Quick answer: Pakistan’s statute book holds nearly 1,000 federal acts, but a short list does most of the work: the Constitution (1973), the Pakistan Penal Code (1860), the Criminal and Civil Procedure Codes, the Contract Act (1872), the Companies Act (2017), the NAB Ordinance (1999) and PECA (2016). Each governs a distinct slice of national life — rights, crime, business, corruption and the internet.
The constitutional acts
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 stands alone at the top — everything else must conform to it. Its 26 amendments (the latest in 2024) have reshaped everything from provincial autonomy (18th Amendment, 2010) to judicial appointments (26th Amendment, 2024). Treat it as Act No. 1 in importance even though it is not called an “act”.
Crime and procedure
The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 defines offences and punishments; the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 runs arrests, FIRs, bail and trials; the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 governs evidence. Together they are the criminal-justice system in three volumes — and the source of every section number in a news report.
Business and money
The Contract Act, 1872 governs agreements; the Companies Act, 2017 (administered by the SECP) governs incorporation and corporate governance; the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 and Sales Tax Act, 1990 govern taxation; and the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956 anchors monetary regulation. The NAB Ordinance, 1999 created the accountability regime for corruption — amended repeatedly, most hotly in 2022–23.
Modern regulatory acts
Newer statutes cover newer problems: PECA, 2016 (electronic crimes, amended 2025), the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and a growing body of climate, data and consumer-protection legislation. Read any of them in full, free, on the Pakistan Code portal — and see the complete Pakistan law guide for the system they belong to.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important act in Pakistan?
The Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 — the supreme law. Among ordinary statutes, the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 affects the most lives.
What is PECA in Pakistan?
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 — Pakistan’s cybercrime law, covering hacking, online harassment and fake news; amended in 2025.
What is the NAB Ordinance?
The National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 — the statute behind NAB, Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog; repeatedly amended since 2022.
