closing price of shares for ninety days prior to the announcement of discount
issue; or
(ii) in case of other than listed companies, the breakup value per share based on
assets (revalued not later than 3 years) or per share value based on
discounted cash flow:
Provided that the calculation arrived at, for the purpose of sub- clause (i) or (ii) of
clause (e) above, shall be certified by the statutory auditor;
(f) directors and sponsors of listed companies shall be required to subscribe their
portion of proposed issue at volume weighted average daily closing price of shares
for ninety days prior to the announcement of discount issue;
(g) not less than three years have elapsed since the date on which the company was
entitled to commence business;
(h) the share at a discount must be issued within sixty days after the date on which the
issue is sanctioned by the Commission or within such extended time as the
Commission may allow.
(2) Where a company has passed a special resolution authorising the issue of shares at a
discount, it shall apply to the Commission where applicable, for an order sanctioning the
issue. The Commission on such application may, if, havingregard to all the circumstances
of the case, thinks proper so to do, make an order sanctioning the issue of shares at
discount subject to such terms and conditions as it deems fit.
(3) Issue of shares at a discount shall not be deemed to be reduction of capital.
(4) Every prospectus relating to the issue of shares, and every statement of financial position
issued by the company subsequent to the issue of shares, shall contain particulars of the
discount allowed on the issue of the shares.
(5) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 3 on the
standard scale.
(iii) in the case of a listed company any member, not interested to subscribe,
may exercise the right to renounce the shares offered to him in favour of any
other person, before the date of expiry stated in the letter of offer; and
(iv) if the whole or any part of the shares offered under this section is declined or
is not subscribed, the directors may allot such shares in such manner as
they may deem fit within a period of thirty days from the close of the offer as
provided under sub-clause (ii) above or within such extended time not
exceeding thirty day with the approval of the Commission;
1[ ]
(b) in case of public company and subject to approval of the Commission, to any
person on the basis of a special resolution either for cash or for consideration other
than cash:
Provided that the value of any non-cash asset, net worth of undertaking, service,
benefit or intellectual property shall be determined by a valuer.
(c) in case of a private company and subject to its articles and special resolution, to
any person, either for cash or for consideration other than cash on such conditions
and requirements as may be notified.
(2) The letter of offer referred to in sub-clause (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall be duly
signed by at least two directors and dispatched through registered post or courier or
through electronic mode to all the existing members, ensuring that it reaches the
members before the commencement of period for the acceptance of offer.
(3) The letter of offer, referred to in sub-section (2), shall be accompanied by a circular duly
signed by all directors or an officer of the company authorized by them in this behalf on
such form as may be specified containing material information about the affairs of the
company, latest statement of the accounts and the necessity for issue of further capital:
Provided that a copy of such circular shall also be filed with the registrar simultaneously
at the time it is dispatched to the shareholders.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, where any loan or finances have
been obtained from any Government by a public sector company, and if that Government
considers it necessary in the public interest so to do, it may, by order, direct that such loan
or finances or any part thereof shall be converted into shares in that company, on such
terms and conditions as appear to the Government to be just and reasonable in the
circumstances of the case even if the terms of such loan or finances do not include the
option for such conversion.
(5) In determining the terms and conditions of conversion under sub-section (4), the
Government shall have due regard to the financial position of the public sector company,
the terms of the rate of interest or profit payable thereon and such other matters as it may
consider necessary.
(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force
or the memorandum and articles, where the authorised capital of a company is fully
subscribed, or the un-subscribed capital is insufficient, the same shall be deemed to
have been increased to the extent necessary for issue of shares to the Government, a
scheduled bank or financial institution in pursuance of any obligation of the company to
issue shares to such 2 scheduled bank or financial institution.
(7) In case shares are allotted in terms of sub-section (6), the company shall be required to
file the notice of increase in share capital along with the fee prescribed for such increase
with the registrar within the period prescribed under this Act:
Provided that where default is made by a company in complying with the requirement of
filing a notice of increase in the authorised capital under this Act as well as the fee to be
deposited on the authorised capital as deemed to have been increased, the Government,
scheduled bank or the financial institution to whom shares have been issued may file
notice of such increase with the registrar and such notice shall be deemed to have been
filed by the company itself and the Government, scheduled bank or financial institution
shall be entitled to recover from the company the amount of any fee paid by it to the
registrar in respect of suchincrease.
(8) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 2 on the
standard scale.
INVITATION OF DEPOSITS
84. Prohibition on acceptance of deposits from public.–
(1) On and after the commencement of this Act, no company shall invite, accept or renew
deposits from the public:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a banking company and such
other company or class of companies or such deposits as the Commission may, notify in
this behalf.
Explanation.–For the purposes of this section, “deposit” means any deposit of money
with, and includes any amount borrowed by, a company, but shall not include a loan
raised by issue of debentures or a loan obtained from a banking company or financial
institution or an advance against sale of goods or provision of services in the ordinary
course of business.
(2) Where a company accepts or invites, or allows or causes any other person to accept or
invite on its behalf, any deposit, the company shall be punishable–
(a) where such contravention relates to the acceptance of any deposit, with penalty
which shall not be less than the amount of the deposit so accepted; and
(b) where such contravention relates to the invitation for any deposit, shall be liable to a
penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) In addition to the fine on the company under sub-section (2), every officer of the
company which is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to five million
rupees.
Provided further that, where any shares issued are of a class which is the same as that
of shares previously issued, the rights attaching to the new shares shall be the same as
those attached to the shares previously held.
(2) The new shares issued by a company shall rank pari passu with the existing shares of
the class to which the new shares belong in all matters, including the right to such bonus
or right issue and dividend as may be declared by the company subsequent to the date
of issue of such new shares.
(3) A cancellation of shares in pursuance of sub-section (1) shall not be deemed to be a
reduction of share capital within the meaning of this Act.
(4) The company shall file with the registrar notice of the exercise of any power referred to in
sub-section (1) within fifteen days from the exercise thereof.
(5) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
86. Prohibition of purchase by company or giving of loans by it for purchase of its shares.
1[ ]
(2) No public company or a private company being subsidiary of a public company shall give
financial assistance whether directly or indirectly for the purpose of, or in connection with,
a purchase or subscription made or to be made, by any person of any shares in the
company or in its holding company.
(3) Nothing in sub-section (2) shall apply to–
(a) the lending of money by a banking company in the ordinary course of its business;
(b) the provision by a company of money in accordance with any scheme approved by
company through special resolution and in accordance with such requirements as
may be specified, for the purchase of, or subscription for shares in the company or
its holding company, if the purchase of, or the subscription for, the shares held by a
trust for the benefit of the employees or such shares held by the employee of the
company;
(c) the provision or securing an advance to any of its employees, including a chief
executive who, before his appointment as such, was not a director of the company,
but excluding all directors of the company, for purchase of shares of the company
or of its subsidiary or holding company.
(4) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
1 Sub-section (1) omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2021, dated 01-12-2021.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [45]
Provided also that the provisions of this section shall not be applicable where such
shares are held by a company by operation of law.
(2) Any violation of this section shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 2 on the
standard scale.
91. Power to dispense with consent of creditor on security being given for his debt.–
Where a creditor entered on the list of creditors whose debt or claim is not discharged or
determined does not consent to the reduction, the Court may, if it thinks fit, dispense with the
consent of that creditor, on the company securing payment of his debt or claim by appropriating
as the Court may direct, the following amount, that is to say–
(a) if the company admits the full amount of his debt or claim, or, though not admitting it, is
willing to provide for it, then the full amount of the debt or claim; and
(b) if the company does not admit or is not willing to provide for the full amount of the debt or
claim, or if the amount is contingent or not ascertained, then an amount fixed by the
Court after the like inquiry, and adjudication as if the company were being wound up by
the Court.
1 The law is silent about the persons who shall be individually and severally liable.
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of share capital have been complied with, and that the share capital of the company is
such as is stated in the order.
97. Increase and reduction of share capital in case of a company limited by guarantee
having a share capital.–
A company limited by guarantee may, if it has a share capital and is so authorised by its
articles, increase or reduce its share capital in the same manner and on the same conditions
subject to which a company limited by shares may increase or reduce its share capital under
the provisions of this Act.
PART–VI
REGISTRATION OF MORTGAGES, CHARGES, ETC.
100. Requirement to register a 1mortgage or charge.–
(1) A company that creates a mortgage or charge to which this section applies must file the
specified particulars of the mortgage or charge, together with a copy of the instrument, if
any, verified in the specified manner, by which the mortgage or charge is created or
evidenced, with the registrar for registration within a period of thirty days beginning with
the day after the date of its creation:
Provided that–
(a) in the case of a mortgage or charge created out of Pakistan comprising solely
property situated outside Pakistan, thirty days after the date on which the
instrument or copy could, in due course of post, and if dispatched with due
diligence, have been received in Pakistan shall be substituted for thirty days after
the date of the creation of the mortgage or charge as the time within which the
particulars and instrument or copy are to be filed with the registrar; and
(b) in case the mortgage or charge is created in Pakistan but comprises property
outside Pakistan, a copy of the instrument creating or purporting to create the
mortgage or charge verified in the specified manner may be filed for registration
notwithstanding that further proceedings may be necessary to make the mortgage
or charge valid or effectual according to the law of the country in which the property
is situate:
Provided further that any subsequent registration of a mortgage or charge shall not
prejudice any right acquired in respect of any property before the mortgage or
charge is actually registered.
(2) This section applies to the following charges–
(a) a mortgage or charge on any immovable property wherever situate, or any interest
therein; or
(b) a mortgage or charge for the purposes of securing any issue of debentures;
(c) a mortgage or charge on book debts of the company;
(d) a floating charge on the undertaking or property of the company, including stock-in-
trade; or
(e) a charge on a ship or aircraft, or any share in a ship or aircraft;
(f) a charge on goodwill or on any intellectual property;
(g) a mortgage or charge or pledge, on any movable property of the company;
(h) a mortgage or charge or other interest, based on agreement for the issue of any
instrument in the nature of redeemable capital; or
(i) a mortgage or charge or other interest, based on conditional sale agreement,
namely, lease financing, hire-purchase, sale and lease back, and retention of title,
for acquisition of machinery, equipment or other goods:
Provided that where a negotiable instrument has been given to secure the payment of
any book debts of a company, the deposit of the instrument for the purpose of securing
an advance to the company shall not for the purpose of this sub-section be treated as a
mortgage or charge on those book debts.
Explanation.– For the purposes of this Act “charge” includes mortgage or pledge.
(3) The registrar shall, on registration of a mortgage or charge under sub-section (1) issue a
certificate of registration under his signatures or authenticated by his official seal in such
1 In presence of an Explanation in sub-section (2) of section 100 that for the purpose of the Companies Act, 2017 “charge”
includes mortgage or pledge, Use of the term “mortgage” anywhere in the Companies Act, 2017 seems to be superfluous.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [50]
debenture or certificate of debenture stock which has been issued by the company before the
mortgage or charge was created.
105. Duty of company and right of interested party as regards registration.–
(1) It shall be the duty of a company to file with the registrar for registration the specified
particulars of every mortgage or charge created by the company and of the issue of
debentures of a series, requiring registration under section 100, but registration of any
such mortgage or charge may be effected on the application of any person interested
therein.
(2) Where the registration is affected on the application of some person other than the
company, that person shall be entitled to recover from the company the amount of any
fees properly paid by him to the registrar on the registration.
106. Modification in the particulars of mortgage or charge.–
Whenever the terms or conditions or extent or operation of any mortgage or charge registered
under this Part are modified, it shall be the duty of the company to send to the registrar the
particulars of such modification together with a copy of the instrument evidencing such
modification verified in the specified manner, and the provisions of this Part as to registration of
mortgage or charge shall apply to such modification of the mortgage or charge as aforesaid.
107. Copy of instrument creating mortgage or charge to be kept at registered office.–
Every company shall cause a copy of every instrument creating any mortgage or charge
requiring registration under this Part and of every instrument evidencing modification of the
terms or conditions thereof, to be kept at the registered office of the company.
108. Rectification of register of mortgages.–
(1) The Commission on being satisfied that–
(a) the omission to file with the registrar the particulars of any mortgage or charge or
any modification therein within the time required by section 100 or 101, as the case
may be; or
(b) the omission or mis-statement of any particular with respect to any such mortgage
or charge;
was accidental or due to inadvertence or to some other sufficient cause, or is not of a
nature to prejudice the position of creditors or shareholders of the company, or that on
other grounds it is just and equitable to grant relief, may, on the application of the
company or any person interested and, on such terms and conditions as seem to the
Commission just and expedient, order that the time for filing the required particulars be
extended, or, as the case may be, that the omission or mis-statement be rectified, and
may make such order as to the costs of the application as it thinks fit.
(2) A copy of the order passed under this section duly certified by the Commission or its
authorised officer shall be forwarded to the concerned registrar within seven days from
the date of the order.
(3) Where the Commission extends the time for the registration of a mortgage or charge, the
order shall not prejudice any rights acquired in respect of the property concerned prior to
the time when the mortgage or charge is actually registered.
109. Company to report satisfaction of charge.–
(1) A company shall give intimation to the registrar in the manner specified, of the payment
or satisfaction, in full, of any mortgage or charge created by it and registered under this
Part, within a period of thirty days from the date of such payment or satisfaction.
(2) The registrar shall, on receipt of intimation under sub-section (1), cause a notice to be
sent to the holder of the mortgage or charge calling upon him to show cause within such
time not exceeding fourteen days, as may be specified in such notice, as to why payment
or satisfaction in full shall not be recorded as intimated to the registrar, and if no cause is
shown, by such holder of the mortgage or charge, the registrar shall accept the
memorandum of satisfaction and make an entry in the register of charges kept by him
under section 102:
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Provided that the notice referred to in this sub-section shall not be required if a no
objection certificate on behalf of the holder of the mortgage or charge is furnished, along
with the intimation to be submitted under sub-section (1).
(3) If any cause is shown, the registrar shall record a note to that effect in the register of
charges and shall inform the company.
(4) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the powers of the registrar to make an
entry in the register of charges under section 102 or otherwise than on receipt of an
intimation from the company.
(5) If a company fails to file the particulars of satisfaction of mortgage or charge within the
period specified under this section, the required particulars may be submitted with the
additional fee, as may be specified and imposing the penalty as specified in this Part.
110. Power of registrar to make entries of satisfaction and release in absence of intimation
from company.–
The registrar may, on evidence being given to his satisfaction with respect to any registered
charge–
(a) that the debt for which the charge was given has been paid or satisfied in whole or in
part; or
(b) that part of the property or undertaking charged has been released from the charge or
has ceased to form part of the company’s property or undertaking;
enter in the register of charges a memorandum of satisfaction in whole or in part, or of the fact
that part of the property or undertaking has been released from the charge or has ceased to
form part of the company’s property or undertaking, as the case may be, and inform the parties
concerned, notwithstanding the fact that no intimation has been received by him from the
company.
111. Punishment for contravention.–
Any violation of this Part shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
112. Company’s register of mortgages and charges.–
(1) Every company shall maintain a register of mortgages and charges requiring registration
under this Part, in such form and in such manner as may be specified and any violation
under this section shall be an offence punishable under this Act.
(2) The register of charges maintained under this section and the copies of instrument
creating any mortgage and charge or modification thereof, kept in pursuance of this part
shall be open to inspection of–
(a) any member or creditor of the company without fee; and
(b) any other person on payment of such fee as may be fixed by the company for
each inspection.
(3) The refusal of inspection of the said copies or the register shall be an offence under this
section and any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to a penalty
of level 1 on the standard scale, and every officer of the company who knowingly
authorises or permits the refusal shall incur the like penalty, and in addition to the above
penalty, the registrar may by order compel an immediate inspection of the copies or
register.
(4) If any officer of the company authorises or permits the omission of any entry required to
be made in pursuance of sub-section (1), shall be liable to a penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
receiver or manager under any powers contained in any instrument, he shall within seven
days of the order or of the appointment under the powers contained in the instrument, file
a notice of the fact with the registrar.
(2) Where a person appointed as a receiver or manager under this section ceases to act as
such, the person who had obtained the order or appointed such a receiver or manager
pursuant to the powers contained in any instrument shall on ceasing of the receiver or
manager, give the registrar a notice to that effect within seven days.
(3) The registrar shall enter the fact of which he is given notice under this section in the
register of mortgages and charges.
(4) Any violation of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1
on the standard scale.
114. Filing of accounts of receiver or manager.–
(1) Every receiver of the property of a company who has been appointed under the powers
contained in any instrument, and who has taken possession, shall within thirty days of
expiry of every one hundred and eighty days while he remains in possession, and also
within thirty days on ceasing to act as receiver, file with the registrar an abstract in the
form specified of his receipts and payments during the period to which the abstract
relates, and shall also, within fifteen days of ceasing to act as receiver, file with the
registrar notice to that effect, and the registrar shall enter the notice in the register of
mortgages and charges.
(2) Where a receiver of the property of a company has been appointed, every invoice, order
for goods, or business letter issued by or on behalf of the company or the receiver of the
company, being a document on or in which the name of the company appears, shall
contain a statement that a receiver has been appointed.
(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall apply to any personappointed to manage
the property of a company under any powers contained in an instrument in the same
manner as they apply to a receiver so appointed.
(4) Any contravention or default of this section by the receiver, or person appointed to
manage the property of the company referred to sub-section (3), shall be an offence
liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
115. Disqualification for appointment as receiver or manager.–
The following shall not be appointed as a receiver or manager of the company’s property,
namely–
(a) a minor;
(b) a person who is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court;
(c) a body corporate;
(d) a director of the company;
(e) an un-discharged insolvent unless he is granted leave by the court by which he has been
adjudged an insolvent; or
(f) a person disqualified by a Court from being concerned with or taking part in the
management of the company in any other way, unless heis granted leave by the Court.
116. Application to Court.–
(1) A receiver or manager of the company’sproperty appointed under the powers contained in
any instrument may apply to the Court for directions in relation to any particular matter
arising in connection with the performance of his functions, and on any such application
the Court may give such direction, or may make such order declaring the rights of
persons before the Court, or otherwise, as the Court thinks just.
(2) A receiver or manager of the company’s property appointed as aforesaid shall, to the
same extent as if he had been appointed by order of a Court be personally liable on any
contract entered into by him in the performance of his functions, except in so far as the
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [54]
contract otherwise provides, and entitled in respect of that liability to indemnity out of the
assets; but nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to limit any right to indemnity
which he would have apart from this sub- section, or to limit his liability on contracts
entered into without authority or to confer any right to indemnity in respect of that liability.
117. Power of Court to fix remuneration of receiver or manager.–
(1) The Court may, on an application made to it by the receiver or manager of the property,
by order fix the amount to be paid by way of remuneration to any person who, under the
power contained in an instrument, has been appointed as receiver or manager of the
company’s property:
Provided that the amount of remuneration shall not exceed such limits as may be
specified.
(2) The power of the Court under sub-section (1) shall, where no previous order has been
made with respect thereto–
(a) extend to fixing the remuneration for any period before the making of the order or
the application therefore;
(b) be exercisable notwithstanding that the receiver or manager had died or ceased to
act before the making of the order or the application 1therefore; and
(c) where the receiver or manager has been paid or has retained for his remuneration
for any period before the making of the order any amount in excess of that so fixed
for that period, extend to requiring him or his representative to account for the
excess or such part thereof as may be specified in the order:
Provided that the power conferred by clause (c) shall not be exercised as respects
any period before the making of the application or the order unless in the opinion of
the Court there are special circumstances making it proper for the power to be so
exercised.
(3) The Court may from time to time, on an application made either by the liquidator or by
the receiver or manager, or by the registrar, vary or amend an order made under sub-
section (1) and issue directions to the receiver respecting his duties and functions or any
other matter as it may deem expedient:
Provided that an order made under sub-section (1) shall not be varied so as to increase
the amount of remuneration payable to any person.
PART–VII
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
118. Members of a company.–
The subscribers to the memorandum of association are deemed to have agreed to become
members of the company and become members on its registration and every other person–
(a) to whom is allotted, or who becomes the holder of any class or kind of shares; or
(b) in relation to a company not having a share capital, any person who has agreed to
become a member of the company;
and whose names are entered; in the register of members, are members of the company.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable to a penalty of level 1 on
the standard scale.
1 Reference of section 123A: After insertion of section 123A, section 124(1) should also have been amended accordingly.
2 Comma appears to be superfluous in the Gazette.
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Provided that in case first annual general meeting of a company is decided to be held
earlier, no statutory meeting shall be required.
(2) The notice of a statutory meeting shall be sent to the members at least twenty-one days
before the date fixed for the meeting along with a copy of statutory report.
(3) The statutory report shall state–
(a) the total number of shares allotted, distinguishing shares allotted other than in
cash, and stating the consideration for which they have been allotted;
(b) the total amount of cash received by the company in respect of all the shares
allotted;
(c) an abstract of the receipts of the company and of the payments made there out up
to a date within fifteen days of the date of the report, exhibiting under distinctive
headings the receipts of the company from shares and debentures and other
sources, the payments made there out, and particulars concerning the balance
remaining in hand, and an account or estimate of the preliminary expenses of
the company showing separately any commission or discount paid or to be paid on
the issue or sale of shares or debentures;
(d) the names, addresses and occupations of the directors, chief executive, secretary,
auditors and legal advisers of the company and the changes, if any, which have
occurred since the date of the incorporation;
(e) the particulars of any contract the modification of which is to be submitted to the
meeting for its approval, together with the particulars of the modification or
proposed modification;
(f) the extent to which underwriting contracts, if any, have been carried out and the
extent to which such contracts have not been carried out, together with the reasons
for their not having been carried out; and
(g) the particulars of any commission or brokerage paid or to be paid in connection
with the issue or sale of shares to any director, chief executive, secretary or officer
or to a private company of which he is a director;
and certified by the chief executive and at least one director of the company, and in case
of a listed company also by the chief financial officer.
(4) The statutory report shall also contain a brief account of the state of the company's affairs
since its incorporation and the business plan, including any change or proposed change
affecting the interest of shareholders and business prospects of the company.
(5) The statutory report shall, so far as it relates to the shares allotted by the company, the
cash received in respect of such shares and to the receipts and payments of the
company, be accompanied by a report of the auditors of the company as to the
correctness of such allotment, receipt of cash, receipts and payments.
(6) The directors shall cause a copy of the statutory report, along with report of the auditors
as aforesaid, to be delivered to the registrar for registration forthwith after sending the
report to the members of the company.
(7) The directors shall cause a list showing the names, occupations, nationality and
addresses of the members of the company, and the number of shares held by them
respectively, to be produced at the commencement of the meeting and to remain open
and accessible to any member of the company during the continuance of the meeting.
(8) The members of the company present at the meeting shall be at liberty to discuss any
matter relating to the formation of the company or arising out of the statutory report,
whether previous notice has been given or not, but no resolution of which notice has not
been given in accordance with the articles may be passed.
(9) The meeting may adjourn from time to time, and at any adjourned meeting any resolution
of which notice has been given in accordance with the articles, either before or after the
original meeting, may be passed, and an adjourned meeting shall have the same powers
as an original meeting.
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(10) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a public company which converts itself
from a private company after one year of incorporation.
(11) Any contravention or default in complying with requirement of this section shall be an
offence liable–
(a) in case of a listed company, to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale; and
(b) in case of any other company, to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
of every director, whether directly or indirectly,and, where any item of business consists of
the according of an approval to any document by the meeting, the time when and the
place where the document may be inspected, shall be specified in the statement.
(4) Members of a company may participate in the meeting personally, through video-link or
by proxy.
(5) The chairman of the board, if any, shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of
the company, but if there is no such chairman, or if at any meeting he is not present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or is unwilling to act as
chairman, any one of the directors present may be elected to be chairman, and if none of
the directors is present or is unwilling to act as chairman the members present shall
choose one of their member to be the chairman.
(6) In the case of a company having a share capital, every member shall have votes
proportionate to the paid-up value of the shares or other securities carrying voting rights
held by him according to the entitlement of the class of such shares or securities, as the
case may be:
Provided that, at the time of voting, fractional votes shall not be taken into account.
(7) No member holding shares or other securities carrying voting rights shall be debarred
from casting his vote, nor shall anything contained in the articles have the effect of so
debarring him.
(8) In the case of a company limited by guarantee and having no share capital, every
member thereof shall have one vote.
(9) On a poll, votes may be given either personally or through video-link or by proxy or
through postal ballot in a manner and subject to the conditions as may be specified.
(10) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Commission shall have the power to
notify any business requiring the approval of the members shall only be transacted
through postal ballot for any company or class of companies.
(11) All the requirements of this Act regarding calling of, holding and approval in general
meeting, board meeting and election of directors in case of a single member company,
shall be deemed complied with; if the decision is recorded in the relevant minutes book
and signed by the sole member or sole director as the case may be.
(12) Any contravention or default in complying with requirement of this section shall be an
offence liable–
(a) in case of a listed company, to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale; and
(b) in case of any other company, to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
video-link being not less than two shall be a quorum, unless the articles provide
otherwise.
(2) Any contravention or default in complying with requirement of this section shall be an
offence liable–
(a) in case of a listed company, to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale; and
(b) in case of any other company, to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
136. Power of the Court to declare the proceedings of a general meeting invalid.–
The Court may, on a petition, by members having not less than ten percent of the voting power
in the company, that the proceedings of a general meeting be declared invalid by reason of a
material defect or omission in the notice or irregularity in the proceedings of the meeting, which
prevented members from using effectively their rights, declare such proceedings or part thereof
invalid and direct holding of a fresh general meeting:
Provided that the petition shall be made within thirty days of the impugned meeting.
137. Proxies.–
(1) A member of a company entitled to attend and vote at a meeting of the company may
appoint another person as his proxy to exercise all or any of his rights to attend, speak
and vote at a meeting:
Provided that–
(a) unless the articles of a company otherwise provide, this sub-section shall not apply
in the case of a company not having a share capital;
(b) a member shall not be entitled to appoint more than one proxy to attend any one
meeting;
(c) if any member appoints more than one proxy for any one meeting and more than
one instruments of proxy are deposited with the company, all such instruments of
proxy shall be rendered invalid; and
(d) a proxy must be a member unless the articles of the company permit appointment
of a non-member as proxy.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), every notice of a meeting of a company shall
prominently set out the member's right to appoint a proxy and the right of such proxy to
attend, speak and vote in the place of the member at the meeting and every such notice
shall be accompanied by a proxy form.
(3) The instrument appointing a proxy shall–
(a) be in writing; and
(b) be signed by the appointer or his attorney duly authorised in writing, or if the
appointer is a body corporate, [ ] be signed by an officer or an attorney duly
authorised by it.
(4) An instrument appointing a proxy, if in the form set out in Regulation 43 of Table A in the
First Schedule shall not be questioned on the ground that it fails to comply with any
special requirements specified for such instruments by the articles.
(5) The proxies must be lodged with the company not later than forty-eight hours before the
time for holding a meeting and any provision to the contrary in the company's articles
shall be void.
(6) In calculating the period mentioned in sub-section (5), no account shall be taken of any
part of the day that is not a working day.
(7) The members or their proxies shall be entitled to do any or all the following things in a
general meeting, namely–
(a) subject to the provisions of section 143, demand a poll on any question; and
(b) on a question before the meeting in which poll is demanded, to abstain from voting
or not to exercise their full voting rights;
and any provision to the contrary in the articles shall be void.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [64]
(8) Every member entitled to vote at a meeting of the company shall be entitled to inspect
during the business hours of the company all proxies lodged with the company.
(9) The provisions of this section shall apply mutatis mutandis to the meeting of a particular
class of members as they apply to a general meeting of all the members.
(10) Failure to issue notices in time or issuing notices with material defect or omission or any
other contravention of this section which has the effect of preventing participation or use
of full rights by a member or his proxy shall make the company and its every officer who
is a party to the default or contravention liable to–
(a) a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale if the default relates to a listed
company; and
(b) to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale if the default relates to any other
company.
1 This para (as per Gazette) is part of clause (b). However, to render it more meaningful, it is being presented separately.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [65]
offence liable–
(a) in case of a listed company, to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale; and
(b) in case of any other company, to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
may be, the Commission may, notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in the
articles of the company, either of its own motion or on the application of any director or
member of the company, call, or direct the calling of, the said meeting of the company in
such manner as the Commission may think fit, and give such ancillary or consequential
directions as the Commission thinks expedient in relation to the calling, holding and
conducting of the meeting and preparation of any document required with respect to the
meeting.
Explanation.–The directions that may be given under sub-section (1) may include a
direction that one member of the company present in person or by proxy shall be
deemed to constitute a meeting.
(2) Any meeting called, held and conducted in accordance with any such direction shall, for
all purposes, be deemed to be a meeting of the company duly called, held and
conducted, and all expenses incurred in connection thereto shall be paid by the company
unless the Commission directs the same to be recovered from any officer of the company
which he is hereby authorised to do.
(4) Any contravention or default in complying with requirement of this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
Provided that the Commission may grant exemption from the requirement of this
clause as may be notified;
(i) is not a member:
Provided that clause (i) shall not apply in the case of,–
(i) a person representing a member which is not a natural person;
(ii) a whole-time director who is an employee of the company;
(iii) a chief executive; or
(iv) a person representing a creditor or other special interests by virtue of
contractual arrangements;
(j) has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction as defaulter in repayment of
loan to a financial institution;
(k) is engaged in the business of brokerage, or is a spouse of such person or is a
sponsor, director or officer of a corporate brokerage house:
Provided that clauses (j) and (k) shall be applicable only in case of listed companies.
least in one issue each of a daily newspaper of respective language having wide
circulation.
(5) The directors of a company having a share capital shall, unless the number of persons
who offer themselves to be elected is not more than the number of directors fixed under
sub-section (1), be elected by the members of the company in general meeting in the
following manner, namely–
(a) a member shall have such number of votes as is equal to the product of the number
of voting shares or securities held by him and the number of directors to be
elected;
(b) a member may give all his votes to a single candidate or divide them between more
than one of the candidates in such manner as he may choose; and
(c) the candidate who gets the highest number of votes shall be declared elected as
director and then the candidate who gets the next highest number of votes shall be
so declared and so on until the total number of directors to be elected has been so
elected.
(6) The directors of a company limited by guarantee and not having share capital shall
be elected by members of the company in general meeting in the manner as
provided in articles of association of the company.
Provided that a resolution for removing a director shall not be deemed to have been passed if
the number of votes cast against it is equal to, or exceeds–
(a) the total number of votes for the time being computed in the manner laid down in sub-
section (5) of section 159 divided by the number of directors for the time being, if the
resolution relates to removal of a director appointed under sections 157, 161 or section
162 or where the directors were elected unopposed; or
(b) the minimum number of votes that were cast for the election of a director at the
immediately preceding election of directors, if the resolution relates to removal of a
director elected in the manner provided in sub-section (5) of section 159.
Provided that without prejudice to the generality of this sub-section no director shall be
considered independent if one or more of the following circumstances exist–
(a) he has been an employee of the company, any of its subsidiaries or holding
company within the last three years;
(b) he is or has been the chief executive officer of subsidiaries, associated company,
associated undertaking or holding company in the last three years;
(c) he has, or has had within the last three years, a material business relationship with
the company either directly, or indirectly as a partner, major shareholder or director
of a body that has such a relationship with the company.
Explanation: The major shareholder means a person who, individually or in
concert with his family or as part of a group, holds 10% or more shares having
voting rights in the paid-up capital of the company;
(d) he has received remuneration in the three years preceding his/her appointment as
a director or receives additional remuneration, excluding retirement benefits from
the company apart from a director’s fee or has participated in the company’s stock
option or a performance-related pay scheme;
(e) he is a close relative of the company’s promoters, directors or majorshareholders:
Explanation: “close relative” means spouse(s), lineal ascendants and
descendants and siblings;
(f) he holds cross-directorships or has significant links with other directors through
involvement in other companies or bodies not being the associations licenced
under section 42;
(g) he has served on the board for more than three consecutive terms from the date
of his first appointment, and for more than two consecutive terms in case of a
public sector company, provided that such person shall be deemed “independent
director” after a lapse of one term;
(h) a person nominated as a director under sections 164 and 165:
Provided further that for determining the independence of directors for the purpose of
sub-clauses (a), (b) and (c) in respect of public sector companies, the time period shall be
taken as two years instead of three years. Further, an independent director in case of a
public sector company shall not be in the service of Pakistan or of any statutory body or
any body or institution owned or controlled by the Government.
(3) The independent director of a listed company shall be elected in the same manner as
other directors are elected in terms of section 159 and the statement of material facts
annexed to the notice of the general meeting called for the purpose shall indicate the
justification for choosing the appointee for appointment as independent director.
(4) No individual shall be selected for the data bank referred to in sub-section (1) without his
consent in writing.
(5) The manner and procedure of selection of independent directors on the databank who
fulfill the qualifications and other requirements shall be specified by the Commission.
(6) The requirements of sub-section (1)–
(a) shall be deemed relaxed till such time a notification is issued by the Commission;
and
(b) may be relaxed by the Commission on an application made by the company
supported with the sufficient justification or the practical difficulty, as the case may
be.
of any company, unless such person or such other individual has given his consent in
writing to the company for such appointment or nomination.
(2) The consent given to the company under sub-section (1) shall be filed with the registrar
within fifteen days thereof.
169. Penalties.–
Whoever contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of sections 154 to 168 or is a
party to the contravention of the said provisions shall be liable to a penalty of level 2 on the
standard scale and may also be debarred by the authority which imposes the penalty from
becoming or continuing a director of the company for a period not exceeding three years.
(b) persistent default in relation to provisions of this Act requiring any return, account
or other document to be filed with, delivered or sent, or notice of any matter to be
given, to the Commission or the registrar;
(c) a person has been a director of a company which became insolvent at any time
(while he was a director or subsequently):
Provided that order against any such person shall not be made after the end of the
period of two years beginning with the day on which the company of which that
person is or has been a director became insolvent;
(d) the business of the company in which he is or has been a director, has conducted
to defraud its creditors, members or any other persons or for a fraudulent or
unlawful purpose, or in a manner oppressive of any of its members or that the
company was formed for any fraudulent or unlawful purpose; or
(e) the person concerned in the formation of the company or the management of its
affairs have in connection therewith been guilty of fraud, misfeasance, breach of
trust or other misconduct towards the company or towards any of its member; or
(f) the affairs of the company of which he is a director have been conducted in a
manner which has deprived the shareholders thereof of a reasonable return; or
(g) the person has been convicted of allotment of shares of a company for inadequate
consideration; or
(h) the person is involved in illegal deposit taking; or
(i) the person has been convicted of financial irregularities or malpractices in a
company or
(j) the company of which he is a director has acted against the interests of the
sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan, the security of the State, friendly relations with
foreign States; or
(k) the company of which he is a director refuses to act according to the requirements of
the memorandum or articles or the provisions of this Act or fail1 to carry out the directions
of the Commission given in the exercise of powers under this Act; or
(l) the person is convicted of insider trading or market manipulation practices; or
(m) the person has entered into a plea bargain arrangement with the National
Accountability Bureau or any other regulatory body;2
(n) the person has been declared a defaulter by the securities exchange;3
(o) that it is expedient in the public interest so to do.
(2) Where a disqualification order is made against a person who is already subject to such
an order, the periods specified in those orders shall run concurrently.
(3) An order under this section may be made by the Commission on its own motion or upon
a complaint made in this regard.
(4) Before making an order the Commission shall afford the person concerned an
opportunity of representation and of being heard.
(5) Any order made by the Commission under this section shall be without prejudice to the
powers of the Commission to take such further action as it deems fit with regard to the
person concerned.
173. Personal liability for company’s debts where person acts while disqualified.–
(1) A person shall be personally responsible for all the relevant debts of a company if at any
time–
(a) if the default relates to a listed company, to a penalty of level 2 on the standard
scale; and
(b) if the default relates to any other company, to a penalty of level 1 on the standard
scale.
Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in this section, a company may, in pursuance
of any such provision as aforesaid, indemnify any such director, chief executive, officer against
any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which
judgment is given in his favour or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application
under section 493 in which relief is granted to him.
(5) Sub-section (1) shall apply to any transaction represented by a book-debt which was from
its inception in the nature of a loan or an advance.
company exceeds twenty percent of its net worth as per the audited financial
statements of the preceding financial year or an undertaking which
generates twenty percent of the total income of the company during the
previous financial year;
(ii) the expression “sizeable part” in any financial year shall mean twenty five
percent or more of the value of the assets in that class as per the audited
financial statements of the preceding financial year;
(b) sell or otherwise dispose of the subsidiary of the company;
(c) remit, give any relief or give extension of time for the repayment of any debt
outstanding against any person specified in sub-section (1) of section 182.
(4) Nothing contained in sub-section (3) shall entitle a listed company to sell or otherwise
dispose of the undertaking, which results in or may lead to closure of business operation
or winding up of the company, without there being a viable alternate business plan duly
authenticated by the board.
(5) Any resolution passed under sub-section (3) if not implemented within one year from the
date of passing shall stand lapsed.
(6) Any contravention or default in complying with requirement of this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale and 1 shall be individually and
severally liable for losses or damages arising out of such action.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
186. Appointment of first chief executive.–
(1) Every company shall have a chief executive appointed in the manner provided in this
section and section 187.
(2) The name of first chief executive shall be determined by the subscribers of the
memorandum and his particulars specified under section 197 shall be submitted along
with the documents for the incorporation of the company.
(3) The first chief executive shall, unless he earlier resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office,
hold office up to the first annual general meeting of the company or, if a shorter period is
fixed by the subscribers at the time of his appointment, for such period.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, the Government shall have the power
to nominate chief executive of a public sector company in such manner as may be
specified.
1 The law does not specify the persons who shall be individually and severally liable.
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191. Chief executive not to engage in business competing with company's business.–
(1) A chief executive of a public company shall not directly or indirectly engage in any
business which is of the same nature as and directly competes with the business carried
on by the company of which he is the chief executive or by a subsidiary of such
company.
Explanation.– A business shall be deemed to be carried on indirectly by the chief
executive if the same is carried on by his spouse or any of his minor children.
(2) Every person who is appointed as chief executive of a public company shall forthwith on
such appointment disclose to the company in writing the nature of such business and his
interest therein.
directors, appoint a chairman from among the non-executive directors who shall hold
office for a period of three years unless he earlier resigns, becomes ineligible or
disqualified under any provision of this Act or removed by the directors.
(2) The board shall clearly define the respective roles and responsibilities of the chairman
and chief executive:
Provided that the Commission may specify the classes of companies for which the
chairman and chief executive shall not be the same individual.
(3) The chairman shall be responsible for leadership of the board and ensure that the board
plays an effective role in fulfilling its responsibilities.
(4) Every financial statements circulated under section 223 of this Act shall contain a review
report by the chairman on the overall performance of the board and effectiveness of the
role played by the board in achieving the company’s objectives.
193. Penalty.–
Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of sections 186 to 192 shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale and may also be debarred by the
authority which imposes the penalty from becoming a director or chief executive of a company
for a period not exceeding five years.
name of such person or nominee, or in the name of such person or nominee alone.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent a company from depositing with, or
transferring to, or holding, or registering in the name of a central depository any shares or
securities.
(4) Where, in pursuance of proviso to sub-section (1) or provisions of sub-sections (2) or (3),
any shares or securities in which investments have been made by a company are not
held by it in its own name, the company shall forthwith enter in a register maintained by it
for the purpose at its registered office the nature, value and such other particulars as may
be necessary fully to identify such shares or securities.
(5) The register maintained under sub-section (4) shall, be open to the inspection of
members without charge, and to any other person on payment of such fees as the
company may specify in this behalf during business hours, subject to such reasonable
restrictions, as the company may impose, so that not less than two hours in each day be
allowed.
(6) Any member may require a certified copy of register or any part thereof, on payment of
such fee as may be fixed by the company.
(7) The certified copies requested under this section shall be issued within a period of seven
days.
(8) A member seeking to exercise either of the rights conferred by sub- sections1 (5) or (6)
must make a request to the company to that effect.
(9) If a company contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), the company shall be
punishable with fine which may extend to five million rupees and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one million rupees, or with
both.
(10) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of sub-sections2 (4), (5) or
(6), shall be an offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale; and the
registrar may by an order compel an immediate inspection of the register or direct that
copies required shall be sent to the persons requiring them.
outside Pakistan.
(3) A deed signed by such an attorney on behalf of the company and under his seal shall
bind the company and have the effect as if it was made by the company itself.
1 Sub-section (3) omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020, dated 01-12-2021.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [86]
Provided that a director of a listed company who has a material personal interest in a
matter that is being considered at a board meeting shall not be present while that matter
is being considered.
(2) If majority of the directors are interested in, any contract or arrangement entered into, or
to be entered into, by or on behalf of the company, the matter shall be laid before the
general meeting for approval.
(3) Sub-section (1) shall not apply to–
(a) a private company which is neither a subsidiary nor a holding company of a public
company;
(b) any contract of indemnity or insurance coverage executed by the company in
favour of interested director against any loss which he may suffer or incur by
reason of becoming or being a surety for the company or while undertaking any
transaction on behalf of the company:
Provided that for the purpose of clause (b), a company shall only insure the liability of
interested director where such liability arises out of a transaction validly approved by the
board or the members of the company1 as the case may be:
(4) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements under this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
along-with1 the value of the assets involved in such arrangement duly calculated by a
registered valuer.
(3) Any arrangement entered into by a company or its holding company in contravention of
the provisions of this section shall be voidable at the instance of the company unless–
(a) the restitution of any money or other consideration which is the subject-matter of
the arrangement is no longer possible and the company has been indemnified by
any other person for any loss or damage caused to it; or
(b) any rights are acquired bona fide for value and without notice of the contravention
of the provisions of this section by any other person.
(4) The company shall ensure that all cash transactions with its directors are conducted only
through banking channels.
ACCOUNTS OF COMPANIES
220. Books of account, to be kept by company.–
(1) Every company shall prepare and keep at its registered office books of account and
other relevant books and papers and financial statements for every financial year which
give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the company, including that of its
branchoffice or offices, if any:
Provided that in the case of a company engaged in production, processing,
manufacturing or mining activities, such particulars relating to utilisation of material or
labour or the other inputs or items of cost as may be specified, shall also be maintained:
Provided further that all or any of the books of account aforesaid and other relevant
papers may be kept at such other place in Pakistan as the board may decide and where
such a decision is taken, the company shall, within seven days thereof, file with the
registrar a notice in writing giving the full address of that other place.
(2) Where a company has a branch office in Pakistan or outside Pakistan, it shall be
deemed to have complied with the provisions of sub-section (1), if proper books of
account relating to the transactions effected at the branch office are kept at that office
and proper summarized returns are sent periodically by the branch office to the company
at its registered office or the other place referred to in sub-section (1).
(3) The books of account and other books and papers maintained by the company within
Pakistan shall be open for inspection at the registered office of the company or at such
other place in Pakistan by any director during business hours, and in the case of financial
information, if any, maintained outside the country, copies of such financial information
shall be maintained and produced for inspection by any director.
(4) Where an inspection is made under sub-section (3), the officers and other employees of
the company shall give to the director making such inspection all assistance in
connection with the inspection which the company is reasonably expected to give.
(5) The books of account of every company relating to a period of not less than ten financial
years immediately preceding a financial year, or where the company had been in
existence for a period less than ten years, in respect of all the preceding years together
with the vouchers relevant to any entry in such books of account shall be kept in good
order.
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(6) If a company fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section, every director,
including chief executive and chief financial officer, of the company who has by his act or
omission been the cause of such default shall–
(a) in respect of a listed company, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to two year and with fine which shall not be less than five hundred
thousand rupees nor more than five million rupees, and with a further fine which
may extend to ten thousand rupees for every day after the first during which the
default continues; and
(b) in respect of any other company, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which
may extend to one year and with fine which may extend to one hundred thousand
rupees.
(7) The provisions of this section except those of sub-section (5), shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the books of account which a liquidator is required to maintain and keep.
financial statements for the period, in the case of first such statements since the
incorporation of the company and in any other case since the preceding financial
statements, made up to the date of close of financial year adopted by the company.
(2) The financial statements must be laid within a period of one hundred and twenty days
following the close of financial year of a company:
Provided that, in the case of a listed company the Commission, and in any other case the
registrar, may, for any special reason, extend the period for a term not exceeding thirty
days.
(3) Subject to the provision of sub-section (2), the first financial statement must be laid at
some date not later than sixteen months after the date of incorporation of the company
and subsequently once at least in every calendar year.
(4) The period to which the statements aforesaid relate, not being the first, shall not exceed
one year except where special permission of the registrar has been obtained.
(5) The financial statement shall be audited by the auditor of the company, in the manner
hereinafter provided, and the auditor’s report shall be attached thereto:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a private company having the paid
up capital not exceeding one million rupees or such higher amount of paid up capital as
may be notified by the Commission.
(6) Every company shall send in the form and manner specified audited financial statements
together with the auditors’ report, directors’ report and in the case of a listed company
the chairman’s review report to every member of the company and every person who is
entitled to receive notice of general meeting, either by post or electronically at least
twenty-one days before the date of meeting at which it is to be laid before the members
of the company, and shall keep a copy at the registered office of the company for the
inspection of the members.
(7) A listed company shall, simultaneously with the dispatch of the financial statements
together with the reports referred to in sub-section (6), send by post three copies and
electronically a copy of such financial statements together with said reports to each of
the Commission, registrar and the securities exchange and shall also post on the
company’s website:
Provided that the reports shall be made available on the website of the Company for a
time period as may be specified.
(8) The provisions of sub-section (6) of section 220 shall apply to any person who is a party
to the default in complying with any of the provisions of this section.
(9) This section shall not apply to a single member company except to the extent as
provided in sub-section (5).
(2) The Commission may, of its own motion or upon application by a company, modify, in
relation to that company, the requirements of the relevant Schedule for the purpose of
adapting it to the circumstances of a company.
(3) The Commission shall have power from time to time to grant exemption to any company
or any class of companies if it is in the public interest so to do, from compliance with all
or any of the requirements of the relevant Schedule.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this Act any company that intends to make unreserved
compliance of IFRS issued by the IASB shall be permitted to do so.
Explanation.–The expression “IFRS” means International Financial Reporting Standards
and the expression “IASB” means International Accounting Standards Board.
(5) The provisions of sub-section (6) of section 220 shall apply to any person who is a party
to the default in complying with any of the provisions of this section.
(3) Every auditor of a holding company appointed under section 246 shall also report, in the
specified form, on consolidated financial statements and exercise all such rights and
duties as are vested in him under sections 248 and 249 respectively.
(4) There shall be disclosed in the consolidated financial statements any note or saving
contained in such accounts to call attention to a matter which, apart from the note or
saving, would properly have been referred to in such a qualification, in so far the matter
which is the subject of the qualification or note is not covered by the holding company’s
own accounts and is material from the point of view of its members.
(5) Every consolidated financial statement shall be signed by the same persons by whom
the individual financial statements of the holding company are required to be signed,
under section 232.
(6) All provisions of sections 223, 233, 234, 235 and 236 shall apply to a holding company
required to prepare consolidated financial statements under this section as if for the word
“company” appearing in these sections, the words “holding company” were substituted.
(7) The Commission may, on an application of a holding company, direct that the provisions
of this section shall not apply to such extent as may be specified in the direction.
(8) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
1 Section 234 omitted by the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2021, dated 01-12-2021.
2 This whole section appears in the Gazette as one sentence. For better understanding, it is split into paragraphs.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [99]
the company, and every officer of the company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of
level 1 on the standard scale.
(2) No dividend shall be declared or paid by a company for any financial year out of the profits
of the company made from the sale or disposal of any immovable property or assets of a
capital nature comprised in the undertaking or any of the undertaking of the company,
unless the business of the company consists, whether wholly or partly, of selling and
purchasing any such property or assets, except after such profits are set off or adjusted
against losses arising from the sale of any such immovable property or assets of a
capital nature:
Provided that no dividend shall be declared or paid out of unrealized gain on investment
property credited to profit and loss account.
opportunity to the shareholder or person who may seem to be entitled to receive the
dividend of making representation against the proposed action, permitted the company to
withhold or defer payment as may be ordered by the Commission.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), a company may withhold the
payment of dividend of a member where the member has not provided the complete
information or documents as specified by the Commission.
(4) Chief executive convicted under sub-section (2) shall from the day of the conviction
cease to hold the office of chief executive of the company and shall not, for a period of
five years from that day, be eligible to be the chief executive or a director of that
company or any other company.
244. Unclaimed shares, modaraba certificates and dividend to vest with the Federal
Government.–
(1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act or any other law–
(i) where shares of a company or modaraba certificates of a Modaraba have been
issued; or
(ii) where dividend has been declared by a company or Modaraba;
which remain unclaimed or unpaid for a period of three years from the date it is due
and payable, or
(iii) any other instrument or amount which remain unclaimed or unpaid, having such
nature and for such period as may be specified;
the company shall give ninety days notices to the shareholders or certificate holders or
the owner, as the case may be, to file claim, in the following manner–
(a) by a registered post acknowledgement due on his last known address; and
(b) after expiry of notice period as provided under clause (a), final notice in the
specified form shall be published in two daily newspapers of which one will be in
Urdu and one in English having wide circulation.
Explanation.– For the purpose of this section “shares” or “modaraba certificates”
include unclaimed or undelivered bonus shares or modaraba certificates and “company”
includes a “modaraba company”.
(2) If no claim is made before the company by the shareholder, certificate holder or the
owner, as the case may be, the company shall after ninety days from the date of
publication of notice under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall–
(a) in case of sum of money, deposit any unclaimed or unpaid amount to the credit of
the Federal Government; and
(b) in case of shares or modaraba certificates or other instrument, report and deliver to
the Commission such shares or modaraba certificates or other instrument and the
Commission shall sell such shares or modaraba certificates or other instrument, as
the case may be, in the manner and within such period as may be specified and
deposit the proceeds to the credit of Federal Government:
Provided that where the company has deposited the unclaimed or unpaid amount or
delivered the shares or modaraba certificates or other instrument with the Commission
for credit of the Federal Government, the company shall preserve and continue to
preserve all original record pertaining to the deposited unclaimed or unpaid amount and
the shares or modaraba certificates or other instrument and provide copies of the
relevant record to the Commission until it is informed by the Commission in writing that
they need not to be preserved any longer.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law or procedure for the time being in force,
the unclaimed or unpaid amount as well as the proceeds from the sale of shares or
modaraba certificates or any other instrument or any benefit accrued thereon, as the
case may be, shall be maintained in a profit bearing account with the State Bank of
Pakistan or National Bank of Pakistan to be called “Companies Unclaimed
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(d) the interest or other income received out of the investments made from the Fund;
(e) the amount realised in terms of fourth proviso of section 341 or fourth proviso of
sub-section (4) of section 372; and
(f) such other amounts as may be prescribed.
(3) The Fund shall be utilized for–
(a) the promotion of investor education and awareness in such manner as may
be prescribed;
(b) without prejudice to the generality of the object of sub-clause (a) of sub-
section (3), the Fund may be used for the following purposes, namely–
(i) educational activities including seminars, training, research and
publications aimed at investors;
(ii) awareness programs including through media – print, electronic, social
media, aimed at investors;
(iii) funding investor education and awareness activities approved by the
Commission; and
(iv) to meet the administrative expenses of the Fund.
Explanation.– “Investors” means investor in securities, insurance policyholders and
customers of non-bank finance companies and Modarabas.
(4) The Commission shall, by notification in the official Gazette, constitute an advisory
committee with such members as may be prescribed, for recommending investor
education and awareness activities that may be undertaken directly by the Commission or
through any other agency, for utilization of the Fund for the purposes referred to in
sub-section (3).
(5) The accounts of the Fund shall be audited by auditors appointed by the Commission who
shall be a firm of chartered accountants. The Commission shall ensure maintenance of
proper and separate accounts and other relevant records in relation to the Fund giving
therein the details of all receipts to, and, expenditure from, the Fund and other relevant
particulars.
(6) The Commission may invest the moneys of the Fund in such manner as set out in section
20 of the Trusts Act, 1882 (II of 1882).
AUDIT
246. Appointment, removal and fee of auditors.–
(1) The first auditor or auditors of a company shall be appointed by the board within ninety
days of the date of incorporation of the company; and the auditor or auditors so appointed
shall retire on the conclusion of the first annual general meeting.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the subsequent auditor or auditors shall be
appointed by the company in the annual general meeting on the recommendation of the
board after obtaining consent of the proposed auditors, a notice shall be given to the
members with the notice of general meeting. The auditor or auditors so appointed shall
retire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting.
(3) A member or members having not less than ten percent shareholding of the company shall
also be entitled to propose any auditor or auditors for appointment whose consent has
been obtained by him and a notice in this regard has been given to the company not less
than seven days before the date of the annual general meeting. The company shall
forthwith send a copy of such notice to the retiring auditor and shall also be posted on its
website.
(4) Where an auditor, other than the retiring auditor is proposed to be appointed, the retiring
auditor shall have a right to make a representation in writing to the company at least two
days before the date of general meeting. Such representation shall be read out at the
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(a) a person who is, or at any time during the preceding three years was, a director,
other officer or employee of the company;
(b) a person who is a partner of, or in the employment of, a director, officer or
employee of the company;
(c) the spouse of a director of the company;
(d) a person who is indebted to the company other than in the ordinary course of
business of such entities;
(e) a person who has given a guarantee or provided any security in connection with
the indebtedness of any third person to the company other than in the ordinary
course of business of such entities;
(f) a person or a firm who, whether directly or indirectly, has business relationship with
the company other than in the ordinary course of business of such entities;
(g) a person who has been convicted by a court of an offence involving fraud and a
period of ten years has not elapsed from the date of such conviction;
(h) a body corporate;
(i) a person who is not eligible to act as auditor under the code of ethics as adopted by
the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan and the Institute of Cost and
Management Accountants of Pakistan; and
(j) a person or his spouse or minor children, or in case of a firm, all partners of such
firm who hold any shares of an audit client or any of its associated companies:
Provided that if such a person holds shares prior to his appointment as auditor, whether
as an individual or a partner in a firm the fact shall be disclosed on his appointment as
auditor and such person shall disinvest such shares within ninety days of such
appointment.
Explanation.– Reference in this section to an “officer” or “employee” shall be
construed as not including reference to an auditor.
(4) For the purposes of clause (d) of sub-section (3) a person who owes–
(a) a sum of money not exceeding one million rupees to a credit card issuer; or
(b) a sum to a utility company in the form of unpaid dues for a period not exceeding
ninety days;
shall not be deemed to be indebted to the company.
(5) A person shall also not be qualified for appointment as auditor of a company if he is, by
virtue of the provisions of sub-section (3), disqualified for appointment as auditor of any
other company which is that company’s subsidiary or holding company or a subsidiary of
that holding company.
(6) If, after his appointment, an auditor becomes subject to any of the disqualifications
specified in this section, he shall be deemed to have vacated his office as auditor with
effect from the date on which he becomes so disqualified.
(7) A person who, not being qualified to be an auditor of a company, or being or having
become subject to any disqualification to act as such, acts as auditor of a company shall
be liable to a penalty of level 2 on the standard scale.
(8) The appointment as auditor of a company of an unqualified person, or of a person who is
subject to any disqualifications to act as such, shall be void, and, where such an
appointment is made by a company, the Commission may appoint a qualified person in
place of the auditor appointed by the company.
(a) of access at all times to the company’s books, accounts and vouchers (in whatever
form they are held); and
(b) of access to such copies of, an extracts from, the books and accounts of the branch
as have been transmitted to the principal office of the company;
(c) to require any of the following persons to provide him with such information or
explanations as he thinks necessary for the performance of his duties as auditor–
(i) any director, officer or employee of the company;
(ii) any person holding or accountable for any of the company’s books, accounts
or vouchers;
(iii) any subsidiary undertaking of the company; and
(iv) any officer, employee or auditor of any such subsidiary undertaking of the
company or any person holding or accountable for any books, accounts or
vouchers of any such subsidiary undertaking of the company.
(2) If any officer of a company refuses or fails, without lawful justification, the onus whereof
shall lie on him, to allow any auditor access to any books and papers in his custody or
power, or to give any such information possessed by him as and when required, or
otherwise hinders, obstructs or delays an auditor in the performance of his duties or the
exercise of his powers or fails to give notice of any general meeting to the auditor or
provides false or incorrect information, he shall be liable to penalty as provided under
section 252.
(ii) in the case of the profit and loss account and other comprehensive income
or the income and expenditure account, of the profit or loss and other
comprehensive income or surplus or deficit, as the case may be, for its
financial year; and
(iii) in the case of statement of cash flows, of the generation and utilisation of the
cash and cash equivalents of the company for its financial year;
(e) whether or not in their opinion–
(i) investments made, expenditure incurred and guarantees extended, during
the year, were for the purpose of company’s business; and
(ii) zakat deductible at source under the Zakat and Usher Ordinance, 1980
(XVIII of 1980), was deducted by the company and deposited in the Central
Zakat Fund established under section 7 of that Act.
Explanation.– Where the auditor’s report contains a reference to any other report,
statement or remarks which they have made on the financial statements examined by
them, such statement or remarks shall be annexed to the auditor’s report and shall be
deemed to be a part of the auditor’s report.
(4) Where any of the matters referred to in sub-section (2) or (3) is answered in the negative
or with a qualification, the report shall state the reason for such answer along with the
factual position to the best of the auditor’s information.
(5) The Commission may, by general or special order, direct that, in the case of all
companies generally or such class or description of companies as may be specified in
the order, the auditor’s report shall also include a statement of such additional matters as
may be so specified.
(6) The auditor shall express unmodified or modified opinion in his report in compliance with
the requirements of International Standards on Auditing as adopted by the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Pakistan.
(7) The Commission may by general or special order, direct, that the statement of
compliance as contained in sub-section (4) of section 227 of this Act,shall be reviewed by
the auditor who shall issue a review report to the members on the format specified by the
Commission.
(8) The auditor of a company shall be entitled to attend any general meeting of the
company, and to receive all notices of, and any communications relating to, any general
meeting which any member of the company is entitled to receive, and to be heard at any
general meeting which he attends on any part of the business which concerns him as
auditor:
Provided that, in the case of a listed company, the auditor or a person authorised by him
in writing shall be present in the general meeting in which the financial statements and
the auditor’s report are to be considered.
it may order an investigation into the affairs of the company and appoint one or more
persons as inspectors to investigate into the affairs of the company and to report thereon
in such manner as the Commission may direct:
Provided that before making an order of investigation, the Commission shall give the
company an opportunity of being heard.
(2) While appointing an inspector under sub-section (1), the Commission may define the
scope of the investigation, the period to which it is to extend or any other matter
connected or incidental to the investigation.
(3) An application by members of a company under clause (a) or (b) of sub-section (1) shall
be supported by such evidence as the Commission may require for the purpose of
showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring the investigation.
(4) The Commission may, before appointing an inspector, require the applicants to give such
security for payment of the costs of the investigation as the Commission may specify.
(2) A person appointed as inspector under sections 256, 257 and 258 shall, for the purposes
of his investigation, have the same powers as are vested in a Court under the Code of
Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908), while trying a suit, in respect of the following
matters, namely–
(a) enforcing the attendance of persons and examining them on oath or affirmation;
(b) compelling the discovery and production of books and papers and any material
objects; and
(c) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses;
and every proceeding before such person shall be deemed to be “judicial proceeding”
within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV
of 1860).
(3) Any contravention of or non-compliance with any orders, directions or requirement of the
inspector exercising powers of a Court under sub-section (1) shall, in all respects, entail
the same liabilities, consequences and penalties as are provided for such contravention,
non-compliance or default under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) and
Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860).
(b) may, if it thinks fit, furnish a copy thereof, on request and on payment of the
specified fee, to any person–
(i) who is a member of the company or other body corporate or is interested in
the affairs of the company;
(ii) whose interests as a creditor of the company or other body corporate
appear to the Commission to be affected;
(c) shall, when the inspectors are appointed under clause (a) or clause (b) of section
256, furnish, at the request of the applicants for the investigation, a copy of the
report to them;
(d) shall, where the inspector are appointed under section 257 in pursuance of an
order of the Court, furnish a copy of the report to the Court;
(e) may forward a copy of the report to the registrar with such directions as it may deem
fit; and
(f) may also cause the report or any part thereof to be posted on its website.
263. Prosecution.–
(1) If, from any report made under section 262, it appears to the Commission that any
person has, in relation to the company or in relation to any other body corporate, whose
affairs have been investigated by virtue of sections 256, 257 and 258, been guilty of any
offense for which he is criminally liable, the Commission may, prosecute such person for
the offence, and it shall be the duty of all officers and other employees and agents of the
company or body corporate, as the case may be, other than the accused in the
proceedings, to give the Commission or any person nominated by it in this behalf all
assistance in connection with the prosecution which they are reasonably able to give.
(2) Sub-section (3) of section 261 shall apply for the purpose of this section as it applies
for the purposes of that section.
the order; or
(iii) notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in
force, direct the company to call a meeting of its members to consider such
matters as may be specified in the order and to take appropriate remedial actions;
or
(iv) direct that any existing contract which is to the detriment of the company or its
members or is intended to or does benefit any officer or director shall be annulled or
modified to the extent specified in the order:
Provided that no such order shall be made so as to have effect from any date preceding
the date of the order:
Provided further that any director, including a chief executive or other officer who is
removed from office under clause (i), unless the Court specified a lesser period, shall not
be a director, chief executive or officer of any company for a period of five years from the
date of his removal.
(2) No order under this section shall be made unless the director or other officer likely to be
affected by such order has been given an opportunity of being heard.
(3) The action taken under sub-section (1) shall be in addition to and not in substitution of
any other action or remedy provided in any other law for the time being in force.
entitled to contribute from any other person liable under the same clause according to the
amount of their respective liabilities thereunder.
(7) In so far as the expenses to be defrayed by the Commission under this section are not
recovered thereunder, they shall be borne by the Commission.
(b) a petition has been submitted to the Court for winding up of the company; or
(c) any other civil or criminal proceedings have been initiated against the company or its
officers under any provision of this Act.
PART VIII
MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, ARRANGEMENTS AND
RECONSTRUCTION
276. Mediation and Conciliation Panel.–
(1) Any of the parties to the proceedings may, by mutual consent, at any time during the
proceedings before the Commission or the Appellate Bench, apply to the Commission or
the Appellate Bench, as the case may be, in such form alongwith such fees as may be
specified, for referring the matter pertaining to such proceedings to the Mediation and
Conciliation Panel and the Commission or the Appellate Bench, as the case may be, shall
appoint one or more individuals from the panel referred to in sub-section (2).
(2) The Commission shall maintain a panel to be called as the Mediation and Conciliation
Panel consisting of individuals having such qualifications as may be specified for
mediation between the parties during the pendency of any proceedings before the
Commission or the Appellate Bench under this Act.
(3) The fee and other terms and conditions of individuals of the Mediation and Conciliation
Panel shall be such as may be specified.
(4) The Mediation and Conciliation Panel shall follow such procedure as and dispose of the
matter referred to it within a period of ninety days from the date of such reference and
forward its recommendations to the Commission or the Appellate Bench, as the case may
be.
Provided that no order sanctioning any compromise or arrangement shall be made by the
Commission unless the Commission is satisfied that the company or any other person by
whom an application has been made under sub-section (1) has disclosed to the
Commission, by affidavit or otherwise, all material facts relating to the company, such as
the financial position of the company, the auditor's report on the latest accounts of the
company, the pendency of any investigation proceedings in relation to the company and
the like.
(3) A copy of the order under sub-section (2) sanctioning the compromise or arrangement
duly certified by an authorized officer of the Commission shall be forwarded to the
registrar within seven days from the date of the order.
(4) A copy of the order under sub-section (2) shall be annexed to every copy of the
memorandum of the company issued after the order has been made or in the case of a
company not having a memorandum to every copy so issued of theinstrument constituting
or defining the constitution of the company.
(5) The Court may, at any time after an application has been made to the Commission under
this section, stay the commencement or continuation of any suit or proceeding until final
disposal of the application.
(6) In this section the expression "company" means any company liable to be wound up
under this Act and the expression "arrangement" includes a re-organisation of the share-
capital of the company by the consolidation of shares of different classes or by the
division of shares into shares of different classes or by both those methods, and for the
purposes of this section unsecured creditors who may have filed suits or obtained
decrees shall be deemed to be of the same class as other unsecured creditors.
(7) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of sub-section (4) shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(3) Where a notice given by advertisement includes a notification that copies of a statement
setting forth the terms of the compromise or arrangement proposed and explaining its
effect can be obtained by creditors or members entitled to attend the meeting, every
creditor or member so entitled shall, on making an application in the manner indicated by
the notice, be furnished by the company, free of charge, with a copy of the statement.
(4) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale; and for the purpose of this
sub-section any liquidator of the company and trustee of a deed for securing the issue of
debentures of the company shall be deemed to be an officer of the company:
Provided that a person shall not be 1 under this sub-section if he shows that the default
was due to the refusal of any other person, being a director, including chief executive or
trustee for debenture-holder, to supply the necessary particulars as to his material
interests.
(5) Every director, including chief executive of the company and every trustee for debenture-
holders of the company, shall give notice to the company of such matters relating to
himself as may be necessary for the purposes of this section and on the request of the
company shall provide such further information as may be necessary for the purposes of
this section; and, if he fails to do so within the time allowed by the company, he shall be
liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(e) a supplementary audited financial statement if the last annual accounts of any of
the applicant company relate to a financial year ending more than one hundred and
eighty days before the first meeting of the company summoned for the purposes of
approving the scheme.
(3) The Commission may, either by an order, sanction the compromise or arrangement or by
a subsequent order, make provision for all or any of the following matters–
(a) the transfer to the transferee company of the whole or any part of the undertaking
and of the property or liabilities of any transferor company;
(b) the allotment or appropriation by the transferee company of any shares,
debentures, policies or other like interests in that company which under the
compromise or arrangement are to be allotted or appropriated by that company to
or for any person;
(c) the continuation by or against the transferee company of any legal proceedings
pending by or against any transferor company;
(d) the dissolution, without winding up, of any transferor company;
(e) the provision to be made for any persons who, within such time and in such manner
as the Commission directs, dissent from the compromise or arrangement;
(f) such incidental, consequential and supplemental matters as are necessary to
secure that the reconstruction, amalgamation or bifurcation is fully and effectively
carried out.
(4) If an order under this section provides for the transfer of property or liabilities–
(a) the property, by virtue of the order stands transferred to, and vests in, the
transferee company, and
(b) the liabilities, by virtue of the order, stand transferred to and become liabilities of that
company.
(5) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Stamp Act, 1899 (II of 1899) or any other law
for the time being in force, no stamp duty shall be payable on transfer to the transferee
company of the whole or any part of the undertaking and of the property of any transferor
company as a result of sanctioning by the Commission, any compromise or arrangement
under this Part:
Provided that this sub-section (5) shall, in respect of the companies having registered
office within the jurisdiction of–
(a) the Islamabad Capital Territory, be applicable at once; and
(b) the Provinces, be applicable upon notification or legislation by the respective
Provincial Governments.
(6) The property (if the order so directs) vests freed from any charge that is by virtue of the
compromise or arrangement to cease to have effect.
(7) A copy of the order passed by the Commission under this section sanctioning the
reconstruction, the amalgamation or division, duly certified by an authorised officer of the
Commission shall be forwarded to the registrar within seven days from the date of the
order.
(8) In this section “property” includes property, rights and powers of every description; and
“liabilities” includes duties.
(9) In this section the expression "transferee company" does not include any company other
than a company within the meaning of this Act, and the expression "transferor company"
includes any body corporate, whether a company within the meaning of this Act or not.
283. Notice to be given to registrar for applications under section 279 and 282.–
The Commission shall give notice of every application made to it under sections 279 to 282 to
the registrar and shall take into consideration the representation if any, made to it by the
registrar before passing any order under any of these sections.
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shares on the terms on which, under the scheme or contract, the shares of the approving
shareholders are to be transferred to the transferee company:
Provided that, where shares in the transferor company of the same class as the shares
whose transfer is involved are already held as aforesaid by the transferee company to a
value greater than one-tenths of the aggregate of the value of all the shares in the
company of such class, the foregoing provisions of this sub-section shall not apply,
unless–
(a) the transferee company offers the same terms to all holders of the shares of that
class (other than those already held as aforesaid) whose transfer is involved; and
(b) the holders who approve the scheme or contract, besides holding not less than nine-
tenths in value of the shares (other than those already held as aforesaid) whose
transfer is involved, are not less than three-fourths in number of the holders of those
shares.
(2) Where, in pursuance of any such scheme or contract as aforesaid, shares, or shares of
any class, in a company are transferred to another company or its nominee, and those
shares together with any other shares or any other shares of the same class, as the case
may be, in the first mentioned company held at the date of the transfer by, or by a
nominee for, the transferee company or its subsidiary comprise nine-tenth in value of the
shares, or shares of that class, as the case may be, in the first-mentioned company,
then–
(a) the transferee company shall, within thirty days from the date of the transfer (unless
on a previous transfer in pursuance of the scheme or contract it has already
complied with this requirement), give notice of that fact in the specified manner to
the holders of the remaining shares or of the remaining shares of that class, as the
case may be, who have not assented to the scheme or contract; and
(b) any such holder may, within ninety days from the giving of the notice to him, require
the transferee company to acquire the shares in question;
and where a shareholder gives notice under clause (b) with respect to any shares, the
transferee company shall be entitled and bound to acquire those shares on the terms on
which, under the scheme or contract, the shares of the approving shareholders were
transferred to it, or on such other terms as may be agreed, or as the Commission on the
application of either the transferee company or the shareholders thinks fit to order.
(3) Where a notice has been given by the transferee company under sub- section (1) and the
Commission has not, on an application made by the dissenting shareholder, made an
order to the contrary, the transferee company shall, on the expiration of thirty days from
the date on which the notice has been given or, if an application to the Commission by the
dissenting shareholder is then pending, after that application has been disposed of,
transmit a copy of the notice to the transferor company together with an instrument of
transfer executed on behalf of the shareholder by any person appointed by the transferee
company and on its own behalf by the transferee company and pay or transfer to the
transferor company the amount or other consideration representing the price payable by
the transferee company for the shares which, by virtue of this section, that company is
entitled to acquire; and the transferor company shall–
(a) thereupon register the transferee company as the holders of those shares; and
(b) within thirty days of the date of such registration, inform the dissenting shareholders
of the fact of such registration and of the receipt of the amount or other
consideration representing the price payable to them by the transferee company:
Provided that an instrument of transfer shall not be required for any share for which a
share warrant is for the time being outstanding.
(4) Any sums received by the transferor company under this section shall forthwith be paid
into a separate bank account to be opened in a scheduled bank and any such sum and
any other consideration so received shall be held by that company in trust for the several
persons entitled to the shares in respect of which the said sums or other consideration
were or was respectively received.
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(5) The following provisions shall apply in relation to every offer of a scheme or contract
involving the transfer of shares or any class of shares in the transferor company to the
transferee company, namely–
(a) every such offer or every circular containing such offer or every recommendation to
the members of the transferor company by its board to accept such offer shall be
accompanied by such information as may be specified;
(b) every such offer shall contain a statement by or on behalf of the transferee
company disclosing the steps it has taken to ensure that necessary cash will be
available;
(c) every circular containing or recommending acceptance of, such offer shall be
presented to the registrar for registration and no such circular shall be issued until it
is so registered;
(d) the registrar may refuse to register any such circular which does not contain the
information required to be given under clause (a) or which sets out such information
in a manner likely to give a misleading, erroneous or false impression; and
(e) an appeal shall lie to the Commission against an order of the registrar refusing to
register any such circular.
(6) The Commission or any party may make a reference to the Court, on any matter including
but not limited to the determination of liabilities of the company or incidental thereto as
provided under sections 279 to 285, for necessary orders.
(7) Whoever issues a circular referred to in clause (c) of sub-section (5) which has not been
registered shall be punishable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(8) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 279 to 283 and 285, the powers of the
Commission shall be exercised by the Court for such companies or class of companies or
having such capital, as may be notified by the concerned Minister-in-Charge of the
Federal Government.
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PART IX
PREVENTION OF OPPRESSION AND MIS-MANAGEMENT
286. Application to Court.–
(1) If any member or members holding not less than ten percent of the issued share capital of
a company, or a creditor or creditors having interest equivalent in amount to not less than
ten percent of the paid up capital of the company, complains, or complain, or the
Commission or registrar is of the opinion, that the affairs of the company are being
conducted, or are likely to be conducted, in an unlawful or fraudulent manner, or in a
manner not provided for in its memorandum, or in a manner oppressive to the members
or any of the members or the creditors or any of the creditors or are being conducted in a
manner that is unfairly prejudicial to the public interest, such member or members or, the
creditor or creditors, as the case may be, the Commission or registrar may make an
application to the Court by petition for an order under this section.
(2) If, on any such petition, the Court is of opinion–
(a) that the company's affairs are being conducted, or are likely to be conducted, as
aforesaid; and
(b) that to wind-up the company will unfairly prejudice the members or creditors;
the Court may, with a view to bringing to an end the matters complained of, make such
order as it thinks fit, whether for regulating the conduct of the company's affairs in future,
or for the purchase of the shares of any members of the company by other members of
the company or by the company and, in the case of purchase by the company, for, the
reduction accordingly of the company's capital, or otherwise.
(3) Where an order under this section makes any alteration in, or addition to, a company's
memorandum or articles, then, notwithstanding anything in any other provision of this Act,
the company shall not have power without the leave of the Court to make any further
alteration in or addition to the memorandum or articles inconsistent with the provisions of
the order; and the alterations or additions made by the order shall be of the same effect as
if duly made by resolution of the company and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the
memorandum or articles as so modified accordingly.
(4) A copy of any order under this section altering or adding to, or giving leave to alter or add
to, a company's memorandum or articles shall, within fourteen days after the making
thereof, be delivered by the company to the registrar for registration; and if the company
makes default in complying with this sub-section, the company and every officer of the
company who is in default shall be liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(5) The provisions of this section shall not prejudice the right of any person to any other
remedy or action.
287. Powers of Court under section 286.–
Without prejudice to the generality of the powers of the Court under section 286, an order under
that section may provide for–
(a) the termination, setting aside or modification of any agreement, or award compensation,
however arrived including but not limited to between the company or any other company
or any director, including the chief executive or any other officer, wherein the Court
concludes that such agreement suffers from conflict of interest on the part of any director
or the Board or any such agreement or contract is prejudicial to the interest of members
upon such terms and conditions as may, in the opinion of the Court, be just and equitable
in all the circumstances;
(b) setting aside of any transfer, delivery of goods, payment, execution or other transactions
not relating to property made or done by or against the company within ninety days
before the date of the application which would, if made or done by or against an
individual, be deemed in his insolvency to be a fraudulent preference; and
(c) any other matter, including a change in management, for which in the opinion of the Court
it is just and equitable that provision should be made.
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1
The term ‘Administrator’ should have been within inverted commas.
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appoint the Administrator, and after giving a notice to the State Bank of Pakistan, appoint
a person whose name does not appear on the panel maintained for the purpose to be the
Administrator.
Explanation.– For the purposes of clause (c), the members shall be deemed to have
been deprived of a reasonable return if, having regard to enterprises similarly placed, the
company is unable to, or does not, declare any or adequate dividend for a period of three
consecutive years.
(2) The Administrator shall receive such remuneration as the Commission may determine.
(3) On and from the date of appointment of the Administrator, the management of the affairs
of the company shall vest in him, and he shall exercise all the powers of the board or
other persons in whom the management vested and all such directors and persons shall
stand divested of that management and powersand shall cease to function or hold office.
(4) Where it appears to the Administrator that any purchase or sales agency contract has
been entered into, or any employment given, patently to benefit any director or other
person in whom the management vested or his nominees and to the detriment of the
interest of the general members, the Administrator may, with the previous approval in
writing of the Commission, terminate such contract or employment.
(5) No person shall be entitled to, or be paid, any compensation or damages for termination
of any office, contract or employment under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4).
(6) If at any time it appears to the Commission that the purpose of the order appointing the
Administrator has been fulfilled, it may permit the company to appoint directors and, on
the appointment of directors, the Administrator shall cease to hold office.
(7) Save as provided in sub-section (8), no suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall
lie against the Administrator for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be
done by him in pursuance of this section or of any rulesor regulations made thereunder.
(8) Any person aggrieved by an order of the Commission under sub-section (1) or
sub-section (10), or of the Administrator under sub-section (4) may, within sixty days from
the date of the order, appeal against such order to the concerned Minister-in-Charge of
the Federal Government.
(9) If any person fails to deliver to the Administrator any property, records or documents
relating to the company or does not furnish any information required by him or in any way
obstructs the Administrator in the management, of the affairs of the company or acts for
or represents the company in any way, the Commission may by order in writing, direct
that such person shall be liable to a penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
(10) The Commission may issue such directions to the Administrator as to his powers and
duties as it deems desirable in the circumstances of the case, and the Administrator may
apply to the Commission at any time for instructions as to the manner in which he shall
conduct the management of the company or in relation to any matter arising in the course
of such management.
(11) Any order or decision or direction of the Commission made in pursuance of this section
shall be final and shall not be called in question in any Court.
(12) The Commission may, make regulations to carry out the purposes of this section.
(13) The provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any
other provision of this Act or any other law or contract, or in the memorandum or articles
of a company.
292. Rehabilitation of sick public sector companies.–
(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to a public sector company which is facing
financial or operational problems and is declared as a sick company by the concerned
Minister-in-Charge of the Federal Government.
(2) After a company is declared as a sick company under sub-section (1), any institution,
authority, committee or person authorised by the concerned Minister-in-Charge of the
Federal Government in this behalf may draw up a plan for the rehabilitation,
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PART X
WINDING UP
PRELIMINARY
293. Modes of winding up.–
(1) The winding up of a company may be either–
(a) by the Court or
(b) voluntary; or
(c) subject to the supervision of the Court.
(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided, the provisions of this Act with respect to winding
up shall apply to the winding up of a company in any of the modes specified in sub-
section (1).
294. Liability as contributories of present and past members.–
(1) In the event of a company being wound up, every present and past member shall, subject
to the provisions of section 295, be liable to contribute to the assets of the company to an
amount sufficient for payment of its debts and liabilities and the costs, charges and
expenses of the winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories
among themselves, with the following qualifications, that is to say–
(a) a past member shall not be liable to contribute if he has ceased to be member for
one year or upwards before the commencement of the winding up;
(b) a past member shall not be liable to contribute in respect of any debt or liability of the
company contracted after he ceased to be a member;
(c) a past member shall not be liable to contribute unless it appears to the Court that
the present members are unable to satisfy the contributions required to be made by
them in pursuance of this Act;
(d) in the case of a company limited by shares, no contribution shall be required from
any past or present member exceeding the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in
respect of which he is liable as such member;
(e) in the case of a company limited by guarantee, no contribution shall, subject to the
provisions of sub-section (2), be required from any past or present member
exceeding the amount undertaken to be contributed by him to the assets of the
company in the event of its being wound up;
(f) nothing in this Act shall invalidate any provision contained in any policy of insurance
or other contract whereby the liability of individual members on the policy or
contract is restricted, or whereby the funds of the company are alone made liable in
respect of the policy or contract; and
(g) a sum due to any past or present member of a company in his character as such,
by way of dividends, profits or otherwise, shall not be deemed to be a debt of the
company payable to that member in a case of competition between himself and any
other creditor not being a member of the company, but any such sum may be taken
into account for the purpose of the final adjustments of the rights of the
contributories among themselves.
(2) In the winding up of a company limited by guarantee which has a share capital, every
member of the company shall be liable, in addition to the amount undertaken to be
contributed by him to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up, to
contribute to the extent of any sum unpaid on any shares held by him, as if the company
were a company limited by shares.
295. Liability of directors whose liability is unlimited.–
In the winding up of a limited company any director, whether past or present, whose liability is,
in pursuance of this Act, unlimited, shall, in addition to his ability, if any, to contribute as an
ordinary member, be liable to make a further contribution as if he were, at the commencement
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Subject to the articles, a director shall not be liable to make such further contribution unless the
Court deems it necessary to require that contribution in order to satisfy the debts and liabilities
of the company, and the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up.
296. Liability of Contributory having fully paid share.–
A person holding fully paid-up shares in a company shall be considered as a contributory but
shall have no liabilities of a contributory under this Act while retaining rights of such a
contributory.
Explanation.– The term “contributory” means a person liable to contribute towards the
assets of the company on the event of its being wound up.
297. Nature of liability of contributory.–
The liability of a contributory shall create a debt accruing due from him at the time when his
liability commenced, but payable at the time specified in calls made on him for enforcing the
liability.
298. Contributories in case of death of member.–
If a contributory dies, whether before or after being placed on the list of contributories of a
company:
(a) his legal representatives shall be liable, in due course of administration, to contribute to
the assets of the company in discharge of his liability, and shall be contributories
accordingly; and
(b) if the legal representatives make default in paying any money ordered to be paid by them,
proceedings may be initiated for administering the property of the deceased contributory,
and of compelling payment of the money due, out of assets of the deceased.
299. Contributory in case of insolvency of member.–
If a contributory is adjudged insolvent whether before or after he has been placed on the list of
contributories of a company, then–
(a) his assignees in insolvency shall represent him for all the purposes of the winding up, and
shall be contributories accordingly, and may be called on to admit to proof against the
estate of the insolvent, or otherwise to allow to be paid out of his assets in due course of
law, any money due from the insolvent in respect of his liability to contribute to the assets
of the company;and
(b) there may be proved against the estate of the insolvent the estimated value of his liability
to further calls as well as calls already made.
300. Contributories in case of winding up of a body corporate which is a member.–
If a body corporate which is a contributory is ordered to be wound up, whether before or after it
has been placed on the list of contributories of a company–
(a) the liquidator of the body corporate shall represent it for all purposes of the winding up of
the company and shall be a contributory accordingly, and may be called on to admit to
proof against the assets of the body corporate, or otherwise to allow to be paid out of its
assets in due course of law, any money due from the body corporate in respect of its
liability to contribute to the assets of the company; and
(b) there may be proved against the assets of the body corporate the estimated value of its
liability to future calls as well as calls already made.
WINDING UP BY COURT
300. Circumstances in which a company may be wound up by Court.–
A company may be wound up by the Court–
(a) if the company has, by special resolution, resolved that the company be wound up by the
Court; or
(b) if default is made in delivering the statutory report to the registrar or in holding the statutory
meeting; or
(c) if default is made in holding any two consecutive annual general meetings; or
(d) if the company has made a default in filing with the registrar its financial statements or
annual returns for immediately preceding two consecutive financial years; or
(e) if the number of members is reduced, in the case of public company, below three and in
the case of a private company below two; or
(f) if the company is unable to pay its debts; or
(g) if the company is–
(i) conceived or brought forth for, or is or has been carrying on, unlawful or fraudulent
activities; or
(ii) carrying on business prohibited by any law for the time being in force in Pakistan; or
restricted by any law, rules or regulations for the time being in force in Pakistan; or
(iii) conducting its business in a manner oppressive to the minority members or
persons concerned with the formation or promotion of the company; or
(iv) run and managed by persons who fail to maintain proper and true accounts, or
commit fraud, misfeasance or malfeasance in relation to the company; or
(v) managed by persons who refuse to act according to the requirements of the
memorandum or articles or the provisions of this Act or failed to carry out the
directions or decisions of the Commission or the registrar given in the exercise of
powers under this Act; or
(h) if, being a listed company, it ceases to be such company; or
(i) if the Court is of opinion that it is just and equitable that the companyshould be wound up; or
(j) if a company ceases to have a member; or
(k) if the sole business of the company is the licensed activity and it ceases to operate
consequent upon revocation of a licence granted by the Commission or any other
licencing authority; or
(l) if a licence granted under section 42 to a company has been revoked or such a company
has failed to comply with any of the provisions of section 43 or where a company licenced
under section 42 is being wound up voluntarily and its liquidator has failed to complete the
winding up proceedings within a period of one year from the date of commencement of its
winding up; or
(m) if a listed company suspends its business for a whole year.
Explanation I.– The promotion or the carrying on of any scheme or business, howsoever
described–
(a) whereby, in return for a deposit or contribution, whether periodically or otherwise, of a
sum of money in cash or by means of coupons, certificates, tickets or other documents,
payment, at future date or dates of money or grant of property, right or benefit, directly or
indirectly, and whether with or without any other right or benefit, determined by chance or
lottery or any other like manner, is assured or promised; or
(b) raising un-authorised deposits from the general public, indulging in referral marketing,
multi-level marketing (MLM), Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes, locally or internationally,
directly or indirectly; or
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(c) any other business activity notified by the Commission to be against public policy or a
moral hazard;
shall be deemed to be an unlawful activity.
Explanation II.– "Minority members" means members together holding not less than ten
percent of the equity share capital of the company.
Provided that no such sanction shall be given unless the company has first been afforded
an opportunity of making a representation and of being heard;
(c) the Commission or a person authorised by the Commission in that behalf shall not be
entitled to present a petition for the winding up of a company unless an investigation into
the affairs of the company has revealed that it was formed for any fraudulent or
unlawful purpose or that it is carrying on a business not authorised by its memorandum or
that its business is being conducted in a manner oppressive to any of its members or
persons concerned in the formation of the company or that its management has been
guilty of fraud, mis-feasance or other misconduct towards the company or towards any of
its members; and such petition shall not be presented or authorised to be presented by the
Commission unless the company has been afforded an opportunity of making a
representation and of being heard:
Provided that if sole business of the company is the licensed activity and that licence is
revoked, no investigation into the affairs of the company shall be required to present the
petition for winding up of the company;
(d) the Court shall not give a hearing to a petition for winding up a company by a contingent
or prospective creditor until such security for costs has been given as the Court thinks
reasonable and until a prima facie case for winding up has been established to the
satisfaction of the Court;
(e) the Court shall not give a hearing to a petition for winding up a company by the company
until the company has furnished with its petition, in the prescribed manner, the particulars
of its assets and liabilities and business operations and the suits or proceedings pending
against it.
305. Right to present winding up petition where company is being wound up voluntarily or
subject to Court’s supervision.–
(1) Where a company is being wound up voluntarily or subject to the supervision of the Court,
a petition for its winding up by the Court may be presented by any person authorised to do
so under section 304 and subject to the provisions of that section.
(2) The Court shall not make a winding up order on a petition presented to it under
sub-section (1) unless it is satisfied that the voluntary winding up or winding up subject to
the supervision of the Court cannot be continued with due regard to the interests of the
creditors or contributories or both or it is in the public interest so to do.
duty or levies or appeal or review petitions against any order is pending or is likely
to be instituted, before any officer, authority or other body, the Court may issue
directions to that officer, authority or other body for expeditious action and disposal
of the said proceedings.
(2) Upon issue of a direction or making of a request as aforesaid, the Court, officer, authority
or body to whom the same is addressed shall, notwithstanding anything contained in any
other law, proceed to dispose of the said suit or other proceedings expeditiously by
according it special priority and adopting such measures as may be necessary in this
behalf, and shall inform the Court issuing the direction or making the request of the action
taken.
OFFICIAL LIQUIDATORS
315. Appointment of official liquidator.–
(1) For the purpose of the winding up of companies by the Court, the Commission shall
maintain a panel of persons from whom the Court shall appoint a provisional manager or
official liquidator of a company ordered to be wound up.
(2) A person shall not be appointed as provisional manager or official liquidator of more than
three companies at one point of time.
(3) The panel for the purpose of sub-section (1) shall consist of persons having at least ten
years experience in the field of accounting, finance or law and as may be specified by the
Commission such other persons, having at least ten years professional experience.
(4) Where a provisional manager is appointed by the Court, the Court may limit and restrict
his powers by the order appointing him or by a subsequent order, but otherwise he shall
have the same powers as a liquidator.
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(5) On appointment as provisional manager or official liquidator, as the case may be, such
liquidator shall file a declaration within seven days from the date of appointment in the
specified form disclosing conflict of interest or lack of independence in respect of his
appointment, if any, with the Court and such obligation shall continue throughout the term
of his appointment.
(6) While passing a winding up order, the Court may appoint a provisional manager, if any,
under clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 308, as the official liquidator for the conduct
of the proceedings for the winding up of the company.
(7) If more persons than one are appointed to the office of official liquidator, the Court shall
declare whether any act by this Act required or authorised to be done by the official
liquidator is to be done by all or any one or more of such persons:
Provided that in case of any dispute or any varying stance amongst the liquidators, the
matter shall be referred to the Court for an appropriate order in chambers in the presence
of the parties concerned.
(8) The Court may determine whether any, and what, security is to be given by any official
liquidator on his appointment.
(9) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Court may, on the application
of creditors to whom amounts not less than sixty percent of the issued share-capital of the
company being wound up are due, after notice to the registrar, appoint a person whose
name does not appear on the panel maintained for the purpose, to be the official
liquidator.
(10) An official liquidator shall not resign or quit his office before conclusion of the
liquidation proceedings except for reasons of personal disability to the satisfaction of the
Court.
(11) Any casual vacancy in the office of an official liquidator occurred due to his death,
removal or resignation, shall be filled up by the Court by the appointment of another
person from the panel maintained under sub-section (1):
Provided that in case of resignation, the outgoing official liquidator shall, unless the Court
directs otherwise, continue to act until the person appointed in his place takes charge.
(12) The Commission may of its own, remove the name of any person from the panel
maintained under sub-section (1) on the grounds of misconduct, fraud, misfeasance,
breach of duties or professional incompetence:
Provided that the Commission before removing him from the panel shall give him a
reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(13) The person appointed on the panel under this section shall be subject to such code of
conduct and comply with the requirement of any professional accreditation programs as
may be specified by the Commission.
to be recovered such loss or damage from the provisional manager or official liquidator, as
the case may be, and pass such other orders as it may think fit.
(9) Any person untruthfully so stating himself to be a creditor or contributory shall be guilty of
an offence under section 182 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860), and
shall, on the application of the official liquidator or provisional manager, be punishable
accordingly.
(10) In this section, the expression "the relevant date" means, in a case where a provisional
manager is appointed, the date of his appointment, and, in a case where no such
appointment is made, the date of the winding up order.
(2) The Court may, on examination of the reports submitted to it by the official liquidator and
after hearing the official liquidator, creditors or contributories or any other interested
person, order sale of the company as a going concern or its assets or part thereof:
Provided that the Court may where it considers fit, appoint a sale committee comprising
such creditors, promoters and officers of the company as the Court may decide to assist
the official liquidator in sale under this sub-section.
(3) Where a report is received from the official liquidator or the Commission or any person
that a fraud has been committed in respect of the company, the Court shall, without
prejudice to the process of winding up, order for investigation under section 257, and on
consideration of the report of such investigation it may pass order and give directions
under sections1 391 or 392 or direct the official liquidator to file a criminal complaint
against persons who were involved in the commission of fraud.
(4) The Court may order for taking such steps and measures, as may be necessary, to
protect, preserve or enhance the value of the assets of the company.
(5) The Court may pass such other order or give such other directions as it considers fit.
specially authorised by the Court in that behalf, employ such legal assistance as may be
sanctioned by the Court.
(3) Any creditor or contributory may also take part in the examination either personally or by
any person entitled to appear before the Court.
(4) The Court may put such questions to the person examined as the Court thinks fit.
(5) The person examined shall be examined on oath, and shall answer all such questions as
the Court may put or allow to be put to him.
(6) A person ordered to be examined under this section–
(a) shall, before his examination, be furnished at his own cost with a copy of the official
liquidator's report; and
(b) may at his own cost employ any person entitled to appear before the Court, who
shall be at liberty to put to him such questions as the Court may deem just for the
purpose of enabling him to explain or qualify any answer given by him:
Provided that if he is, in the opinion of the Court, exculpated from any charges made or
suggested against him, the Court may allow him such costs as in its discretion it may
think fit.
(7) If any such person applies to the Court to be exculpated from any charges made or
suggested against him, it shall be the duty of the official liquidator to appear on the hearing
of the application and call the attention of the Court to any matters which appear to the
official liquidator to be relevant, and if the Court, after hearing any evidence given or
witnesses called by the official liquidator, grants the application, the Court may allow the
applicant such costs as it may think fit.
(8) Notes of the examination shall be taken down in writing and shall be read over to or by,
and signed by, the person examined, and may thereafter be used in evidence against him
and shall be open to the inspection of any creditor or contributory at all reasonable times.
(9) The Court may, if it thinks fit, adjourn the examination from time to time.
(10) An examination under this section may, if the Court so directs, and subject to any rules in
this behalf, be held before any officer of the Court, being an official referee, registrar,
additional registrar or deputy registrar.
(11) The powers of the Court under this section as to the conduct of the examination, but not
as to costs may be exercised by the person before whom the examination is held by
virtue of a direction under sub-section (10).
(b) in the case of a limited company, make to any director whose liability is unlimited or
to his estate the like allowance.
(3) In the case of any company, whether limited or unlimited, when all the creditors are paid
in full, any money due on any account whatever to a contributory from the company may
be allowed to him by way of set-off against any subsequent call.
(1) Subject to directions by the Court, if any, in this regard, the official liquidator, in a winding
up of a company, shall have the power–
(a) to carry on the business of the company so far as may be necessary for the
beneficial winding up of the company;
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(b) to do all acts and to execute, in the name and on behalf of the company, all deeds,
receipts and other documents;
(c) to sell the immovable and movable property and actionable claims of the company
by public auction or private contract, with power to transfer such property to any
person or body corporate;
(d) to sell whole of the undertaking of the company as a going concern;
(e) to institute or defend any suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding, civil or criminal,
in the name and on behalf of the company;
(f) to invite and settle claim of creditors, employees or any other claimant and
distribute sale proceeds in accordance with priorities established under this Act;
(g) to draw, accept, make and endorse any negotiable instruments in the name and on
behalf of the company, with the same effect with respect to the liability of the
company as if such instruments had been drawn, accepted, made or endorsed by
or on behalf of the company in the course of its business;
(h) to obtain any professional assistance from any person or appoint any professional, in
discharge of his duties, obligations and responsibilities and for protection of the
assets of the company, appoint an agent to do any business which the official
liquidator is unable to do himself;
(i) to appoint an Advocate entitled to appear before the Court or such person as may
be prescribed to assist him in the performance of his duties;
(j) to take all such actions, steps, or to sign, execute and verify any paper, deed,
document, application, petition, affidavit, bond or instrument as may be necessary–
(i) for winding up of the company;
(ii) for distribution of assets;
(iii) in discharge of his duties and obligations and functions as official liquidator;
and
(k) to apply to the Court for such orders or directions as may be necessary for the
winding up of the company.
(2) The exercise of powers by the official liquidator under sub-section (1) shall be subject to
the overall control of the Court, and any creditor or contributory or the registrar may apply
to the Court with respect to any exercise or proposed exercise of any of the said powers.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1), the official liquidator shall perform such
other duties as the Court may specify in this behalf.
liquidator, together with such further information as may be prescribed, which shall
be subjected to a limited scope review by the company’s auditor;
(c) present to the Court and file with the registrar a certified copy of such accounts
within thirty days from the close of half year. Such copies shall be open to the
inspection of any person on payment of prescribed fee;
(d) where the winding up is not concluded within one year from the date of winding up
order, within sixty days after the close of each year, prepare a statement of financial
position and the receipt and payment accounts, get it audited by the company’s
auditor and lay before the contributories in the general meeting in the same manner
as the annual accounts of a company are laid before the annual general meeting, in
terms of section 223 of this Act.
(2) The account and information as aforesaid shall be in the prescribed form, shall be made
in duplicate, and shall be verified by a declaration in the prescribed form.
(3) When the account and the books and papers have been audited, one copy thereof
alongwith the auditor’s report shall be filed and kept by the Court, and the other copy
alongwith the auditor’s report shall be delivered to the registrar for filing; and each copy
shall be open to the inspection of any person on payment of prescribed fee.
(4) The official liquidator shall cause a copy of the account to be sent by post to every
creditor and contributory:
(a) within thirty days in case of half yearly accounts, referred in clause (b) of
sub-section (1); and
(b) at least fifty days before the date of general meeting in case of clause (d) of
sub-section (1).
(5) The concerned Minister-in-Charge of the Federal Government may, by notification in the
official Gazette require that the accounts and information referred to in sub-section (1)
shall be furnished to an officer to be designated by it for the purpose and that such officer
shall cause the accounts to be audited; and, upon the publication of such notification,
reference to “Court” in the preceding provisions of this section shall be construed as a
reference to such officer.
objects to those of the company in the manner as may be specified and subject to such
conditions as the Court may impose:
Provided further that such portion of the funds as may be required for meeting any claim against
the company which may be subjudice1 or subject matter of adjudication or assessment shall not
be distributed till the claim is finally settled:
Provided also that any amounts retained as aforesaid shall be invested by the official liquidator
in Special Saving Certificates and the same shall be deposited by him with the Court and the
distribution thereof shall be made by him after the pending claims are settled:
Provided also that in case of company licenced under section 42, if any of the assets is not
transferred in the manner provided in first proviso due to any reason, all such assets shall be
sold and proceeds thereof credited to the Investor Education and Awareness Fund formed
under section 245.
342. Dissolution of company.–
(1) When the affairs of a company have been completely wound up, or when the Court is of
the opinion that the official liquidator cannot proceed with the winding up of the company
for want of funds and assets or any other reason whatsoever and it is just and reasonable
in the circumstances of the case that an order of dissolution of the company be made, the
Court shall make an order that the company be dissolved from the date of the order, and
the company shall be dissolved accordingly:
Provided that such dissolution of the company shall not extinguish and right of, or debt due
to the company against or from any person.
(2) A copy of the order shall, within fifteen days of the making thereof, be forwarded by the
official liquidator to the registrar, who shall make in his books a minute of the dissolution of
the company and shall publish a notice in the official Gazette that the company is
dissolved.
(3) If the official liquidator makes default in complying with the requirements of this section,
he shall be liable to a daily penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
343. Saving of other proceedings.–
Any powers conferred on the Court by this Act shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of,
any existing power of instituting proceedings against any contributory or debtor of the company,
or the estate of any contributory or debtor, for the recovery of any call or other sums.
ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS
344. Power to enforce orders.–
All orders made by a Court under this Act may be enforced in the same manner in which
decrees of such Court made in any suit may be enforced.
345. Order made by any Court to be enforced by other Courts.–
Any order made by a Court for, or in the course of, winding up of a company shall be
enforceable in any place in Pakistan, and in the same manner in all respects as in such order
had been made by a Court having jurisdiction in respect of that company or a Court to whom the
Court refers the order for enforcement.
346. Mode of Dealing with Orders to be enforced by other Courts.–
Where any order made by one Court is to be enforced by another Court, a certified copy of the
order so made shall be produced to the proper officer of the Court required to enforce the same,
and the production of such certified copy shall be sufficient evidence of such order having been
made; and thereupon the last mentioned Court shall take the requisite steps in the matter for
enforcing the order, in the same manner as if it were the order of the Court enforcing the same.
(a) if the company in general meeting passes a resolution requiring the company to be
wound up voluntarily as a result of the expiry of the period for its duration, if any, fixed by
its articles or on the occurrence of any event in respect of which the articles provide that
the company should be dissolved; or
(b) if the company passes a special resolution that the company be wound up voluntarily;
and, in the subsequent provisions of this Part, the expression "resolution for voluntary
winding up" means a resolution passed under clause (a) or clause (b).
shown, that the director did not have reasonable grounds for his opinion.
(4) Any director of a company making a declaration under this section without having
reasonable grounds for the opinion that the company will be able to pay its debts in full
from the proceeds of assets within the period specified in the declaration shall be liable to
penalty of level 3 on the standard scale.
(4) If default is made in complying with the provisions of this section, every person, including
the outgoing liquidator, who is in default, shall be liable to a daily penalty of level 1 on the
standard scale.
356. Power of liquidator to accept shares as consideration for sale ofproperty of company.–
(1) Where–
(a) a company (in this section called the "transferor company") is proposed to be, or is
in the course of being, wound up altogether voluntarily; and
(b) the whole or a part of its business or property is proposed to be transferred or sold
to another body corporate, whether a company within the meaning of this Act or not
(in this section called "the transferee company"),
the liquidator of the transferor company may, with the sanction of a special resolution of
that company conferring on the liquidator either a general authority or an authority in
respect of any particular arrangement–
(i) receive, by way of compensation or part compensation for the transfer or sale,
shares, policies, or other like interests in the transferee company, for distribution
among the members of the transferor company; or
(ii) enter into any other arrangement whereby the members of the transferor company
may, in lieu of receiving cash, shares, policies, or other like interests or in addition
thereto, participate in the profits of, or receive any other benefit from, the transferee
company.
(2) Any sale or arrangement in pursuance of this section shall be binding on the members of
the transferor company.
(3) If any member of the transferor company who did not vote in favourof the special resolution
expresses his dissent therefrom in writing addressed to the liquidator and left at the
registered office of the company within seven days after the passing of the special
resolution, he may require the liquidator either–
(a) to abstain from carrying the resolution into effect; or
(b) to purchase his interest at a price to be determined by agreement or by arbitration
in the manner hereafter provided.
(4) If the liquidator elects to purchase the member’s interest, the purchase money shall be
paid before the company is dissolved, and be raised by the liquidator in such manner as
may be determined by special resolution.
(5) A special resolution shall not be invalid for the purpose of this section by reason only that
it is passed before or concurrently with a resolution for voluntary winding up or for
appointing liquidators; but if an order is made within a year for winding up the company by
or subject to the supervision of the Court, the special resolution shall not be valid unless it
is sanctioned by the Court.
(6) The provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1940 (X of 1940), other than those restricting the
application of this Act in respect of the subject-matter of the arbitration, shall apply to all
arbitrations in pursuance of this section.
of the assets and liabilities of the company and such other particulars as may be
specified.
(2) Where sub-section (1) becomes applicable, the creditors may in their meeting held as
aforesaid decide to continue with the existing liquidator or appoint a different person as
liquidator who has consented to act as such and in that case the person so appointed
shall be the liquidator.
(3) In the case of a different person being nominated, any director, member of the company
may, within fifteen days after the date on which the nomination was made by the
creditors, apply to the Court for an order either–
(a) directing that the person nominated as liquidator by the company shall be liquidator
instead of or jointly with the person nominated by the creditors, or
(b) appointing some other person to be liquidator instead of the person nominated by
the creditors.
(4) A return of convening the creditors meeting as aforesaid along with a copy of the notice
thereof and a statement of assets and liabilities of the company and the minutes of the
meeting shall be filed with the registrar within ten days of the date of the meeting.
(5) If the liquidator fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section, he shall be
liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(4) Within one week after the meeting, the liquidator shall file with the registrar his final report
in the specified form.
(5) If a quorum is not present at the meeting, the liquidator shall in lieu of the return referred
to in sub-section (4), make a return that the meeting was duly summoned and that no
quorum was present thereat, and upon such a return being made within one week after
the date fixed for the meeting along with a copy of his report and account in the specified
manner, the provision of sub-section (4) as to the making of the return shall be deemed to
have been complied with.
(6) The registrar, on receiving the report and account and either the return mentioned in sub-
section (4) or the return mentioned in sub-section (5), shall, after such scrutiny as he may
deem fit, register them, and on the expiration of ninety days from such registration, the
company shall be deemed to be dissolved:
Provided that, if on his scrutiny the registrar considers that the affairs of the company or
the liquidation proceedings have been conducted in a manner prejudicial to its interest or
the interests of its creditors and members or that any actionable irregularity has been
committed, he may take action in accordance with the provisions of this Act:
Provided further that the Court may on the application of the liquidator or of any other
person who appears to the Court to be interested, make an order deferring the date at
which the dissolution of the company is to take effect, for such time as the Court thinks fit.
(7) It shall be the duty of the person on whose application an order of the Court under the
foregoing proviso is made, within fourteen days after the making of the order, to deliver to
the registrar a certified copy of the order for registration, and, if that person fails so to do,
he shall be liable to a daily penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(8) If the liquidator fails to comply with any requirements of this section, he shall be liable to a
penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
held by them respectively along with the dates when such securities were held, the
estimated amount of their claims to be laid before the meeting of creditors and such
other information as may be specified; and
(b) appoint one of their members to preside at the said meeting.
(3) It shall be the duty of the director appointed to preside at the meeting of creditors to attend
the meeting and preside thereat.
(4) Any contravention or default in complying with requirements of this section shall be an
offence liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
shall cease, except for the purpose of giving notice of resolution to wind up and appointment of
the liquidator and filing of consent of the liquidator as required under this Act, the creditors, in
general meeting may sanction the continuance thereof.
The provisions of section 356 shall apply in the case of a creditors voluntary winding up as in
the case of member’s voluntary winding up with the modification that the powers of the liquidator
under the said section shall not be exercised except with the sanction of the Court.
(4) Within one week after the meeting, the liquidator shall file with the registrar his final report
in the specified form.
(5) If a quorum (which for the purpose of this section shall be two persons) is not present at
either of such meetings, the liquidator shall in lieu of the return referred to in
sub-section (4), make a return that the meeting was duly summoned and that no quorum
was present thereat, and upon such a return being made within one week after the date
fixed for the meeting along with a copy of his report and account in the specified manner,
the provision of sub-section (4) as to the making of the return shall be deemed to have
been complied with.
(6) The registrar, on receiving the report and account and either the return mentioned in sub-
section (4) or the return mentioned in sub-section (5), shall, after such scrutiny as he may
deem fit, register them, and on the expiration of ninety days from such registration, the
company shall be deemed to be dissolved:
Provided that, if on his scrutiny the registrar considers that the affairs of the company or
the liquidation proceedings have been conducted in a manner prejudicial to its interest or
the interests of its creditors and members or that any actionable irregularity has been
committed, he may take action in accordance with the provisions of this Act:
Provided further that the Court may on the application of the liquidator or of any other
person who appears to the Court to be interested, make an order deferring the date at
which the dissolution of the company is to take effect, for such time as the Court thinks fit.
(7) It shall be the duty of the person on whose application an order of the Court under the
foregoing proviso is made, within fourteen days after the making of the order, to deliver to
the registrar a certified copy of the order for registration, and, if that person fails so to do,
he shall be liable to a daily penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(8) If the liquidator fails to comply with any requirements of this section, he shall be liable to a
penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(c) exercise the power of the Court under this Act of settling a list of contributories,
which shall be prima facie evidence of the liabilities of the persons named therein to
be contributories;
(d) exercise the powers of the Court of making calls;
(e) summon general meeting of the company and creditors for the purpose of obtaining
the sanction of the company by special resolution or for any other purpose he may
think fit.
(2) The exercise by the liquidator of the powers given by clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall
be subject to the control of the Court; and any creditor or contributory may apply to the
Court with respect to any exercise or proposed exercise of any of the power conferred by
this section.
(3) The liquidator shall pay the debts of the company and shall adjust the rights of the
contributories among themselves.
(4) The liquidator shall within thirty days of the coming into his hands of any funds sufficient
to distribute among the creditors or contributories after providing for expenses of the
winding up or for other preferential payments as provided in this Act, distribute in
accordance with the provisions of this Act:
Provided that in case of company licenced under section 42 of this Act, if on a winding up,
there remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any assets, those shall be
transferred to another company licenced under section 42 of this Act, preferably having
similar or identical objects to those of the company in the manner as may be specified:
Provided further that such portion of the funds as may be required for meeting any claim
against the company which may be subjudice1 or subject matter of adjudication or
assessment shall not be distributed till the claim is finally settled:
Provided also that any amounts retained as aforesaid shall be invested by the official
liquidator in Special Saving Certificates or in such other securities or instruments as may
be specified and the distribution thereof shall be made by him after the pending claims
are settled:
Provided also that in case of company licenced under section 42, if any of the assets is
not transferred in the manner provided in first proviso due to any reason, all such assets
shall be sold and proceeds thereof credited to the Investor Education and Awareness
Fund formed under section 245.
(5) The winding up proceedings shall be completed by the liquidator within a period of one
year from the date of commencement of winding up:
Provided that the Court may, on the application of the liquidator, grant extension by thirty
days at any time but such extension shall not exceed a period of one hundred and eighty
days in all and shall be allowed only for the reason that any proceedings for or against the
company are pending in a court and the Court shall also have the power to require
expeditious disposal of such proceedings as it could under section 337 if the company
was being wound up by the Court.
(6) If an official liquidator is convicted of misfeasance, or breach of duty or other lapse or
default in relation to winding up proceedings of a company, he shall cease to be the
official liquidator of the company and shall also become disqualified, for a period of five
years from such conviction, from being the liquidator of, or to hold any other office
including that of a director in any company and if he already holds any such office he shall
forthwith be deemed to have ceased to hold such office.
(7) When several liquidators are appointed, any power given by this Act may be exercised by
such one or more of them as may be determined at the time, of their appointment, or in
default of such determination, by any two or more of them.
373. Power of Court to appoint and remove liquidator in voluntary winding up.–
(1) If from any cause whatever, there is no liquidator acting, the Court may appoint a
liquidator in accordance with the provisions of section 315 who shall have the same
powers, as are exercisable by an official liquidator under sub-section (1) of section 337.
(2) The Court may, on cause shown, replace a liquidator on the application of any creditor or
contributory or the registrar or a person authorised by the Commission.
(3) The remuneration to be paid to the liquidator appointed under sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2) shall be fixed by the Court subject to the provisions of section 364.
company or by any officer of the company in relation to the company since its formation; and
the Court may, after considering the report, direct that person or officer shall attend before the
Court on a day appointed by it for that purpose, and be publicly examined as to the promotion or
formation or the conduct of the business of the company, or as to his conduct and dealings as
officer thereof, in the manner provided for such examination in the case of winding up of a
company by the Court.
383. Court may have regard to the wishes of creditors and contributories.–
The Court may, in deciding between a winding up by the Court and a winding up subject to
supervision, in the appointment of liquidators, and in all other matters relating to the winding up
subject to supervision, have regard to the wishes of the creditors or contributories as proved to
it by any sufficient evidence, but subject to the provisions which would have been applicable
had the company been wound up by the Court.
made by the Court for a winding up subject to the supervision of the Court shall for all
purposes including the staying of suits and other proceedings, be deemed to be an order
of the Court for winding up the company by the Court, and shall confer full authority on the
Court to make call or to enforce calls made by the liquidator, and to exercise all other
powers which it might have exercised if an order had been made for winding up the
company altogether by the Court.
(3) In the construction of the provisions whereby the Court is empowered to direct any act or
thing to be done to or in favour of the official liquidator, the expression "official
liquidator" shall be deemed to mean the liquidator conducting the winding up subject to
the supervision of the Court.
(4) Unless otherwise directed by the Court, an order for winding up subject to supervision
shall not in any way affect the duties, obligations and liabilities of the liquidator as
provided for in respect of voluntary winding up.
Provided that, in respect of any money paid under any such charge, the landlord or other
person shall have the same rights of priority as the person to whom the payment is made.
(6) For the purposes of this section–
(a) any remuneration in respect of a period of holiday or of absence from work on
medical grounds or other good cause shall be deemed to be wages in respect of
services rendered to the company during that period;
(b) the expression "accrued holiday remuneration" includes, in relationto any person,
all sums which by virtue either of his contract of employment or of any enactment
(including any order made or direction given under any enactment), are payable on
account of the remuneration which would, in the ordinary course, have become
payable to him in respect of a period of holiday had his employment with the
company continued until he became entitled to be allowed the holiday; and
(c) the expression "the relevant date" means–
(i) in the case of a company ordered to be wound up by the Court, the date of
the appointment (or first appointment) of the provisional manager or, if no
such appointment was made, the date of the winding up order, unless in
either case the company had commenced to be wound up voluntarily before
that date; and
(ii) in any other case, the date of the passing of the resolution for the voluntary
winding up of the company.
person.
(3) The Court, before or on granting leave to disclaim, may require such notices to be given to
persons interested, and impose such terms as a condition of granting leave, and make
such other order in the matter as the Court considers just and proper.
(4) The liquidator shall not be entitled to disclaim any property in any case where an
application in writing has been made to him by any person interested in the property
requiring him to decide whether he will or will not disclaim and the liquidator has not,
within a period of twenty-eight days after the receipt of the application or such extended
period as may be allowed by the Court, give notice to the applicant that he intends to
apply to the Court for leave to disclaim, and in case the property is under a contract, if the
liquidator after such an application as aforesaid does not within the said period or
extended period disclaim the contract, he shall be deemed to have adopted it.
(5) The Court may, on the application of any person who is, as against the liquidator, entitled
to the benefit or subject to the burden of a contract made with the company, make an
order rescinding the contract on such terms as to payment by or to either party of
damages for the non-performance of the contract, or otherwise as the Court considers just
and proper, and any damages payable under the order to any such person may be proved
by him as a debt in the winding up.
(6) The Court may, on an application by any person who either claims any interest in any
disclaimed property or is under any liability not discharged under this Act in respect of any
disclaimed property, and after hearing any such persons as it thinks fit, make an order for
the vesting of the property in, or the delivery of the property to, any person entitled thereto
or to whom it may seem just that the property should be delivered by way of compensation
for such liability as aforesaid, or a trustee for him, and on such terms as the Court
considers just and proper, and on any such vesting order being made, the property
comprised therein shall vest accordingly in the person named therein in that behalf
without any conveyance or assignment for the purpose:
Provided that where the property disclaimed is of a leasehold nature, the Court shall not
make a vesting order in favour of any person claiming under the company, whether as
under-lessee or as mortgagee or holder of a charge by way of demise, except upon the
terms of making that person–
(a) subject to the same liabilities and obligations as those to which the company was
subject under the lease in respect of the property at the commencement of the
winding up; or
(b) if the Court thinks fit, subject only to the same liabilities and obligations as if the
lease had been assigned to that person at that date,
and in either event as if the lease had comprised only the property comprised in thevesting
order, and any mortgagee or under-lessee declining to accept a vesting order upon such
terms shall be excluded from all interest in, and security upon the property, and, if there is
no person claiming under the company who is willing to accept an order upon such terms,
the Court shall have power to vest the estate and interest of the company in the property
in any person liable, either personally or in a representative character, and either alone or
jointly with the company, to perform the covenants of the lessee in the lease, free and
discharged from all estates, encumbrances and interests created therein by the company.
(7) Any person affected by the operation of a disclaimer under this section shall be deemed
to be a creditor of the company to the amount of the compensation or damages payable
in respect of such effect, and may accordingly prove the amount as a debt in the winding
up.
be better than the position he would have been in if that thing had not been done prior to
one hundred and eighty days of commencement of winding up, the Court, if satisfied that,
such transaction is a fraudulent preference may order as it may think fit for restoring the
position to what it would have been if the company had not given that preference.
(2) If the Court is satisfied that there is a preference transfer of property, movable or
immovable, or any delivery of goods, payment, execution made, taken or done by or
against a company within one hundred and eighty days before the commencement of
winding up, the Court may order as it may think fit and may declare such transaction
invalid and restore the position.
394. Liabilities and rights of certain fraudulently preferred persons.–
(1) Where, in the case of a company which is being wound up, anything made or done after
the commencement of this Act, is invalid under section 393 as a fraudulent preference of
a person interested in property mortgaged or charged to secure the company’s debt, then
(without prejudice to any rights or liabilities arising apart from this provision) the person
preferred shall be subject to the same liabilities and shall have the same rights as if he had
undertaken to be personally liable as surety for the debt to the extent of the charge on the
property or the value of his interest, whichever is less.
(2) The value of the said person’s interest shall be determined as at the date of the
transaction constituting the fraudulent preference, and shall be determined as if the
interest were free of all encumbrances other than those to which the charge for the
company’s debt was then subject.
(3) On any application made to the Court with respect to any payment on the ground that the
payment was a fraudulent preference of a surety or guarantor, the Court shall have
jurisdiction to determine any questions with respect to the payment arising between the
person to whom the payment was made and the surety or guarantor and to grant relief in
respect thereof, notwithstanding that it is not necessary so to do for the purposes of the
winding up, and for that purpose may give leave to bring in the surety or guarantor as a
third party as in the case of a suit for the recovery of the sum paid.
(4) Sub-section (3) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to transactions
other than the payment of money as it applied in relation to such payments.
395. Avoidance of certain attachments, executions.–
(1) Where any company is being wound up by or subject to the supervision of the Court, any
attachment, distress or execution put in force without leave of the Court against the estate
or effects or any sale held without leave of the Court of any of the properties of the
company after the commencement of the winding up shall be void.
(2) Nothing in this section applies to proceedings by the Government.
396. Effect of floating charge.–
Where a company is being wound up, a floating charge on the undertaking or property of the
company created within one year immediately preceding the commencement of the winding up
shall, unless it is proved that the company immediately after the creation of the charge was
solvent, be invalid except to the amount of any cash paid to the company at the time of, or
subsequently to the creation of, and in consideration for, the charge, together with markup on
that amount at the rate of five percent per annum or part thereof or such other rate as may be
notified by the Commission in the official Gazette.
1 The Gazette does not assign any number to this sub-section. Considering the subsequent sub-sections this paragraph is
numbered as sub-section (1).
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [166]
399. Liability under sections 397 and 398 to extend to partners or directors in firm or body
corporate.–
Where an order under section 397 or a declaration under section 398 is or may be made in
respect of a firm or body corporate, the Court shall also have power to pass an order under
section 397 or make a declaration under section 398, as the case may be, in respect of any
person who was at the relevant time a partner in that firm or a director of that body corporate.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [167]
400. Penalty for fraud by officers of companies which have gone into liquidation.–
(1) If any person, being at the time of the commission of the alleged offence an officer of a
company which is subsequently ordered to be wound up by the Court or which
subsequently passes a resolution for voluntary winding up–
(a) has, by false pretenses or by means of any other fraud, induced any person to give
credit to the company; or
(b) with intent to defraud creditors of the company, has made or caused to be made
any gift or transfer of or charge on, or has caused or connived at the levying of any
execution against, the property of the company; or
(c) with intent to defraud creditors of the company, has concealed or removed any part
of the property of the company since, or within sixty days before, the date of any
unsatisfied judgment or order for payment of money obtained against the company;
he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years,
and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to one million rupees.
(2) Where the Court has passed an order of winding up of a company and prima facie
concludes that any of the offence provided in sub-section (1) has been committed, the
Court may send a reference for adjudication of offence under sub-section (1) to the court
as provided under section 482.
(2) If it appears to the liquidator in the course of a voluntary winding up that any past or
present director, manager or other officer, or any member, of the company has been
guilty of any offence in relation to the company for which he is criminally liable, he shall
forthwith report the matter to the registrar and shall furnish to him such information and
give to him such access to and facilities for inspecting and taking copies of any
documents, being information or documents in the possession or under the control of the
liquidator relating to the matter in question, as he may require.
(3) Where any report is made under sub-section (1) or (2) to the registrar, he may, if he
thinks fit, refer the matter to the Commission for further inquiry and the Commission may
thereupon investigate the matter and may, if it thinks it expedient, appoint one or more
competent inspectors to investigate the affairs of the company and to report thereon as if it
were a case falling under clause (c) of section 256 and thereupon the provision contained
in sections 259 to 273 shall mutatis mutandis apply in all respects.
(4) If on any report to the registrar under sub-section (2) it appears to him that the case is not
one in which proceedings ought to be taken by him, he shall inform the liquidator
accordingly, giving his reasons, and thereupon, subject to the previous sanction of the
Court, the liquidator may himself take proceedings against the offender.
(5) If it appears to the Court in the course of a voluntary winding up that any past or present
director, manager or other officer, or any member, of the company has been guilty as
aforesaid, and that no report with respect to the matter has been made by the liquidator to
the registrar, the Court may, on the application of any person interested in the winding up
or of its own motion, direct the liquidator to make such a report and, on a report being
made accordingly, the provisions of this section shall have effect as though the report has
been made in pursuance of the provisions of sub-section (1) or (2).
(6) If, where any matter is reported or referred to the registrar under this section, he considers
that the case is one in which a prosecution ought to be instituted, he shall report the
matter to the Commission, and the Commission may, after taking such legal advice as it
thinks fit, direct the registrar to proceed in accordance with sections 477 and 486:
Provided that no report shall be made by the registrar under this sub-section without first
giving the accused person an opportunity of making a statement in writing to the registrar
and of being heard thereon.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (P.O. No. 1Act
X of 1984), when any proceedings are instituted under this section it shall be the duty of
the liquidator and of every officer and agent of the company past and present (other than
the defendant in the proceedings) to give all assistance in connection with the
prosecution which he is reasonably able to give, and for the purposes of this
sub-section the expression “agent” in relation to a company shall be deemed to include
any banker or legal adviser of the company and any person employed by the company as
auditor, whether that person is or is not an officer of the company.
(8) If any person fails or neglects to give assistance in manner required by sub-section (7),
the Court may, on the application of the registrar or the prosecutor, as the case may be,
direct that person to comply with the requirements of the said sub-section, and where any
such application is made with respect to a liquidator, the Court may, unless it appears that
the failure or neglect to comply was due to the liquidator not having in his hands sufficient
assets of the company to enable him so to do, direct that the cost of the application shall
be borne by the liquidator personally.
If any person, upon any examination upon oath authorised under this Act, or in any affidavit,
disposition or solemn affirmation, in or about the winding up of any company under this Act, or
otherwise in or about any matter arising under this Act, intentionally gives false evidence, he
shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be
liable to a fine which may extend to one million rupees.
1 Word “Act” is erroneously added. The law referred here is a Presidential Order not an Act.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [169]
(o) within one year next before the commencement of the winding up or at any time
thereafter, pawns, pledges or disposes of any property of the company which has
been obtained on credit and has not been paid for, unless such pawning, pledging
or disposing is in the ordinary way of the business of the company; or
(p) is guilty of any false representation or other fraud for the purpose of obtaining the
consent of the creditors of the company or any of them to an agreement with
reference to the affairs of the company or to the winding up;
he shall be punishable, in the case of the offences mentioned respectively in clauses (m),
(n) and (o) of this sub-section, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five
years, and, in the case of any other offence, with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine which may extend to five million
rupees in each case and the liquidator may, with the permission of the Court, file a
complaint before the Court as provided under section 482 for adjudication of offence:
Provided that it shall be a good defence, to a charge under any of clauses (b), (c), (d), (f),
(n) and (o), if the accused proves that he had no intent to defraud, and to a charge under
any of clauses (a), (h), (i) and (j), if he proves that he had no intent to conceal the state of
affairs of the company or to defeat the law.
(2) Where any person pawns, pledges or disposes of any property in circumstances which
amount to an offence under clause (o) of sub-section (1) every person who takes in pawn
or pledge or otherwise receives the property knowing it to be pawned, pledged or
disposed of in such circumstances as aforesaid shall be punishable with imprisonment
for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to a fine which may
extend to one million rupees.
(c) may appoint a person to act as chairman of any such meeting and to report the
result thereof to the Court.
(2) When ascertaining the wishes of creditors, regard shall be had to the value of each
creditor’s debt.
(3) When ascertaining the wishes of contributories, regard shall be had to the number of
votes which may be cast by each contributory.
410. Limitation.–
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Limitation Act (IX of 1908), in computing the time
within which a liquidator may file a suit for the recovery of any debt due to the company, the
period which elapses between the making of the petition for liquidation and the assumption of
charge by the liquidator, or a period of one year, whichever be greater, shall be excluded.
in his capacity as such in a special account opened by him in that behalf in a scheduled
bank in the name of the company.
(2) 1Ifany such liquidator at any time retains or allows any money to be not so paid and kept
as aforesaid or utilises otherwise for more than three days a sum exceeding ten thousand
rupees or such other amount as the Court may on the application of the liquidator
authorise him to retain then he shall pay surcharge on the amount so retained at the rate
of two percent per month or part thereof and shall be liable to–
(a) disallowance of all or such part of his remuneration as the Court may think just;
(b) to make good any loss suffered by the company personally and
(c) be removed from the office by the Court of its own motion or on application of the
registrar or a creditor or contributory of the company, and shall also be liable
personally for any loss occasioned by the default.
(3) No liquidator shall pay into his personal account or any account other than the liquidation
account of the particular company in liquidation any sums received by him as liquidator.
(4) Every liquidator who makes default in complying with the provisions of this section shall,
in addition to his other liabilities, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years and with fine which may extend to the amount of loss caused to the
company or wrongful gain or five hundred thousand rupees, whichever is higher.
417. Unclaimed dividends and undistributed assets to be paid to the account maintained
under section 244.–
(1) Without prejudice to the provision of section 244, where any company is being wound up,
if the liquidator has in his hands or under his control any money of the company
representing unclaimed dividends or undistributed assets payable to any contributory
which have remained unclaimed or undistributed for one hundred and eighty days after the
date on which they became payable the liquidator shall forthwith deposit the said money
in the account to be maintained under section 244 of this Act and the liquidator shall, on
the dissolution of the company, similarly pay into the said account any money
representing unclaimed dividends or undistributed assets in his hands at the date of
dissolution.
(2) The liquidator shall when making any payment referred to in sub-section (1) furnish to the
Commission a statement in the specified form setting forth in respect of all sums included
in such payment the nature of the sums, the names and last known addresses of the
persons entitled to participate therein, the amount to which each is entitled and the nature
of his claim thereto, and such other particulars as may be specified, alongwith the official
receipt of the receipt of the State Bank of Pakistan or National Bank of Pakistan, as the
case may be.
(3) The receipt of the State Bank of Pakistan or National Bank of Pakistan, as the case may
be, for any money paid to it under sub-section (1) shall be an effectual discharge of the
liquidator in respect thereof.
(4) The liquidator shall, when filing a statement in pursuance of sub-section (1) of section 415
indicate the sum of money which is payable to the State Bank of Pakistan or National
Bank of Pakistan, as the case may be, under sub-section (1) which he has had in his
hands or under his control during the one hundred and eighty days preceding the date to
which the said statement is brought down and shall within fourteen days of the date of filing
the said statement, pay that sum into the account maintained under section 244.
(5) Any person claiming to be entitled to any money paid into the account maintained under
section 244 may apply to the Commission for payment thereof in the manner prescribed
under said section.
(6) Any liquidator retaining any money which should have been paid by him into the account
maintained under section 244 shall, in addition to such money, pay surcharge on the
amount retained at the rate of two per cent per month or part thereof and shall also be
1 Provisions of sub-section (2) are appearing in the Gazette as one paragraph. It is split into different paragraphs for better
understanding of the law.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [174]
liable to pay any expenses or losses occasioned by reason of his default and he shall
also be liable to disallowance of all or such part of his remuneration as the Court may
think just and to be removed from his office by the Court on an application by the
Commission.
wide circulation and send to the company a like notice as is provided in the last preceding
sub-section.
(5) At the expiration of the time mentioned in the notice the registrar may, unless cause to
the contrary is previously shown by the company or the liquidator, as the case may be,
strike its name off the register, and shall publish notice thereof in the official Gazette, and,
on the publication in the official Gazette of this notice, the company shall be dissolved:
Provided that the liability criminal, civil or otherwise (if any) of every director, officer,
liquidator and member of the company shall continue and may be enforced as if the
company had not been dissolved:
Provided further that nothing in this section shall affect the powers of the Court to wind up
a company the name of which has been struck off the register.
(6) If a company or any member or creditor thereof feels aggrieved by the company having
been struck off the register, the Court, on the application of the company or a member or
creditor made before the expiry of three years from the publication in the official Gazette
of the notice aforesaid, may, if satisfied that the company was at the time of the striking off
carrying on business or in operation, or otherwise that it is just that the company be
restored to the register, order the name of the company to be restored to the register and,
upon the filing of a certified copy of such order with the registrar, the company shall be
deemed to have continued in existence as if its name had not been struck off, and the
Court may by the order give such directions and make such provisions as seem just for
placing the company and all other persons in the same position as nearly as may be as if
the name of the company had not been struck off.
(7) A letter or notice under this section may be addressed to the company at its registered
office, or if no office has been registered, to the care of some director, chief executive or
other officer of the company whose name and address are known to the registrar or if no
such address is known to the registrar, may be sent to each of the persons who
subscribed the memorandum, addressed to him at the address mentioned in the
memorandum.
(8) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a company which has any known assets
and liabilities, and such company shall be proceeded against for winding up.
(9) If due to inadvertence or otherwise the name of any company which has any assets and
liabilities or which has been in operation or carrying on businessor about whose affairs any
enquiry or investigation may be necessary has been struck off the register, the registrar
may, after such enquiries as he may deem fit, move the Commission to have the name of
the company restored to the register and thereupon the Commission may, if satisfied that
it will be just and proper so to do, order the name of the company to be restored and shall
exercise the powers of the Court in the manner provided in sub-section (6).
(10) The provisions of this section shall mutatis mutandis apply to a company established
outside Pakistan but having a place of business in Pakistan as they apply to a company
registered in Pakistan.
Provided that the liability criminal, civil or otherwise (if any) of every director, officer and
member of the company shall continue and may be enforced as if the company had not
been dissolved.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [179]
PART XI
WINDING UP OF UNREGISTERED COMPANIES
427. Meaning of "unregistered company".–
For the purposes of this Part, the expression "unregistered company" shall not include a
railway company incorporated by Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom or by a Pakistan law,
nor a company registered under any previous Companies Act or under this Act, but save as
aforesaid, shall include any partnership, association or company consisting of more than seven
members.
PART XII
COMPANIES ESTABLISHED OUTSIDE PAKISTAN
PROVISIONS AS TO ESTABLISHMENT OF PLACES OF
BUSINESS IN PAKISTAN
434. Application of this Part to foreign companies.–
This Part shall apply to all foreign companies, that is to say, companies incorporated or formed
outside Pakistan which, after the commencement of this Act, establish a place of business
within Pakistan or which have, before the commencement of this Act, established a place of
business in Pakistan and continue to have an established either a place of business within
Pakistan or conduct business in Pakistan through an agent or any other means at the
commencement of this Act.
(i) in the case of an individual, his present and former name and surname, and
his usual residential address;
(ii) in the case of a body corporate, its corporate name and registered or
principal office:
Provided that, where all the partner in a firm are joint secretaries of the company,
the name and principal office of the firm may be stated instead of the particulars
mentioned in clause (b).
(3) Every foreign company, other than a company mentioned in sub-section (1) shall, if it has
not delivered to the registrar before the commencement of this Act the documents and
particulars specified in section 451 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLVII of 1984),
shall continue to be subject to the obligation to deliver those documents and particulars
and be liable to penalties in accordance with the provisions of that Ordinance.
(4) The registrar shall maintain a register of foreign companies on paper or in any electronic
form under this Act in such form and manner as may be specified.
(c) in a case where a company is not required to file with the public authority of the
country in which the company is incorporated an annual statement of financial
position and profit and loss account as referred to in clause (b), the specified
number of copies, not being less than three, of the statement of financial position
and profit and loss account and the report of auditors and other documents annexed
thereto, in such form and manner as under the provisions of this Act it would, if it
had been a public company within the meaning of this Act, be required to make out
and lay before the company in general meeting.
(2) The period within which the documents, returns or reports referred to in sub-section (1)
are to be filed with the registrar shall be a period of forty five days from the date of
submission of such documents or returns to the public authority of the country of
incorporation or within one hundred and eighty days of the date up to which the relevant
accounts are made up, whichever is earlier.
441. Company’s failure to comply with this part not to affect its liability under contracts.–
Any failure by a foreign company to comply with any of the requirement or section 435 or
section 436 shall not affect the validity of any contract, dealing or transaction entered into by
the company or its liability to be sued in respect thereof; but the company shall not be entitled to
bring any suit, claim any set-off, make any counter-claim or institute any legal proceeding in
respect of any such contract, dealing or transaction, until it has complied with the provisions of
section 435 and section 436.
444. Penalties.–
(1) If any foreign company fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Part, except
section 439, the company, and every officer or agent of the company who authorises or
permits the default, shall be liable to a penalty of level 1 on the standard scale.
(2) If a foreign company or any of its directors or other persons as referred in section 439
fails to comply with the provisions of said section, shall be liable to a penalty of level 2 on
the standard scale.
PROSPECTUS
446. Issue of prospectus.–
No person shall issue, circulate or distribute in Pakistan any prospectus offering for subscription
securities of a foreign company or soliciting deposits of money, whether the company has or has
not established, or when formed will or will not establish, a place of business in Pakistan unless
authorised to do so by the Commission under the relevant law or as may be specified.
PART XIII
GENERAL
451. Certification of Shariah compliant companies and Shariah compliant securities.–
(1) No company shall claim that it is a Shariah compliant company unless it has been
declared Shariah compliant in such form and manner as may be specified.
(2) No person shall claim that a security, whether listed or not, is Shariah compliant unless it
has been declared Shariah compliant in such form and manner as may be specified.
(3) For the purposes of sub-section (1) and (2), no company shall appoint or engage any
person for Shariah compliance, Shariah advisory, or Shariah audit unless that person
meets the fit and proper criteria and fulfills such terms andconditions as may be specified:
Provided that the person already appointed or engaged by a company for the purpose of
sub-section 31 shall have 180 days to meet the fit and proper criteria and fulfill such
terms and conditions as may be specified.
(4) Every person who is responsible for contravention of this section shall without prejudice
to other liabilities be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(5) Nothing in sub-section (1) and (3) shall apply to a banking companyor any other company
which is required to follow the Shariah governance framework prescribed by the State
Bank of Pakistan.
(8) The Commission shall provide the information maintained under sub-section (7) to the
Federal Board of Revenue or to any other agency, authority and court.
453. Prevention of offences relating to fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.–
(1) Every officer of a company shall endeavor to prevent the commission of any fraud,
offences of money laundering including predicated offences as provided in the Anti-
Money Laundering Act, 2010 (VII of 2010) with respect to affairs of the company and
shall take adequate measures for the purpose.
(2) Whosoever fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be liable to punishment
of imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may
extend to one hundred million rupees:
Provided that where any such officer has taken all reasonable measures available under
the applicable laws within his capacity to prevent commission of such offence, shall not
be liable under this section.
Provided further that the punishment provided under this section shall be in addition to
any punishment attracted due to active involvement of such officer in commission of an
offence of money laundering under Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2010 (VII of 2010).
456. Acceptance of advances by real estate companies engaged in real estate projects.–
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law, any company which
invites advances from public for real estate project shall comply with the provisions of this
section in addition to those provided in the other provisions of this Act.
Provided that the Commission may take such other measures prior to the issuance of
regulations as it may deem fit through guidelines, policy papers, frameworks or any other
modes or mechanisms.
459. Quota for persons with disabilities in the public interest companies.–
Every public interest company, employing one hundred or more employees shall ensure special
quota for employment of persons with disabilities of two percent or such higher percentage as
may be specified or required under the applicable Federal and Provincial law:
Provided that in case of any conflict between this Act and any other Federal or Provincial law
for persons with disabilities, the later shall apply.
(3) While performing their functions and duties under this Act, all registrars shall observe and
follow the order and instructions of the Commission.
(4) The Commission may direct a seal or seals to be prepared for the authentication of
documents required for or connected with the registration of companies.
(5) Any person may, in the manner as may be specified, inspect the documents kept by the
registrar and may require a certified copy of certificate of incorporation or any other
certificate of any company, or a copy or extract of any other document or register
maintained by the registrar or any part thereof on payment of the fees specified in the
Seventh Schedule.
(6) A copy of or an extract from any document filed or lodged, whether in electronic or
physical form, with the Commission or the registrar under this Act or the rules or
regulations made thereunder or supplied or issued by the Commission or the registrar and
certified to be a true copy thereof or extract therefrom under the hand and seal of an
officer of the Commission or the registrar, shall be admissible in evidence in any
proceedings as of equal validity as the original document.
(7) Where a document is filed or lodged, whether in electronic or physical form, with the
Commission or the registrar, the Commission or the registrar shall not be liable for any
loss or damage suffered by any person by reason of any error or omission of whatever
nature arising or appearing in any document obtained by any person under the
e-service or in physical form under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, if
such error or omission was made in good faith and in the ordinary course of the
discharge of the duties of the Commission or the registrar or occurred or arose as a
result of any defect or breakdown in the service or in the equipment used for the provision
of the e-service.
(8) Wherever any act is by this Act directed to be done to or by the registrar it shall, until the
Commission otherwise directs, be done to or by the existing Registrar of Companies or in
his absence to or by such person as the Commission may for the time being authorise;
but, in the event of the Commission altering the constitution of the existing registration
offices or any of them, any such act shall be done to or by such officer and at such place
with reference to the local situation of the registered offices of the companies to be
registered as the Commission may appoint.
appear before the agent licenced by the Commission under this section; who shall record
the statement of both the parties and forward a certified copy of the statement so recorded
to the company for further necessary action in such form and manner and subject to such
conditions as may be specified:
Provided that the provision of this sub-section shall not apply to transfer or transmission
of shares by operation of law.
(2) The agent licenced under this section shall maintain complete record of all the statements
recorded by him including the documents submitted by the parties, for a period of ten
years.
(3) The licence under this section may be granted by the Commission in the manner and
subject to such conditions, and to the persons having such qualification and
infrastructure, as may be specified.
(4) An agent licenced under this section shall be responsible for the loss caused to any
person due to any fault on his part, as determined by the Court while deciding a case
under section 126.
(5) The agent licenced under this section may charge the fee for the services rendered by
him, not exceeding the limit notified by the Commission.
(6) The Commission may at any time revoke a licence granted under this section on being
satisfied that the agent has failed to comply with any of the terms or conditions to which
the licence is subject:
Provided that, before a licence is so revoked, the Commission shall give to the agent
notice in writing of its intention to do so, and shall afford the association 1 an opportunity
to be heard.
the several fees therein, for the time being, specified fees as the Commission may direct:
Provided that, in the case of resolutions to which section 150 applies, not more than one
fee shall be required for the filing of more resolutions than one passed in the same
meeting if such resolutions are filed with the registrar at the same time.
(2) All fees paid in pursuance of this Act shall be accounted for to the Commission.
(3) Any document required or authorised by this Act to be filed by a company with the
registrar shall not be deemed to have been so filed until the fee payable in respect
thereof has been duly paid and either the original receipt or other proof acceptable to the
registrar has been furnished to him.
475. Power of Court trying offences under Act to direct compliance with the provisions.–
The Court, the Commission, the registrar or other officer trying an offence for a default in
compliance with any provisions or requirements of this Act may, at any time during the pendency
of the trial or at the time of passing final order, direct, without prejudice to any liability, any
officer, auditor or employee of the company in respect of which the default has been committed
to undo the irregularity including but not limited to unwinding the unlawful transaction or to
comply with the said provisions or requirements within such time as may be specified in the
order.
477. Complaint to the court by the Commission, registrar, member or creditor in case of
certain offences.–
(1) Offences provided in the Eighth Schedule under this Act which is alleged to have been
committed by any company or any officer or auditor or any other person shall not be
taken cognizance by the court, except on the complaint in writing of–
(a) the Commission through its authorised officer or the registrar; or
(b) in the case of a company having a share capital, by a member or members holding
not less than five percent of the issued share capital of the company or a creditor
or creditors of the company having interest equivalent in amount to not less than
five percent of the issued share capital of the company; or
(c) in the case of a company not having a share capital, by any member or creditor
entitled to present a petition for winding up of the company:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to a prosecution by a company of
any of its officers or employees:
Provided further that the complaint filed under this section shall not require formal
procedure as provided under section 38 of the Securities and Exchange Commission of
Pakistan Act, 1997 (XLII of 1997) and such complaint shall be taken cognizance by the
court in accordance with Chapter XVI of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of
1898).
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [199]
(2) Sub-section (1) shall not apply to any action taken by the liquidator of a company in
respect of any offence alleged to have been committed in respect of any of the matters
included in Part-X or in any other provision of this Act relating to the winding up to
companies.
(3) A liquidator of a company shall not be deemed to be an officer of the company within the
meaning of sub-section (1).
(3) Where a penalty is provided for any offence, contravention of, or default in complying
with, any of the provisions of this Act or a directive of the Commission or the registrar or
other authority empowered to issue a directive under any provisions of this Act, it shall be
adjudged and imposed–
(a) where any person shall be liable to a penalty of level 1, by the officer who is incharge
of the company registration office in which the company is registered:
Provided that the Commission and the registrar shall have concurrent jurisdiction
under this clause;
(b) where any person shall be liable to a penalty of level 2, by the registrar designated
for the purpose:
Provided that the Commission shall have concurrent jurisdiction under this clause;
and
(c) where any person shall be liable to a penalty of level 3, by the Commission or an
officer authorised by it.
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2)1, the Commission may, by an
order in writing empower any officer to exercise the powers conferred by the said
sub-section in respect of any case or class of cases, either to the exclusion of, or
concurrently with, any other officer.
(5) The penalty as aforesaid shall be imposed after giving the person concerned an
opportunity to show cause why he should not be punished for the alleged offence,
contravention, default or non-compliance and, if he so requests, after giving him an
opportunity of being heard personally or through such person as may be specified.
(6) The penalty imposed under this section by the Commission, the registrar designated for
the purpose or the officer incharge of the company registration office, shall be without
prejudice to any other action for the violation or contravention as provided under the
relevant provision of this Act.
(2) On service of the notice referred to in sub-section (1), it shall be the duty of the chief
executive and other officers of the company to show cause or appear before the Court,
Commission, registrar, other officer or authority himself or by a counsel or by an officer or
other authorised representative of the body corporate who may be in a position to answer
the charge as may be specified in the notice.
(3) Where a body corporate does not appear in the manner aforesaid, the Court,
Commission, registrar or officer trying the offence, as the case may be, may either issue
a directive to the chief executive or other officer of the body corporate as is referred to in
sub-section (2) to appear personally and answer the charge, or, at its or his direction,
proceed to hear and decide the case in the absence of the body corporate.
(6) No person who has been directed to pay compensation under this section shall, by
reason of such order, be exempted from any civil or criminal liability in respect of the
complaint made by him:
Provided that any amount paid to an accused person under this section shall be taken
into account in awarding compensation to such person in any subsequent civil suit
relating to the same matter.
(7) A complainant who has been ordered to pay compensation under sub-section (3) may
appeal from the order, in so far as it relates to the payment of compensation, as if such
complainant had been convicted on a trial.
(8) Where an order for payment of compensation to an accused person is made, the amount
of compensation recovered shall not be paid to him before the period allowed for the
presentation of the appeal under sub-section (7) has elapsed; or, if an appeal is
presented, before the appeal has been decided.
(9) Nothing contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898) or anything
contained in this section shall be applicable to the authorized officer of the Commission or
the registrar and all actions by such officer or registrar shall deemed to be validly done in
good faith and no compensation or suit for damages shall lie, whatsoever.
1 Should have been “submits, presents or produces” instead of “submit, present or produce”.
2 Should have been “employs” instead of “employ”.
3 Word “further” appears to be superfluous.
4 Should have been “the” instead of “of”.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [205]
every officer of the company who is in default or such other person shall be liable to a penalty
of level 3 on the standard scale.
shall be published in the manner considered most appropriate by the Commission for
eliciting public opinion thereon within a period of not less than fourteen days from the
date of publication.
(2) Any regulation made under sub-section (1) may provide that a contravention thereof shall
be punishable with a penalty which may extend to five million rupees and, where the
contravention is a continuing one, with a further penalty which may extend to one
hundred thousand rupees for every day after the first during which such contravention
continues.
FIRST SCHEDULE
(See section 258)
[As amended upto 17-03-2023]
[By SROs 732(I)/2018 & 378(I)/2023)]
TABLE A
(See sections 2 and 36)
PART I
REGULATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF A COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
PRELIMINARY
1. (1) In these regulations–
(a) “section” means section of the Act;
(b) “the Act” means the Companies Act, 2017; and
(c) “the seal” means the common seal or official seal of the company. as the case may
be.
(2) Unless the context otherwise requires, words or expressions contained in these
regulations shall have the same meaning as in this Act; and words importing the singular
shall include the plural, and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall
include feminine, and words importing persons shall include bodies corporate.
BUSINESS
2. The directors shall have regard to the restrictions on the commencement of business imposed
by section 19 if, and so far as, those restrictions are binding upon the company.
SHARES
3. In case of shares in the physical form, every person whose name is entered as a member in the
register of members shall, without payment, be entitled to receive, within thirty days after
allotment or within fifteen days of the application for registration of transfer, a certificate under the
seal specifying the share or shares held by him and the amount paid up thereon:
Provided that if the shares are in book entry form or in case of conversion of physical shares
and other transferable securities into book-entry form, the company shall, within ten days after
an application is made for the registration of the transfer of any shares or other securities to a
central depository, register such transfer in the name of the central depository.
4. The company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate in respect of a share or
shares in the physical form, held jointly by several persons and delivery of a certificate for a
share to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all.
5. If a share certificate in physical form is defaced, lost or destroyed, it may be renewed on payment
of such fee, if any, not exceeding one hundred rupees, and on such terms, if any, as to evidence
and indemnity and payment of expenses incurred by the company in investigating title as the
directors think fit.
6. Except to the extent and in the manner allowed by section 86, no part of the funds of the
company shall be employed in the purchase of, or in loans upon the security of, the company’s
shares.
8. Shares in physical form in the company shall be transferred in the following form, or in any
usual or common form which the directors shall approve:–
Form for Transfer of Shares
(First Schedule to the Companies Act, 2017)
I……………....s/o ........................r/o...................... (hereinafter called “the transferor”) in
consideration of the sum of rupees ............................ paid to me by.....……………......... s/o
........................r/o. .................................................................................... (hereinafter called “the
transferee”), do hereby transfer to the said transferee....................the share (or shares)
with distinctive numbers from …………..... to ...................inclusive, in
the.............................Limited, to hold unto the said transferee, his executors, administrators and
assigns, subject to the several conditions on which I held the same at the time of the execution
hereof, and I, the said transferee, do hereby agree to take the said share (or shares) subject to
the conditions aforesaid.
As witness our hands this.................. day of.............................., 20.....
Signature ………………… Signature …………………
Transferor Transferee
Full Name, Father’s / Husband’s Name CNIC Full Name, Father’s / Husband’s Name CNIC
Number (in case of foreigner, Passport Number) Number (in case of foreigner, Passport Number)
Nationality Nationality
Occupation and usual ResidentialAddress Occupation and usual ResidentialAddress
Cell number
Landline number, if any
Email address
Witness 1: Witness 2:
Signature .............................. date………… Signature ............................ date…………
Name, CNIC Number and Full Address Name, CNIC Number and Full Address
It is stated that the above mentioned information is correct and that I will intimate the changes in
the above-mentioned information to the company and the concerned Share Registrar as soon
as these occur.
……………………………….
Signature of the Transferee(s)
9. (1) Subject to the restrictions contained in regulation 10 and 11, the directors shall not refuse
to transfer any share unless the transfer deed is defective or invalid. The directors may
also suspend the registration of transfers during the ten days immediately preceding a
general meeting or prior to the determination of entitlement or rights of the shareholders
by giving seven days’ previous notice in the manner provided in the Act. The directors
may, in case of shares in physical form, decline to recognise any instrument of transfer
unless–
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(a) a fee not exceeding fifty rupees as may be determined by the directors is paid to
the company in respect thereof; and
(b) the duly stamped instrument of transfer is accompanied by the certificate of the
shares to which it relates, and such other evidence as the directors may reasonably
require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer.
(2) If the directors refuse to register a transfer of shares, they shall within fifteen days after
the date on which the transfer deed was lodged with the company send to the transferee
and the transferor notice of the refusal indicating the defect or invalidity to the transferee,
who shall, after removal of such defect or invalidity be entitled to re-lodge the transfer
deed with the company.
Provided that the company shall, where the transferee is a central depository the refusal shall be
conveyed within five days from the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with it
notify the defect or invalidity to the transferee who shall, after the removal of such defect or
invalidity, be entitled to re-lodge the transfer deed with the company.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
10. The executors, administrators, heirs, or nominees, as the case may be, of a deceased sole
holder of a share shall be the only persons recognised by thecompany to deal with the share in
accordance with the law. In the case of a share registered in the names of two or more
holders, the survivors or survivor, or the executors or administrators of the deceased survivor,
shall be the only persons recognised by the company to deal with the share in accordance with
the law.
11. The shares or other securities of a deceased member shall be transferred on application duly
supported by succession certificate or by lawful award, as the case may be, in favour of the
successors to the extent of their interests and their names shall be entered to the register of
members.
12. acquisition of such interest deposit with the company a nomination conferring on a person,
being the relatives of the member, namely, a spouse, father, mother, brother, sister and son or
daughter, the right to protect the interest of the legal heirs in the shares of the deceased in the
event of his death, as a trustee and to facilitate the transfer of shares to the legal heirs of the
deceased subject to succession to be determined under the Islamic law of inheritance and in
case of non-Muslim members, as per their respective law.
13. The person nominated under regulation 12 shall, after the death of the member, be deemed as
a member of company till the shares are transferred to the legal heirs and if the deceased was a
director of the company, not being a listed company, the nominee shall also act as director of
the company to protect the interest of the legal heirs.
14. A person to be deemed as a member under regulation 11, 12 and 13 to a share by reason of
the death or insolvency of the holder shall be entitled to the same dividends and other
advantages to which he would be entitled if he were the registered holder of the share and
exercise any right conferred by membership in relation to meetings of the company.
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
15. The company may, by special resolution–
(a) increase its authorised capital by such amount as it thinks expedient;
(b) consolidate and divide the whole or any part of its share capital into shares of larger
amount than its existing shares;
(c) sub-divide its shares, or any of them, into shares of smaller amount than is fixed by the
memorandum;
(d) cancel shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution in that behalf, have not
been taken or agreed to be taken by any person, and diminish the amount of its share
capital by the amount of the share so cancelled.
16. Subject to the provisions of the Act, all new shares shall at the first instance be offered to such
persons as at the date of the offer are entitled to such issue in proportion, as nearly as the
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circumstances admit, to the amount of the existing shares to which they are entitled. The offer
shall be made by letter of offer specifying the number of shares offered, and limiting a time within
which the offer, if not accepted, will deem to be declined, and after the expiration of that time,
or on the receipt of an intimation from the person to whom the offer is made that he declines to
accept the shares offered, the directors may dispose of the same in such manner as they think
most beneficial to the company. The directors may likewise so dispose of any new shares which
(by reason of the ratio which the new shares bear to shares held by persons entitled to an offer
of new shares) cannot, in the opinion of the directors, be conveniently offered under this
regulation.
17. The new shares shall be subject to the same provisions with reference to transfer, transmission
and otherwise as the shares in the original share capital.
18. The company may, by special resolution–
(a) consolidate and divide its share capital into shares of larger amount than its existing
shares;
(b) sub-divide its existing shares or any of them into shares of smaller amount than is fixed
by the memorandum of association, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of section 85;
(c) cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken
or agreed to be taken by any person.
19. The company may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital in any manner and with, and
subject to confirmation by the Court and any incident authorised and consent required, by law.
GENERAL MEETINGS
20. The statutory 1general meeting of the company shall be held within the period required by
section 131.
21. A general meeting, to be called annual general meeting, shall be held, in accordance with the
provisions of section 132, within sixteen months from the date of incorporation of the company
and thereafter once at least in every year within a period of one hundred and twenty days
following the close of its financial year.
22. All general meetings of a company other than the statutory meeting or an annual general
meeting mentioned in sections 131 and 132 respectively shall be called 2extraordinary general
meetings.
23. The directors may, whenever they think fit, call an extra-ordinary general meeting, and extra-
ordinary general meetings shall also be called on such requisition, or in default, may be called
by such requisitionists, as provided by section 133. If at any time there are not within Pakistan
sufficient directors capable of acting to form a quorum, any director of the company may call an
extra-ordinary general meeting in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which
meetings may be called by the directors.
24. The company may provide video-link facility to its members for attending general meeting at
places other than the town in which general meeting is taking place after considering the
geographical dispersal of its members:
Provided that in case of listed companies if the members holding ten percent of the total paid up
capital or such other percentage of the paid up capital as may be specified, are resident in any
other city, the company shall provide the facility of video-link to such members for attending
annual general meeting of the company, if so required by such members in writing to the
company at least seven days before the date of the meeting.
1 Considering the terminology of the Companies Act, 2017, the word “general” appears to be superfluous.
2 Should have been “extra-ordinary” instead of “extraordinary”.
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under the Act or the regulations of the company, entitled to receive such notice from the
company; but the accidental omission to give notice to, or the non-receipt of notice by, any
member shall not invalidate the proceedings at any general meeting.
26. All the business transacted at a general meeting shall be deemed special other than the
business stated in sub-section (2) of section 134 namely; the consideration of financial
statements and the reports of the board and auditors, the declaration of any dividend, the
election and appointment of directors in place of those retiring, and the appointment of the
auditors and fixing of their remuneration.
27. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is
present at that time when the meeting proceeds to business. The quorum of the general
meeting shall be–
(a) in the case of a public listed company, not less than ten members present personally, or
through video-link who represent not less than twenty-five per cent of the total voting
power, either of their own account or as proxies;
(b) in the case of any other company having share capital, two members present personally,
or through video-link who represent not less than twenty-five percent of the total voting
power, either of their own account or as proxies.
28. If within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the
meeting, if called upon the requisition of members, shall be dissolved; in any other case, it shall
stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, and, if at the
adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the
meeting, the members present, being not less than two, shall be a quorum.
29. The chairman of the board of directors, if any, shall preside as chairman at every general
meeting of the company, but if there is no such chairman, or if at any meeting he is not present
within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, or is unwilling to act as chairman,
any one of the directors present may be elected to be chairman, and if none of the directors is
present, or willing to act as chairman, the members present shall choose one of their number to
be chairman.
30. The chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if
so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time but no business shall be
transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from
which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for fifteen days or more, notice
of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save as
aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be
transacted at an adjourned meeting.
31. (1) At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a
show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of
hands) demanded. Unless a poll is so demanded, a declaration by the chairman that a
resolution has, on a show of hands, been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a
particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the proceedings of the
company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or
proportion of the votes recorded in favour of, or against, that resolution.
(2) At any general meeting, the company shall transact such businesses as may be notified
by the Commission, only through postal ballot.
32. A poll may be demanded only in accordance with the provisions of section 143.
33. If a poll is duly demanded, it shall be taken in accordance with the manner laid down in sections
144 and 145 and the result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at
which the poll was demanded.
34. A poll demanded on the election of chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken at
once.
35. In the case of an equality of votes, whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the chairman of the
meeting at which the show of hands takes place, or at which the poll is demanded, shall have
and exercise a second or casting vote.
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36. Except for the businesses specified under sub-section (2) of section 134 to be conducted in the
annual general meeting, the members of a private company or a public unlisted company
(having not more than fifty members), may pass a resolution (ordinary or special) by circulation
signed by all the members for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting. The
resolution by circulation shall be deemed to be passed on the date of signing by the last of the
signatory member to such resolution.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
37. Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class or classes of
shares, on a show of hands every member present in person shall have one vote except for
election of directors in which case the provisions of section 159 shall apply. On a poll every
member shall have voting rights as laid down in section 134.
38. In case of joint-holders, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by
proxy or through video-link shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other
joint-holders; and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which
the names stand in the register of members.
39. A member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court
having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, whether on show of hands or on a poll or through video-
link, by his committee or other legal guardian, and any such committee or guardian may, on a
poll, vote by proxy.
40. On a poll votes may be given either personally or through 1videolink, by proxy or through postal
ballot:
Provided that 2nobody corporate shall vote by proxy as long as a resolution of its directors in
accordance with the provisions of section 138 is in force.
41. (1) The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointer or of
his attorney duly authorised in writing.
(2) The instrument appointing a proxy and the power-of-attorney or other authority (if any)
under which it is signed, or a notarially certified copy of that power or authority, shall be
deposited at the registered office of the company not less than forty-eight hours before
the time for holding the meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to
vote and in default the instrument of proxy shall not be treated as valid.
42. An instrument appointing a proxy may be in the following form, or a form as near thereto as may
be:
INSTRUMENT OF PROXY
……………………………………….………...…………………………………………………. Limited
“I………………………….….s/o.................................r/o.................................................................
being a member of the..…………………………………………………….………...………Limited,
hereby appoint……………………………s/o............................r/o ..............................................
as my proxy to attend and vote on my behalf at the (statutory, annual, extra-ordinary, as
the case may be) general meeting of the company to be held on the …………….. day of
……………….., 20…… and at any adjournment thereof.”
43. A vote given in accordance with the terms of an instrument of proxy shall be valid
notwithstanding the previous death or insanity of the principal or revocation of the proxy or of
the authority under which the proxy was executed, or the transfer of the share in respect of
which the proxy is given, provided that no intimation in writing of such death, insanity,
revocation or transfer as aforesaid shall have been received by the company at the office before
the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the proxy is used.
DIRECTORS
44. The following subscribers of the memorandum of association shall be the first directors of the
company, so, however, that the number of directors shall not in any case be less than that
specified in section 154 and they shall hold office until the election of directors in the first annual
general meeting:
1. ab
2. cd
3. ef
4. gh
45. The remuneration of the directors shall from time to time be determined by the company in
general meeting subject to the provisions of the Act.
46. Save as provided in section 153, no person shall be appointed as a director unless he is a
member of the company.
MINUTE BOOKS
51. The directors shall cause records to be kept and minutes to be made in book or books with
regard to–
(a) all resolutions and proceedings of general meeting(s) and the meeting(s) of directors and
Committee(s) of directors, and every member present at any general meeting and every
director present at any meeting of directors or Committee of directors shall put his
signature in a book to be kept for that purpose;
(b) recording the names of the persons present at each meeting of the directors and of any
committee of the directors, and the general meeting; and
(c) all orders made by the directors and Committee(s) of directors:
Provided that all records related to proceedings through video-link shall be maintained in
accordance with the relevant regulations specified by the Commission which shall be
appropriately rendered into writing as part of the minute books according to the said regulations.
THE SEAL
52. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of the seal and the seal shall not be affixed to
any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the board of directors or by a committee
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of directors authorized in that behalf by the directors and in the presence of at least two
directors and of the secretary or such other person as the directors may appoint for the
purpose; and those two directors and secretary or other person as aforesaid shall sign every
instrument to which the seal of the company is so affixed in their presence.
DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
53. No person shall become the director of a company if he suffers from any of the disabilities or
disqualifications mentioned in section 153 or disqualified or debarred from holding such office
under any of the provisions of the Act as the case may be and, if already a director, shall cease
to hold such office from the date he so becomes disqualified or disabled:
Provided, however, that no director shall vacate his office by reason only of his being a member
of any company which has entered into contracts with, or done any work for, the company of
which he is director, but such director shall not vote in respect of any such contract or work, and
if he does so vote, his vote shall not be counted.
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
54. The directors may meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate
their meetings, as they think fit. A director may, and the secretary on the requisition of a director
shall, at any time, summon a meeting of directors. Notice sent to a director through email
whether such director is in Pakistan or outside Pakistan shall be a valid notice.
55. The directors may elect a chairman of their meetings and determine the period for which he is to
hold office; but, if no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the chairman is not present
within ten minutes after the time appointed for holding the same or is unwilling to act as
chairman, the directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
56. At least one-third (1/3rd) of the total number of directors or two (2) directors whichever is higher,
for the time being of the company, present personally or through video-link, shall constitute a
quorum.
57. Save as otherwise expressly provided in the Act, every question at meetings of the board shall
be determined by a majority of votes of the directors present in person or through video-link,
each director having one vote. In case of an equality of votes or tie, the chairman shall have a
casting vote in addition to his original vote as a director.
58. The directors may delegate any of their powers not required to be exercised in their meeting to
committees consisting of such member or members of their body as they think fit; any committee
so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers so delegated, conform to any restrictions that
may be imposed on them by the directors.
59. (1) A committee may elect a chairman of its meetings; but, if no such chairman is elected, or if
at any meeting the chairman is not present within ten minutes after the time appointed for
holding the same or is unwilling to act as chairman, the members present may choose
one of their number to be chairman ofthe meeting.
(2) A committee may meet and adjourn as it thinks proper. Questions arising at any meeting
shall be determined by a majority of votes of the members present. In case of an equality
of votes, the chairman shall have and exercise a second or casting vote.
60. All acts done by any meeting of the directors or of a committee of directors, or by any person
acting as a director, shall, notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some
defect in the appointment of any such directors or persons acting as aforesaid, or that they or
any of them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such person had been duly appointed and
was qualified to be a director.
61. A copy of the draft minutes of meeting of the board of directors shall be furnished to every director
within seven working days of the date of meeting.
62. A resolution in writing signed by all the directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a
meeting of the directors shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of
the directors duly convened and held.
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FILLING OF VACANCIES
63. At the first annual general meeting of the company, all the directors shall stand retired from
office, and directors shall be elected in their place in accordance with section 159 for a term of
three years.
64. A retiring director shall be eligible for re-election.
65. The directors shall comply with the provisions of sections 154 to 159 and sections 161, 162 and
167 relating to the election of directors and matters ancillary thereto.
66. Any casual vacancy occurring on the board of directors may be filled up by the directors, but the
person so chosen shall be subject to retirement at the same time as if he had become a director
on the day on which the director in whose place he is chosen was last elected as director.
67. The company may remove a director but only in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
ACCOUNTS
77. The directors shall cause to be kept proper books of account as required under section 220.
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78. The books of account shall be kept at the registered office of the company or at such other
place as the directors shall think fit and shall be open to inspection by the directors during
business hours.
79. The directors shall from time to time determine whether and to what extent and at what time and
places and under what conditions or regulations the accounts and books or papers of the
company or any of them shall be open to the inspection of members not being directors, and no
member (not being a director) shall have any right of inspecting any account and book or
papers of the company except as conferred by law or authorised by the directors or by the
company in general meeting.
80. The directors shall as required by sections 223 and 226 cause to be prepared and to be laid
before the company in general meeting the financial statements duly audited and reports as are
referred to in those sections.
81. The financial statements and other reports referred to in regulation 80 shall be made out in
every year and laid before the company in the annual general meeting in accordance with
sections 132 and 223.
82. A copy of the financial statements and reports of directors and auditors shall, at least twenty-
one days preceding the meeting, be sent to the persons entitled to receive notices of general
meetings in the manner in which notices are to be given hereunder.
83. The directors shall in all respect comply with the provisions of sections 220 to 227.
84. Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with sections 246 to 249.
NOTICES
85. (1) A notice may be given by the company to any member to his registered address or if he
has no registered address in Pakistan to the address, if any, supplied by him to the
company for the giving of notices to him against an acknowledgement or by post or
courier service or through electronic means or in any other manner as may be specified
by the Commission.
(2) Where a notice is sent by post, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by
properly addressing, prepaying and posting a letter containing the notice and, unless the
contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter will be delivered in
the ordinary course of post.
86. A notice may be given by the company to the joint-holders of a share by giving the notice to the
joint-holder named first in the register in respect of the share.
87. A notice may be given by the company to the person entitled to a share in consequence of the
death or insolvency of a member in the manner provided under regulation 85 addressed to
them by name, or by the title or representatives of the deceased, or assignees of the insolvent,
or by any like description, at the address, supplied for the purpose by the person claiming to be
so entitled.
88. Notice of every general meeting shall be given in the manner hereinbefore authorised to (a)
every member of the company and also to (b) every person entitled to a share in consequence
of the death or insolvency of a member, who but for his death or insolvency would be entitled to
receive notice of the meeting, and (c) to the auditors of the company for the time being and every
person who is entitled to receive notice of general meetings.
WINDING UP
89. (1) In the case of members’ voluntary winding up, with the sanction of a special resolution of
the company, and, in the case of creditors’ voluntary winding up, of a meeting of the
creditors, the liquidator shall exercise any of the powers given by sub-section (1) of
section 337 of the Act to a liquidator in a winding up by the Court including inter-alia divide
amongst the members, in specie or kind, the whole or any part of the assets of the
company, whether they consist of property of the same kind or not.
(2) For the purpose aforesaid, the liquidator may set such value as he deems fair upon any
property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how such division shall be carried
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INDEMNITY
90. Every officer or agent for the time being of the company may be indemnified out of the assets of
the company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil or
criminal, arising out of his dealings in relation to the affairs of the company, except those
brought by the company against him, in which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is
acquitted, or in connection with any application under section 492 in which relief is granted to
him by the Court.
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of these articles of association, and we respectively agree
to take the number of shares in the capital of the company set opposite our respective names:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
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PART II
REGULATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF A SINGLE MEMBER PRIVATE
COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
INTERPRETATION
1. In the interpretation of these articles the following expressions shall have the following
meanings unless repugnant to or inconsistent with the subject articles–
(a) “company” or “this company” means______________________(SMC-Private) Limited;
(b) “directors” or “board of directors” means board of directors consist of only the sole
director or more than one directors if so appointed under the relevant provisions of the
Act;
(c) “member director” means a director who is a member of the company;
(d) “non-member director” means an individual who is not a member, but has been
nominated under the provisions of the Act;
(e) “private company” means a private company having two 1 more members;
(f) “sole member” means the single member of the company; and
(g) “sole director” means the director of the company who is for the time being the only
director and includes a non-member director of the company.
2. Unless the context otherwise requires, words or expressions contained in these regulations
shall have the same meaning as in the Act; and words importing the singular shall include the
plural, and vice versa, and words importing the masculine gender shall include feminine, and
words importing persons shall include bodies corporate.
PRELIMINARY
3. Any provision of the Act or rules and regulations made thereunder which apply in relation to a
private company limited by shares incorporated under the Act shall, in the absence of any
express provision to the contrary, apply in relation to a single member company as it applies in
relation to such a company which is formed by two or more persons or which has two or more
persons as members and the provisions contained in part I of Table A of First Schedule in the
Act shall be deemed part of these articles of association in so far as these are not inconsistent
with or repugnant to the provisions contained herein below.
SHARES
5. The company may alter its share capital in accordance with section 85.
6. Share certificate shall be issued under the seal of the Company and shall be signed by the
member director or the non-member director, as the case may be.
than the single member or, at any time, allow transfer of shares or allotment of shares or both
resulting in number of members to become two or more, except for change of status from
single member company to private company and to alter its articles accordingly.
8. The single member may transfer all of his shares to a single person whereby the company
shall remain a single member company as it was before such transfer.
9. The sole member shall nominate a person who, in the event of death of the sole member, shall
be responsible to.–
(a) transfer the shares to the legal heirs of the deceased subject to succession to be
determined under the Islamic law of inheritance and in case of a non-Muslim 1members,
as per 2their respective law; and
(b) manage the affairs of the company as a trustee, till such time the title of shares are
transferred:
Provided that where the transfer by virtue of the above provision is made to more than one legal
heir, the company shall cease to be a single member company and comply with the provisions
of section 47 of the Act.
CHANGE OF STATUS
10. The company may convert itself from single member private company to a private company in
accordance with the provisions of section 47.
DIRECTOR(S)
12. The company shall always have the sole member or in case it is not a natural person its
nominee, as a director but it may have such number of other director(s) who fulfil the
conditions as specified in section 153.
13. The board shall not have the power to remove the member director provided that where the
sole member is not a natural person, it may change its nominee.
14. The sole member shall have the power to remove any director, chief executive or secretary
through a resolution.
15. The director(s) shall appoint a chief executive in accordance with the provisions of sections
186 and 187.
16. The directors may hold their meetings through tele or video link provided that the minutes of
such meeting are approved and signed subsequently by all the directors.
17. The directors shall cause records to be kept and minutes to be made in book or books with
regard to–
(a) all resolutions and proceedings of the meeting(s) of directors and Committee(s) of
directors, and every director present at any meeting of directors or Committee of directors
shall put his signatures in a book to be kept for that purpose;
(b) recording the names of the persons present at each meeting of the directors and of any
committee of the directors, and the general meeting; and
(c) all orders made by the directors and Committee(s) of directors:
Provided that all records related to proceedings through video-link shall be maintained in
accordance with the relevant regulations specified by the Commission which shall be
appropriately rendered into writing as part of the minute books according to the said
regulations.
SECRETARY
18. The company may appoint a secretary who shall be responsible for discharge of duties and
functions normally discharged by a secretary under the corporate laws and secretarial practice.
ACCOUNTS
21. The director(s) shall cause to keep proper books of account in accordance with the provisions
of section 220.
22. Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with the provisions of
sections 246 to 249.
THE SEAL
23. The director shall provide for safe custody of the seal and the seal shall not be affixed to any
instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the board of directors or by a committee of
directors authorized in that behalf by the member director or the non-member director and in the
presence of at least member director or the non-member director and of the secretary or such
other person as the directors may appoint for the purpose and the member director or the non-
member director and the secretary or other person as aforesaid shall sign every instrument to
which the seal of the company is affixed in their presence.
WINDING UP
24. The company shall follow, in case of its winding up, the relevant provisions of the Act.
INDEMNITY
25. Every officer or agent for the time being of the company may be indemnified out of the
assets of the company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings,
whether civil or criminal arising out of his dealings in relation to the affairs of the company,
except those brought by the company against him, in which judgment is given in his favour or
in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under section 487 in which relief
is granted to him by the Court.
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
TABLE B
(See section 41)
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of this memorandum of association, and we respectively
agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the company as set opposite our respective
names:
TABLE C
(See section 41)
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A COMPANY LIMITED
BY GUARANTEE AND NOT HAVING A SHARE CAPITAL
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
1. The name of the company is “The ABC Hospital (Guarantee) Limited.”
2. The registered office of the company will be situated in the Province of Baluchistan.
3. (i) The principal line of business of the company shall be to establish, run and manage
hospitals.
(ii) Except for the businesses mentioned in sub-clause (iii) hereunder, the company shall
engage in all the lawful businesses and shall be authorized to take all necessary steps
and actions in connection therewith and ancillary thereto.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-clauses of this clause nothing
contained herein shall be construed as empowering the Company to undertake or
indulge, directly or indirectly in the business of a Banking Company, Non-banking
Finance Company (Asset Management Services, Leasing, Investment Finance Services,
Investment Advisory Services, REIT management Services, Housing Finance Services,
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Management Services, Discounting Services,
Pension Fund Scheme Business, Micro Financing), Corporate Restructuring Company,
Insurance Business, Modaraba management company, Stock Brokerage business,
forex, Clearing House, Securities and Futures Advisor, Commodity Exchange, managing
agency, business of providing the services of security guards or any other business
subject to license and restricted under any law for the time being in force or as may be
specified by the Commission.
(iv) It is hereby undertaken that the company shall not:
(a) engage in any of the business mentioned in sub-clause (iii) above or any unlawful
operation;
(b) launch multi-level marketing (MLM), Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes, or other related
activities/businesses or any lottery business;
(c) engage in any of the permissible business unless the requisite approval, permission,
consent or licence is obtained from competent authority as may be required under
any law for the time being in force.
4. The liability of the members is limited.
5. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [228]
event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one year afterwards, for payment
of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he ceases to be a member, and
the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the
contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required not
exceeding...…………………rupees.
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of this memorandum of association:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
INTERPRETATION
MEMBERS
2. The number of members with which the company proposes to be registered is 200, but the
directors may, from time to time, whenever the company or the business of the company
requires it, register an increase of members.
3. The subscribers to the memorandum and such other persons as the directors shall admit to
membership shall be members of the company.
GENERAL MEETINGS
4. A general meeting, to be called annual general meeting, shall be held within sixteen months from
the date of incorporation of the company and thereafter once at least in every year within a
period of one hundred and twenty days following the close of its financial year as may be
determined by the directors.
5. All general meetings other than annual general meetings shall be called 1extraordinary general
meetings.
6. The directors may, whenever they think fit, call an 2extraordinary general meeting.
8. (1) No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members is
present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business.
(2) Save as otherwise provided, three members present in person or through video-link who
represent not less than twenty five per cent of the total voting power either of their own
account or as proxies in person, shall be a quorum.
9. (1) If within half an hour from the time appointed for a meeting a quorum is not present, the
meeting, if called upon the requisition of members shall be dissolved.
(2) In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at
the same time and place, or to such other day and such other time and place as the
directors may determine.
(3) If at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time
appointed for the meeting the members present shall be a quorum.
10. (1) The Chairman, if any, of the board of directors shall preside as chairman at every
general meeting of the company.
(2) If there is no such chairman, or if he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time
appointed for the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman of the meeting, the directors
present shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
(3) If at any meeting no director is willing to act as chairman or if no director is present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the members present shall
choose one of their number to be the chairman of the meeting.
11. (1) The chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and
shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place
to place.
(2) No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left
unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
(3) When a meeting is adjourned for thirty days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.
(4) Save as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of
the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
12. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote to the meeting shall be decided on a show
of hands and a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried
unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost and an entry to that effect in the minutes of
proceedings shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number of votes
recorded in favour or against the resolution.
13. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have and exercise a
second or casting vote.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
14. Every member shall have one vote.
15. A member of unsound mind, or in respect of whom an order has been made by any court
having jurisdiction in lunacy, may vote, by his committee or other legal guardian, and any such
committee or guardian may, vote by proxy.
16. No member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all moneys presently
payable by him to the company have been paid.
17. (1) Votes may be given on any matter by the members either personally or through video-
link or by proxy or by means of postal ballot.
(2) At any general meeting, the company shall transact such businesses only through postal
ballot as may be notified by the Commission.
18. (1) No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at a meeting or
adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered, and every vote not
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [231]
DIRECTORS
21. The following subscribers of the memorandum of association shall be the first directors of the
company, so, however, that the number of directors shall not in any case be less than that
specified in section 154 and they shall hold office until the election of directors in the annual
general meeting:
1. ab
2. cd
3. ef
4. gh
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
22. (i) The directors of the company shall be elected in accordance with provisions of sub-
sections (1) to (4) of section 159 of the Act, in the following manner:
(a) the directors of the company shall be elected by the members of the company in
general meeting;
(b) each member shall have votes equal to the number of directors to be elected;
(c) a member may give all his votes to a single candidate or divide them, not being in
fractions, between more than one of the candidates in such manner as he may
choose; and
(d) the candidate who gets the highest number of votes shall be declared elected as
director and then the candidate who gets the next highest number of votes shall be
so declared and so on until the total number of directors to be elected has been so
elected.
(ii) If the number of persons who offer themselves to be elected is not more than the number
of directors fixed by the directors under sub- section (1) of section 159, all persons who
offered themselves shall be deemed to have been elected as directors.
PROCEEDINGS OF DIRECTORS
23. (1) The Directors may meet for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their
meetings, as they think fit.
(2) A director may, and the chief executive or secretary on the requisition of a director
shall, at any time, summon a meeting of the directors.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [232]
24. (1) Save as otherwise expressly provided in the Act, questions arising at any meeting of the
directors shall be decided by a majority of votes.
(2) In case of any equality of votes, the chairman shall have and exercise a second or casting
vote.
25. The continuing directors may act notwithstanding any vacancy but, if and so long as their
number is reduced below the minimum fixed by the Act, the continuing directors or director
may act for the purpose of increasing the number of directors to that minimum or for
summoning a general meeting of the company,but for no other purpose.
26. (1) The directors may elect a chairman and determine the period for which he is to hold
office within the limits prescribed by the Act.
(2) If no such chairman is elected, or if at any meeting the Chairman is not present within
fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the meeting or is unwilling to act as chairman,
the directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
27. All acts done by any meeting of the directors or by any person acting as director, shall,
notwithstanding that it may afterwards be discovered that there was some defect in the
appointment of any such director or of any person acting as aforesaid, or that they or any of
them were disqualified, be as valid as if every such director or such person had been duly
appointed and was qualified to be a director.
28. At least one-third (1/3rd) of the total number of directors or two (2) directors whichever is higher,
for the time being of the company, present personally or through video-link, shall constitute a
quorum.
128. A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a
meeting, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the directors
duly convened and held.
MINUTE BOOKS
29. The directors shall cause records to be kept and minutes to be made in book or books with
regard to–
(a) all resolutions and proceedings of general meeting(s) and the meeting(s) of directors
and committee(s) of directors, and every member present at any general meeting and
every director present at any meeting of directors or committee of directors shall put his
signature in a book to be kept for that purpose;
(b) recording the names of the persons present at each meeting of the directors and of any
committee of the directors, and the general meeting; and
(c) all orders made by the directors and committee(s) of directors:
Provided that all records related to proceedings through video-link shall be maintained in
accordance with the relevant regulations specified by the Commission which shall be
appropriately rendered into writing as part of the minute books according to the said
regulations.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
30. Subject to the provisions of the Act, a chief executive shall be appointed by the directors for
such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they may think fit.
THE SEAL
31. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of the seal and the seal shall not be affixed to
any instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the board of directors or by a
committee of directors authorized in that behalf by the directors and in the presence of at least
two directors and of the secretary or such other person as the directors may appoint for the
purpose; and those two directors and secretary or other person as aforesaid shall sign every
instrument to which the seal of the company is so affixed in their presence.
1 It is erroneously numbered as “28”. It should have been “29” and subsequent articles should have been numbered
accordingly.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [233]
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of these articles of association:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [234]
TABLE D
[See section 41]
1 Considering the overall numbering scheme of the First Schedule, numbering should have been “(a), (b) & (c)” instead of
“a., b. & c.”, respectively.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [235]
5. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the
event of its being wound up while he is a member, or within one year afterwards, for payment
of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he ceases to be a member, and
the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for the adjustment of the rights of the
contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding rupees.
6. The authorized capital of the company is Rs. 1,000,000/- (Rupees one Million only) divided into
100,000 (one hundred thousand) ordinary shares of Rs. 10/- (Rupees ten only) each.
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of this memorandum of association, and we respectively
agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the company as set opposite our respective
names:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [236]
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of these articles of association, and we respectively
agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the company as set opposite our respective
names:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
TABLE E
(See section 41)
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF ANUNLIMITED COMPANY HAVING A
SHARE CAPITAL
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
1. The name of the company is “Khyber Fruit Products CompanyUnlimited”.
2. The registered office of the company will be situated in the Provinceof Sindh.
3. (i) The principal line of business of the company shall be preservation,canning and
marketing of fruit and fruit products.
(ii) Except for the businesses mentioned in sub-clause (iii) hereunder, the company shall
engage in all the lawful businesses and shall be authorized to take all necessary steps
and actions in connection therewith and ancillary thereto.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sub-clauses of this clause nothing
contained herein shall be construed as empowering the Company to undertake or
indulge, directly or indirectly in the business of a Banking Company, Non-banking
Finance Company (Asset Management Services, Leasing, Investment Finance Services,
Investment Advisory Services, REIT management Services, Housing Finance Services,
Private Equity and Venture Capital Fund Management Services, Discounting Services,
Pension Fund Scheme Business, Micro Financing), Corporate Restructuring Company,
Insurance Business, Modaraba management company, Stock Brokerage business,
forex, Clearing House, Securities and Futures Advisor, Commodity Exchange, managing
agency, business of providing the services of security guards or any other business
subject to license and restricted under any law for the time being in force or as may be
specified by the Commission.
(iv) It is hereby undertaken that the company shall not:
(a) engage in any of the business mentioned in sub-clause (iii) above or any unlawful
operation;
(b) launch multi-level marketing (MLM), Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes, or other related
activities/businesses or any lotterybusiness;
(c) engage in any of the permissible business unless the requisite approval, permission,
consent or licence is obtained from competent authority as may be required under
any law for the time being in force.
4. The liability of the members is unlimited.
5. The authorized capital of the company is Rs. 1,000,000/- (Rupees one Million only) divided into
100,000 (one hundred thousand) ordinary shares of Rs.10/- (Rupees ten only) each.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [239]
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of this memorandum of association, and we respectively
agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the company as set opposite our respective
names:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
We, the several persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below, are desirous of
being formed into a company, in pursuance of this memorandum of association, and we respectively
agree to take the number of shares in the capital of the company as set opposite our respective
names:
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [242]
TABLE F
(See section 42)
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF A COMPANY
LICENCED UNDER SECTION 42
[A company set up under Section 42 of the Companies Act, 2017]
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION
company.
(13) To take such actions as are considered necessary to raise the status or to promote the
efficiency of the company.
(14) To conduct, hold and arrange symposia, seminars, conferences, lectures, workshops
and dialogue and to print, publish and prepare journals, magazines, books, circulars,
reports, catalogues and other works relating to any of the objects of or to the work done
by the company, subject to the permission, if required of the relevant authorities
(15) To do all other such lawful acts and things as are incidental or conducive to the
attainment of the above objects or any one of them.
V. The company shall achieve the above said objects subject to the conditions specified in
Associations with Charitable and Not for Profit Objects Regulations, 2018 and any additional
condition mentioned in the license.
VI. The territories to which the object of the company shall extend are declared to include whole of
Pakistan.
VII. The liability of the members is limited.
VIII. Every member of the company undertakes that he shall contribute to the assets of the
company in the event of its being wound up while he is a member or within one year afterwards,
for payment of the debts or liabilities of the company contracted before he ceases to be a
member and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up and for adjustment of the rights of
the contributories among themselves an amount of rupees __________ but not less than one
hundred thousand rupees or such other amount as may be notified by the Commission.
1[ ]
X. In the case of winding up or dissolution of the company, any surplus assets or property, after
the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, shall not be paid or disbursed among the members,
but shall be given or transferred to some other company established under section 42 of the
Companies Act, 2017, preferably having similar or identical objects to those of the company
and with the approval required under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Act, 2001 and
under intimation to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
We, the several, persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below are desirous of
being formed into a company in pursuance of this memorandum ofassociation:–
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
Witness to above signatures: (For the documents submitted electronically)
(Digital Signature Certificate Provider)
Name:
Address
(Applicable in case of single member company)
Signature
Full Name (in Block Letters)
Father’s/ Husband’s name
Nationality
Occupation
NIC No.
Usual residential address
[]
1. In these Articles, unless the context or the subject matter otherwise requires:
(a) “the company” means ‘XYZ Association’.
(b) “the office” means the registered office for the time being of the company.
(c) “the directors” mean the directors for the time being of the company.
(d) “the seal” means the common seal or official seal of the company as the case may be.
(e) “the Act” means the Companies Act, 2017.
(f) “the Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [245]
(g) “the registrar” means the registrar of companies as defined in the Companies Act,
2017.
(h) “the register” means the register of the members to be kept in pursuant to section 119
of the Act.
(i) “chief executive” means the chief executive of the company.
(j) “secretary” means the company secretary of the company.
(k) “memorandum” means the memorandum of association of the company.
(l) “person” includes an individual, company, corporation and body corporate.
(m) “articles” means the articles of association of the company.
(n) “board” means the board of directors of the company.
(o) “year” used in the context of financial matters shall mean financial year of the company.
(p) Expressions referring to writing shall be construed as including references to typewriting,
printing, lithography, photography and other modes of representing or reproducing words
in visible form.
(q) Words importing the singular number include the plural number and vice versa and words
importing the masculine gender include the feminine gender.
(r) Unless the context otherwise requires words or expressions contained in these Articles
shall be of the same meaning as in the Act or any statutory modification thereof in force
at the date at which these Articles become binding on the company.
MEMBERSHIP
2. The number of members with which the company proposes to be registered is ……, but the
minimum number of members shall not be, at any time, less than three (3). However, the
directors may, from time to time, whenever the company or the business of the company
requires, increase the number of members.
3. The company in general meeting may from time to time lay down the qualifications and
conditions subject to which any person or class of persons shall be admitted to membership of
the company.
4. The rights and privileges of a member shall not be transferable and shall cease on his death or
otherwise ceasing to be a member.
5. The subscribers to the memorandum and such other persons as the directors shall admit to
membership shall be members of the company.
6. One person shall have the right to hold one membership.
ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP
7. The application for seeking membership of the company shall be required to be seconded by
an existing member whereupon the board of directors shall decide the matter of his admission
as member or otherwise within ninety days of making of such application. No minor or lunatic
shall be admitted as a member of the company.
8. Every person, upon applying for admission to membership, shall submit to the company an
undertaking on the stamp paper of appropriate value that:
(a) I have not been associated with any money laundering or terrorist financing activities
and neither have approved receipt of nor received such monies and likewise neither
have approved disbursement of nor disbursed such monies in any manner for money
laundering or terrorist financing purposes; and
(b) I have not been associated with any illegal banking business, deposit taking or financial
dealings or any other illegal activities.
9. The board shall subject to the Articles, accept or reject any application for admission to
membership. The board’s decision shall be final and it shall not be liable to give any reasons
thereof.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [246]
SPECIAL BUSINESS
17. All business that is transacted at an extra ordinary general meeting and that is transacted at an
annual general meeting with the exception of the consideration of the financial statements and
the reports of the director and auditors, the election of directors, the appointment of and the
fixing of remuneration of the auditors shall be deemed special business.
QUORUM
18. No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of members
representing not less than two (2) members or twenty-five percent of the total number of
members of the company, whichever is greater, is present personally or through video-link at
the time when the meeting proceeds to business–
(a) in the case of a public listed company, unless the articles provide for a larger number, not
less than ten members present personally, or through video-link who represent not less
than twenty-five percent of the total voting power, either of their own account or as
proxies;
(b) in the case of any other company having share capital, unless the articles provide for a
larger number, two members present personally, or through video-link who represent not
less than twenty-five percent of the total voting power, either of their own account or as
proxies.
CHAIRMAN OF MEETING
20. The chairman of the board of directors, shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of
the company, but if he is not present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the
meeting, or is unwilling to act as chairman, any of the directors present may be elected to be
the chairman and if none of the directors present is willing to act as chairman, the members
present shall choose one of their number to be the chairman.
ADJOURNMENT
21. The chairman may, with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if
so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time but no business shall be
transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from
which the adjournment took place. When a meeting is adjourned for fifteen (15) days or more,
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Save
as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or of thebusiness
to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
VOTING
22. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote to the meeting shall be decided on a show
of hands and a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried, or carried
unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, and an entry to that effect in the book of the
proceedings of the company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact, without proof of the
number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against that resolution.
CASTING VOTE
23. In the case of an equality of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have and exercise a
second or casting vote.
VOTES OF MEMBERS
24. (1) Votes may be given on any matter by the members either personally or through video-
link or by proxy or by means of postal ballot.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [248]
(2) At any general meeting, the company shall transact such businesses only through postal
ballot as may be notified by the Commission.
OBJECTION TO VOTE
25. No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter except at the meeting or adjourned
meeting at which the vote objected to is given and tendered, and every vote not disallowed at
such meeting shall be valid for all purposes. Any such objection made in due time shall be
referred to the chairman ofthe meeting, whose decision shall be final and conclusive.
FIRST DIRECTORS
30. The following subscribers of the memorandum of association shall be the first directors of the
company, so, however, that the number of directors shall not in any case be less than that
specified in section 154 and they shall hold office until the election of directors in the annual
general meeting:
1. ab
2. cd
3. ef
4. gh
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS
31. The number of directors shall not be less than three (3). The directors of a company shall,
subject to section 154, fix the number of elected directors of the company not later than thirty-
five days before the convening of the general meeting at which directors are to be elected, and
the number so fixed shall not be changed except with the prior approval of a general meeting of
the company such that the minimum number of directors shall not be, at any time, less than
three(3). A retiring director shall be eligible for re-election.
(ii) If the number of persons who offer themselves to be elected is not more than the
number of directors fixed by the directors under sub-section (1) of section 159, all
persons who offered themselves shall be deemed to have been elected as directors.
REMOVAL OF DIRECTOR
34. The company may remove a director through a resolution passed in a general meeting of
members in accordance with section 163 of the Act.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
42. The directors may appoint a person to be the Chief Executive of the company and vest in him
such powers and functions as they deem fit in relation to the management and administration
of the affairs of the company subject to their general supervision and control. The Chief
Executive, if not already a director, shall be deemed to be a director of the company and be
entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the liabilities of that office.
MINUTE BOOKS
45. The directors shall cause records to be kept and minutes to be made in book or books with
(a) all resolutions and proceedings of general meeting(s) and the meeting(s) of directors
and committee(s) of directors, and every member present at any general meeting and
every director present at any meeting of directors or committee of directors shall put his
signature in a book to be kept for that purpose;
(b) recording the names of the persons present at each meeting of the directors and of any
committee of the directors, and the general meeting; and
(c) all orders made by the directors and committee(s) of directors:
Provided that all records related to proceedings through video-link shall be maintained in
accordance with the relevant regulations specified by the Commission which shall be
appropriately recorded into writing and made part of the minute books according to the said
regulations.
SECRETARY
46. The Secretary shall be appointed (or removed) by the chairman of the company with the
approval of the board.
47. The Secretary shall be responsible for all secretarial functions and shall ensure compliance
with respect to requirements of the Act concerning the meetings and record of proceedings of
the board, committees and the general meeting of members, review the applications for
admission to membership and the recommendations accompanying the same to ensure that
they are in the form prescribed, ensure that all notices required by these Articles or under the
Act are duly sent and that all returns required under the Act are duly filed with concerned
Company Registration Office.
COMMITTEES
48. The directors may delegate any of their powers to committees consisting of such member or
members of their body as they think fit and they may from time to time revoke such delegation.
Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers so delegated, conform to any
regulations that may from time to time be imposed on it by the directors.
THE SEAL
52. The directors shall provide for the safe custody of the seal, which shall not be affixed to any
instrument except by the authority of a resolution of the board or by a committee of directors
authorized in that behalf by the directors, and two directors or one director and the Secretary of
the company shall sign every instrument to which the seal shall be affixed.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [252]
FINANCES
53. The funds of the company shall be applied in defraying the expenses and shall be applicable in
or towards the acquisition by purchase, lease or otherwise and furnishing and maintenance of
suitable premises and assets for the use of the company and shall be subject to the general
control and direction of the board.
54. No person, except persons duly authorized by the board and acting within the limits of the
authority as conferred, shall have authority to sign any cheque or to enter into any contract so
as thereby to impose any liability on the company or to pledge the assets of the company.
ACCOUNTS
BOOKS OF ACCOUNT
55. The directors shall cause to be kept proper books of account as required under Section
220 of the Act so that such books of account shall be kept at the registered office or at such
other place as the directors think fit as provided in the said section 220 and shall be open to
inspection by the directors during business hours.
INSPECTION BY MEMBERS
56. The directors shall from time to time determine the time and places for inspection of the
accounts and books of the company by the members not being directors, and no member (not
being a director) shall have any right to inspect any account and book or papers of the
company except as conferred by law or authorized by the directors or by the company in
general meeting.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS
57. The directors shall as required by section 223 of the Act cause to be prepared and to be laid
before the company in annual general meeting such financial statements duly audited and
reports of the auditors and the directors as are required under the Act.
AUDIT
59. Auditors shall be appointed and their duties regulated in accordance with Sections 246 to 249
of the Act.
NOTICE TO MEMBERS
60. Notice shall be given by the company to members and auditors of the company and other
persons entitled to receive notice in accordance with section 55 of the Act.
INDEMNITY
61. Every officer or agent for the time being of the company may be indemnified out of the assets
of the company against any liability incurred by him in defending any proceedings, whether civil
or criminal, arising out of his dealings in relation to the affairs of the company, except those
brought by the company against him in which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is
acquitted, or in connection with any application under section 492 in which relief is granted to
him by the Court.
SECRECY
62. Every director, secretary, auditor, trustee, member of a committee, officer, servant, agent,
accountant, or other person employed in the business of the company shall observe strict
secrecy representing all transactions of the company, and the state of account with individuals
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [253]
and in matters relating thereto and shall not reveal any of the matters which may come to his
knowledge in the discharge of his duties except when required so to do by the directors or the
company in general meeting or by a court of law, and except so far as may be necessary in
order to comply with any of the provisions herein contained.
WINDING UP
63. In the case of winding up or dissolution of the company, any surplus assets or property, after the
satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, shall not be paid or disbursed among the members, but
shall be given or transferred to some other company established under section 42 of the Act,
preferably having similar or identical objects to those of the company and with the approval
required under the relevant provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and under intimation
to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
64. With regard to winding up, the company shall comply with the relevant provisions of the Act
and the conditions of licence granted under section 42 of the Act or any directions contained in
a revocation order passed by the Commission under the said section 42.
We, the several, persons whose names and addresses are subscribed below are desirous of
being formed into a company in pursuance of these articles of association:–
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [254]
SECOND SCHEDULE
SECTION 1
FORM OF STATEMENT AND PARTICULARS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN
(Pursuant to section 19 of the Companies Act, 2017)
1.
2.
3.
11. Particulars of chief executive, directors, company secretary, chief accountant, chief financial
officer, auditor, legal advisor and managing agent (if any) of the company:
(b) Directors:–
1.
2.
3.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [256]
4.
5.
6.
7.
(c) Company Secretary:–
13. Number and amount of shares issued, including those agreed to be taken by virtue of
Memorandum of Association for cash:–
14. Number and amount of shares agreed to be issued for consideration otherwisethan in cash:–
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [257]
15. Number and amount of shares agreed to be issued for consideration otherwise than in cash:–
17. Number and amount of debentures agreed to be issued for consideration otherwise than
in cash:–
Nature of the Number of Rate of the Amount of the Amount of the Direct or
commission debentures agreed commission commission commission indirect
to be subscribed paid payable interest if
against the any, of the
commission persons,
stated in
clause 11
19. Details of the every agreement entered into since the date of incorporation relating to
property or other intangible assets of the value exceeding Rs.100,000/-:–
20. Details of all other material contracts executed or intended to be executed by the company:–
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [258]
S.No. Nature of Dates and Time and Name of the Important Direct or indirect
contract places of place for parties to terms & interest if any, of
execution of inspection contracts conditions the persons,
contracts of contracts of narrated in
contracts clause 11
1.
2.
3.
Date: ……………….
Note:
* In case of Auditor and Legal Advisor, being a firm the name of firm shall bementioned.
** The occupation of the individual and the name(s) of the company(s) in which he holds
the office of Chief Executive/Director shall be mentioned.
*** In case of Auditor and Legal Advisor, the address of his/its office shall bementioned.
SECTION 2
REPORTS TO BE SET OUT
1. Where it is proposed to acquire a business, a report made by auditors (who are named in the
statement) upon:–
(a) the profits or losses of the business in respect of each of the five financial years
immediately preceding the delivery of the statement to the registrar; and
(b) the assets and liabilities of the business as at the last date to which the accounts of the
business were made up.
2. (1) 1where it is proposed to acquire shares in a body corporate, which by reason of the
acquisition or anything to be done in consequence thereof or in connection therewith will
become a subsidiary of the company, a report made by auditors (who shall be named in
the statement) with respect to the profits and losses and assets and liabilities of the other
body corporate in respect of each of the five financial years immediately preceding the
delivery of the statement to the registrar;
(2) If the other body corporate has no subsidiaries, the report referred to in sub-clause (1)
shall–
(a) so far as regards profits and losses, deal with the profits or losses of the body
corporate in respect of each of the five financial years immediately preceding the
delivery of the statement to the registrar;and
(b) so far as regards assets and liabilities, deal with the assets and liabilities of the
body corporate as at the last date to which the accounts of the body corporate were
made up.
(3) If the other body corporate has subsidiaries the report referred to in sub-clause 1) shall–
(a) so far as regards profits and losses, deal separately with other body corporate’s
profits or losses as provided by sub-clause (2), and in addition either–
(i) as a whole with the combined profits or losses of its subsidiaries so far as
they concern members of the other body corporate; or
(ii) individual with the profits or losses of each subsidiary, so far as they concern
member of the other body corporate; or instead of dealing separately with the
other body corporate’s profits or losses, deal as a whole with the profits or
losses of the other body corporate and, so far as they concern members of
the other body corporate, with the combined profits or losses of its
subsidiaries; and
(b) so far as regards assets and liabilities deal separately with the other body
corporate’s assets and liabilities as provided by sub-clause (2) and, in addition,
deal either–
(i) as a whole with the combined assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries, with or
without the other body corporate's assets and liabilities; or
(ii) individually with the assets and liabilities of each subsidiary; and shall
indicate, as respects the assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries, the
allowance to be made for persons other than members of the company.
SECTION 3
PROVISIONS APPLYING TO SECTIONS 1 AND 2 OF THIS STATEMENT
3. (1) Every person shall, for the purposes of the statement, be deemed to be a vendor who has
entered into any contract, absolute or conditional, for the sale or purchase, or for any
option of purchase, of any property to be acquired by the company, in any case where–
(a) the purchase money is not fully paid at the date of the issue of the statement;
(b) the purchase money is to be paid or satisfied, wholly or in part, out of the
proceeds of the issue offered for subscription; or
(c) the contract depends for its validity or fulfilment on the result of that issue.
(2) In case the company was incorporated or the body corporate referred above was
established less than five years before the making of the statement, reference to five
financial years in sections 1 and 2 shall be deemed replaced for the actual period.
4. Any report required by section 2 of the statement shall either–
(a) indicate by way of note any adjustments as respects and figures of any profits or losses
or assets and liabilities dealt with by the report which appears to the person making the
report necessary; or
(b) make those adjustments and indicate that adjustments have been made.
5. Any report by auditors required by section 2 of the statement, shall be made by auditors
qualified under the Act for appointment as auditors of a company.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [261]
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Section 224 and 225 of the Act)
[As amended upto 14-05-2022]
[By SROs 1169(I)/2017, 1092(I)/2018, 1159(I)/2019, 614(I)/2020 & 602(I)/2022]
Classification of Companies
Applicable Relevant
Accounting Schedule of
S.No. Classification Criteria of Company
Framework Companies
Act
1. Public Interest Company (PIC)
Sub-categories of PIC:
a) Listed Company International Fourth
Financial Schedule
Reporting
Standards
b) (i) a public sector company as defined in the Act;
or
(ii) registered and/or licensed under the
Administered Legislation or Rules, or
regulations made thereunder, as follows,–
a) Non-banking Finance Companies which
are Asset Management Companies,
Pension Fund Managers, REIT
Management Companies or DepositTaking
NBFCs;
b) Modaraba Company
c) Insurer
International
d) Securities Exchange
Financial Fifth
e) Commodity Exchange Reporting Schedule
f) Central Depository Standards
g) Clearing House: or
(iii) Registered, notified and/or licensed under the
Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII
of 1962) or Microfinance Institutions
Ordinance, 2001 (LV of 2001), as follows:
a) Banking Company Including Foreign
Banking Company
b) Microfinance Bank]
c) Development FinanceInstitution (DFI) 1[; or
2(iva) all companies engaged in production and
sale of sugar.
2. Large Sized Company (LSC
Sub-categories of LSC
a) Non-listed Company with: International Fifth
NOTE:
1. The classification of a company shall be based on the previous year’s audited financial
statements.
2. The classification of a company can be changed where it does not fall under the previous
criteria for two consecutive years.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [263]
3. The number of employees means the average number of persons employed by a company
in that financial year calculated on monthly basis.
4. Subsidiary companies of a listed company shall follow the requirements of the Fourth Schedule.
5. The Medium Sized Companies that are otherwise required to follow IFRS for SMEs and
Accounting Standards for NPOs, may opt to follow the IFRS notified by the Commission for the
preparation of financial statements.
6. The Small Sized Companies that are otherwise required to follow revised AFRS for SSEs may
opt to follow IFRS notified by the Commission or IFRS for SMEs.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [264]
FOURTH SCHEDULE
(Section 225)
[As amended upto 29-07-2019]
[By SROs 1169(I)/2017 & 888(I)/2019]
in place during the financial year, along with the basis of relationship describing
common directorship and percentage of shareholding;
Explanation: Definition of related party as per International Financial Reporting
Standards shall be considered for the disclosure requirements;
2. In respect of associated companies, subsidiaries, joint ventures or holding companies
incorporated outside Pakistan, with whom the company had entered into transactions or
had agreements and / or arrangements in place during the financial year, following shall
be separately disclosed;
(i) Name of undertaking,1 and country of incorporation;
(ii) Basis of association; and
(iii) Aggregate Percentage of shareholding, including shareholding through other
companies or entities;
2[ ]
3[ ]
4[ ]
3. General nature of any credit facilities available to the company under any contract, other
than trade credit available in the ordinary course of business, and not availed of at the
date of the statement of financial position;
5[ ]
6[ ]
6. In financial statements issued after initial or secondary public offering(s) of securities or
issuance of debt instrument(s) implementation of plans as disclosed in the
prospectus/offering document with regards to utilization of proceeds raised shall be
disclosed till full implementation of such plans;
7[ ]
8. In cases where company has given loans or advances or has made investments (both
short term and long term) in foreign companies or undertakings following disclosures are
required to be made:
(i) Name of the company or undertaking along with jurisdiction where it is located;
(ii) Name and address of beneficial owner of investee company, if any;
(iii) Amount of loan/investment (both in local and foreign currency);
(iv) Terms and conditions and period for which loans or advances or investments
has been made;
(v) Amount of return received;
(vi) Details of all litigations against the Investee company in the foreign jurisdictions;
(vii) Any default/breach relating to foreign loan or investment; and
(viii) Gain or loss in case of disposals of foreign investments.
9. In cases where company has made export sales following disclosures are required to be
made in respect of outstanding trade debts:
1[ ]
(ii) Name of company or undertaking in case of related party; and
(iii) Name of defaulting parties, relationship if any, and the default amount;
2[ ]
10. Shariah compliant companies and the companies listed on Islamic index shall disclose:
(i) Loans/advances obtained as per Islamic mode;
(ii) Shariah compliant bank deposits/bank balances;
(iii) Profit earned from shariah compliant bank deposits/bank balances;
(iv) Revenue earned from a shariah compliant business segment;
(v) Gain/loss or dividend earned from shariah compliant investments;
(vi) Exchange gain earned;
(vii) Mark up paid on Islamic mode of financing;
(viii) Relationship with shariah compliant banks; and
(ix) Profits earned or interest paid on any conventional loan or advance.
PART II
REQUIREMENTS AS TO STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
11. Following items shall be disclosed as separate line items on the face of the statement of
financial position;
(i) Revaluation surplus on property, plant and equipment;
(ii) Long term deposits and prepayments;
(iii) Unpaid dividend;
(iv) Unclaimed dividend; and
(v) Cash and bank balances.
Fixed Assets
12. Where any property or asset acquired with the funds of the company and is not held in the name
of the company or is not in the possession and control of the company, this fact along with
reasons for the property or asset not being in the name of or possession or control of the
company shall be stated; and the description and value of the property or asset, the person in
whose name and possession or control it is held shall be disclosed;
13. Land and building shall be distinguished between free-hold and leasehold;
14. Forced sale value shall be disclosed separately in case of revaluation of Property, Plant and
Equipment or investment property.
15. In the case of sale of fixed assets, if the aggregate book value of assets exceeds five million
rupees, following particulars of each asset, which has book value of five hundred thousand
rupees or more shall be disclosed,
(i) cost or revalued amount, as the case may be;
(ii) the book value;
(iii) the sale price and the mode of disposal (e.g. by tender or negotiation);
(iv) the particulars of the purchaser;
Current Assets
20. In respect of debts/receivables from associates and related parties there shall be disclosed,
(i) the name of each associate and related party;
(ii) the maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time during the year calculated by
reference to month-end balances;
(iii) receivables, that are either past due or impaired, along with age analysis distinguishing
between trade debts, loans, advances and other receivables;
(iv) debts written off as irrecoverable, distinguishing between trade debts and other
receivables;
(v) provisions for doubtful or bad debts distinguishing between trade debts, loans, advances
and other receivables; and
(vi) justification for reversal of provisions of doubtful debts, if any
21. In respect of loans and advances, other than those to employees as per company’s human
resource policy or to the suppliers of goods or services, the name of the borrower and terms of
repayment if the loan or advance exceeds rupees one million, together with the particulars of
collateral security, if any, shall be disclosed separately;
22. Provision, if any, made for bad or doubtful loans and advances or for diminution in the value of
or loss in respect of any asset shall be shown as a deduction from the gross amounts;
ability of the company to distribute or otherwise, shall be disclosed for all kind of reserves
maintained by the company;
24. In respect of issued share capital of a company following shall be disclosed separately;
(i) shares allotted for consideration paid in cash;
(ii) shares allotted for consideration other than cash, showing separately shares issued
against property and others (to be specified);
(iii) shares allotted as bonus shares; and
(iv) treasury shares
24A. Discount on issue of shares shall be shown separately as a deduction from share capital in the
statement of financial position and the statement of changes in equity;
25. Shareholder agreements for voting rights, board selection, rights of first refusal, and block
voting shall be disclosed.
Non-Current Liabilities
26. Amount due to associated companies and related parties shall be disclosed separately.
Current Liabilities
27. Following items shall be disclosed as separate line items;
(i) Payable to provident fund, contributory pension fund or any other contributory retirement
fund;
(ii) Deposits, accrued liabilities and advances;
(iii) Loans from banking companies and other financial institutions, other than related parties;
(iv) Loans and advances from related parties including sponsors and directors along with
purpose and utilization of amounts;and
(v) Loans and advances shall be classified as secured and unsecured.
28. In the case of provident fund, contributory pension fund or any other contributory retirement fund,
maintained by the company a statement that, investments in collective investment schemes,
listed equity and listed debt securities out of aforementioned funds have been made in
accordance with the provisions of section 218 of the Act and the conditions specified
thereunder;
29. In respect of security deposit payable, following shall be disclosed:
(i) Bifurcation of amount received as security deposits for goods/services to be
delivered/provided, into amounts utilizable for company business and others;
(ii) Amount utilized for the purpose of the business from the security deposit in accordance
with requirements of written agreements, in terms of section 217 of the Act; and
(iii) Amount kept in separate bank account.
PART III
REQUIREMENTS AS TO STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSSACCOUNT
31. Following items shall be disclosed as deduction from turnover as separate line items;
(i) trade discount; and
(ii) sales and other taxes directly attributed to sales.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [269]
32. The aggregate amount of auditors’ remuneration, showing separately fees, expenses and other
remuneration for services rendered as auditors and for services rendered in any other capacity
and stating the nature of such other services. In the case of joint auditors, the aforesaid
information shall be shown separately for each of the joint auditors;
33. In case, donation to a single party exceeds 10 per cent of company’s total amount of donation
or Rs. 1 million, whichever is higher, name of donee(s) shall be disclosed and where any
director or his spouse has interest in the donee(s), irrespective of the amount, names of such
directors along with their interest shall be disclosed;
1[ ]
35. Complete particulars of the aggregate amount charged by the company shall be disclosed
separately for the directors, chief executive and executives together with the number of such
directors and executives such as:
(i) fees;
(ii) managerial remuneration;
(iii) commission or bonus, indicating the nature thereof;
(iv) reimbursable expenses which are in the nature of a perquisite or benefit;
(v) pension, gratuities, company's contribution to provident, superannuation and other staff
funds, compensation for loss of office and in connection with retirement from office;
2(v) other perquisites and benefits in cash or in kind stating their nature and, where
practicable, their approximate money values; and
(vi) amount for any other services rendered.
36. In case of royalties paid to companies / entities / individuals, following shall be disclosed:
(i) Name and registered address; and;
(ii) Relationship with company or directors, if any.
FIFTH SCHEDULE
(See section 225)
[As amended upto 29-07-2019]
[By SROs 1169(I)/2017 & 888(I)/2019]
PART II
REQUIREMENTS AS TO STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
6. Following items shall be disclosed as separate line items on the faceof the statement of financial
position;
(i) revaluation surplus on property, plant & equipment;
(ii) long Term deposits and prepayment;
(iii) unpaid dividend;
(iv) unclaimed dividend; and
(v) cash and bank balances.
Fixed Assets
7. Where any property or asset acquired with the funds of the company, is not held in the name of
the company or is not in the possession and control of the company, this fact along with
reasons for the property or asset not being in the name of or possession or control of the
company shall be stated; and the description and value of the property or asset, the person in
whose name and possession or control it is held shall be disclosed;
8. Land and building shall be distinguished between freehold and leasehold.
9. Forced sale value shall be disclosed separately in case of revaluation of property, plant and
equipment or investment property;
10. In the case of sale of fixed assets, if the aggregate book value of assets exceeds five million
rupees, following particulars of each asset, which has book value of five hundred thousand
rupees or more shall be disclosed,–
(i) cost or revalued amount, as the case may be;
(ii) the book value;
(iii) the sale price and the mode of disposal (e.g. by tender or negotiation);
(iv) the particulars of the purchaser;
(v) gain or loss; and
(vi) relationship, if any of purchaser with company or any of its directors.
(iv) the maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time during the year calculated by
reference to month-end balances;
(v) provisions for doubtful loans and advances; and
(vi) loans or advances written off, if any.
Current Assets
15. In respect of debts/receivables from associates there shall be disclosed:
(i) the name of each associate and related party;
(ii) the maximum aggregate amount outstanding at any time during the year calculated by
reference to month-end balances;
(iii) receivables, that are either past due or impaired, along with age analysis distinguishing
between trade debts, loans, advances and other receivables;
(iv) debts written off as irrecoverable distinguishing between trade debts and other
receivables;
(v) provisions for doubtful or bad debts distinguishing between trade debts, loans, advances
and other receivables; and
(vi) justification for reversal of provisions of doubtful debts, if any;
16. Provision, if any, made for bad or doubtful loans and advances or for diminution in the value of
or loss in respect of any asset shall be shown as a deduction from the gross amounts;
Non-Current Liabilities
20. Amount due to associated company shall be disclosed separately;
Current Liabilities
21. Following items shall be disclosed as separate line items;
(i) payable to provident fund, contributory pension fund or any other contributory retirement
fund;
(ii) deposits, accrued liabilities and advances;
(iii) loans from banking companies and other financial institutions other than associated
company;
(iv) loans and advances from associated company, sponsors and directors along with
purpose and utilization of amounts; and
(v) loans and advances shall be classified as secured and unsecured.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [273]
22. In the case of provident fund, contributory pension fund or any other contributory retirement fund,
maintained by the company a statement that, investments in collective investment schemes,
listed equity and listed debt securities out of aforementioned funds have been made in
accordance with the provisions of section 218 of the Act and the conditions specified
thereunder;
23. In respect of security deposit payable, following shall be disclosed:
(i) bifurcation of amount received as security deposits for goods/services to be
delivered/provided, into amounts utilizable for company business and others;
(ii) amount utilized for the purpose of the business from the security deposit in accordance
with requirements of written agreements, in terms of section 217 of the Act; and
(iii) amount kept in separate bank account;
PART III
REQUIREMENTS AS TO STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS
25. Following items shall be disclosed as deduction from turnover as separate line items;
(i) trade discount; and
(ii) sales and other taxes directly attributable to sales.
26. The aggregate amount of auditors’ remuneration, showing separately fees, expenses and other
remuneration for services rendered as auditors and for services rendered in any other capacity
and stating the nature of such other services. In the case of joint auditors, the aforesaid
information shall be shown separately for each of the joint auditors;
27. In case, donation to a single party exceeds 10 per cent of company’s total amount of donation
or Rs. 1 million, whichever is higher name of donee(s) shall be disclosed and where any
director or his spouse has interest in the donee(s) irrespective of the amount, names of such
directors along with their interest shall be disclosed;
1[ ]
29. Complete particulars of the aggregate amount charged by the company shall be disclosed
separately for the directors, chief executive and executives together with the number of such
directorsand executives such as:
(i) fees;
(ii) managerial remuneration;
(iii) commission or bonus, indicating the nature thereof;
(iv) reimbursable expenses which are in the nature of a perquisite or benefit;
(v) pension, gratuities, company's contribution to provident, superannuation and other staff
funds, compensation for loss of office and in connection with retirement from office;
(vi) other perquisites and benefits stating their nature and, where practicable, their
approximate money values; and
(vii) amount for any other services rendered.
30. In case of royalties paid to companies/entities/individuals following shall be disclosed:
(i) Name and registered address; and
(ii) Relationship with company or directors, if any.
SIXTH SCHEDULE
(See section 258)
SEVENTH SCHEDULE
(See section 462 and 469)
[As amended upto 20-04-2023]
[By SROs 794(I)/2017, 228(I)/2018, 766(I)/2018, 1476(I)/2018, 812(I)/2019, 448(I)/2021, 808(I)/2021,
980(I)/2022, 1373(I)/2022, 2308(I)/2022 & 500(I)/2023]
1 Headings of first and second columns as “Item” and “Sub-item” do not exist in the Gazette. These are added to make the
table more meaningful.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [276]
Federal Government
Any other Public Sector Company 100,000 200,000
Medium Sized Company 250,000 500,000
Large Sized Company 350,000 700,000
Public Interest Company, excluding Public 500,000 1,000,000]
Sector Company
(7) For filing, registering or recording any 1,000 1,500
document other than that at Sr. No. (4), (5), (6)
and (6A) above, required to be filed, registered
or recorded under the Act or making a record
of any fact under the Act, a fee of …..
Provided that the aforesaid fee shall be
increased by 10% after the lapse of one year
from the date of this notification.
IV. By a company established outside Pakistan which
has a place of business in Pakistan:–
(1) For filing, registering or recording a document 11,000 22,000
containing charter / statute/ memorandum and
articles, etc. for registration by a foreign
company under the Act required or authorized
to be filed, registered or recorded a fee of…..
(2) For filing, registering or recording any 11,000 15,000
document notifying particulars relating to a
mortgage or charge or pledge or other
interest created by a company, or any
modification therein or satisfaction thereof, a
fee of….
(3) For filing, registering or recording the 11,000 16,500
particulars relating to satisfaction of mortgage
or charge or pledge beyond the period
prescribed under section 109 but not
exceeding one year, a fee of…..
(4) For filing, registering or recording the 16,500 24,750
particulars relating to satisfaction of mortgage
or charge or pledge beyond one year of the
period prescribed under section 109, a fee
of.…
(5) For filing, registering or recording any 1,000 1,500]
document other than that at Sr. No. (2), (3) and
(4) above, required to be filed registered or
recorded under the Act or making a record of
any fact under the Act, a fee of.….
Provided that the aforesaid fee shall be
increased by 10% after the lapse of one year
from the date of this notification.
V. For inspection of documents and register kept by the 200 500
registrar in respect of a company, a fee of…..
VA Annual supervision fee payable by unlisted / unlicensed 100,000 100,000
Public Interest Companies on 1st January each year−
VI. (1) For a certified copy of the certificate of 100 600
incorporation or a certificate of commencement
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [280]
Notes:
(i) The fee for submission of documents electronically shall be applicable only for the
documents for which the facility of filing or lodging the documents electronically has been
provided by the Commission.
(ii) Where no fee has been prescribed for submission of documents electronically, the
documents can only be submitted in physical form.
The Companies Act, 2017–Complete By: Munawar Mirza & Co [285]
EIGHTH SCHEDULE
(See section 477)
The Companies Bill, 2017 intends to replace the Companies Ordinance, 1984 (XLII of
1984) in order to consolidate and amend the laws relating to companies so as to encourage and
promote corporatization in Pakistan based on best international practices. Earlier, amendments
in Companies Ordinance, 1984 were made in piecemeal and were narrowly focused, resulting in
disconnect and overlap in regulatory framework and there is a dire need to review and revamp
the thirty-two years old legislation to provide competitive legal framework for the corporate sector
in Pakistan.
The said Bill will ensure maximum participations of members in decision making
process of the company through use of modern electronic means of communication and aim to
address the issues relating to protection of interest of minority shareholders and creditors. It will
facilitate the growth of economy in general and the corporate sector in particular by providing
simplified procedure for ease of starting and doing business, greater protection investors and
augment corporatization in the country.
The Bill provides adequate manners against fraud, money laundering and terrorist
finances and necessary provisions have been proposed regarding powers of the commission
including joint investigation and provision requiring officers of a company to take adequate
measures to curb such violations.
In order to give immediate impetus to the economy and to stimulate economic growth
there is an emergent need to promulgate the proposed Companies Bill, 2017 to provide relief
and incentives to corporate sectors especially small medium size companies. The market
experts and business community were at unison during various stakeholders’ consultations on
the company law that it should enacted at earliest as it will elevate Pakistan’s economy and
address long standing demands of the business community unless emergent legislative steps
are taken, Pakistan’s corporate sector will not be able to compete with the international market
players without reduction in cost of incorporating and doing business. The encouragement of
use of modern communication technology coupled with simplified regulatory procedure as
envisaged in the new company law will provide much needed relief to corporate sector. Moreover,
Pakistan has recently been upgraded to emerging market status and there is huge international
interest to invest in Pakistan due various policy initiatives of the government. The expeditious
merger and acquisition mechanism is also necessary to address corporate solvency and growth
in Pakistan.
SENATOR MOHAMMAD ISHAQ DAR
Minister for Finance,
Revenue,Economic
Affairs, Statistics and
Privatization