Pakistan’s Administrative System
🟢 Lite — Quick Review (1h–1d)
Rapid summary for last-minute revision before your NLT Pakistan exam.
Pakistan’s Administrative System — Key Facts
Federal Structure
- Federal Government: President, Prime Minister, Cabinet
- 4 Provinces: Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan
- Provincial Governments: Chief Minister, Governor, Provincial Assembly
- Local Governments: District, Tehsil, Union Council levels
Provincial Assemblies
| Province | Seats | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab | 371 | Lahore |
| Sindh | 168 | Karachi |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 145 | Peshawar |
| Balochistan | 65 | Quetta |
Federal Subjects (Exclusive)
- Defense, foreign affairs, currency, banking, customs, communications
Provincial Subjects (After 18th Amendment)
- Police, law and order, local government, health, education, agriculture
⚡ NLT High-Yield: Know provincial assembly seats, federal vs provincial subjects.
🟡 Standard — Regular Study (2d–2mo)
Chapter: Pakistan’s Administrative System
1.1 Federal Government
President
- Indirectly elected by Parliament and Provincial Assemblies
- Ceremonial head (after 18th Amendment)
- Commander in Chief of armed forces
- Can dissolve National Assembly (on PM’s advice — after 18th Amendment requires confidence vote)
Prime Minister
- Chief executive (real power)
- Leader of majority party in National Assembly
- 5-year term
Cabinet
- Collective responsibility to National Assembly
1.2 Parliament
National Assembly
- 342 seats (266 general, 60 women, 16 minorities)
- Direct elections
- 5-year term
- Speaker (presiding officer)
Senate
- 100 seats (14 each from 4 provinces)
- Indirect elections (by provincial assemblies)
- 6-year term (one-third retire every 3 years)
1.3 Provincial Governments
Chief Minister
- Head of provincial government
- Leader of largest party in Provincial Assembly
Governor
- President’s representative (ceremonial after 18th Amendment)
Provincial Assemblies
| Province | General Seats | Women Seats | Minorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab | 297 | 66 | 10 |
| Sindh | 130 | 29 | 9 |
| KP | 115 | 26 | 4 |
| Balochistan | 51 | 11 | 3 |
1.4 Local Government
2013 Local Government Act
- District: Head = District Nazim
- Tehsil: Tehsil Municipal Officer
- Union Council: Lowest tier
Functions
- Sanitation, water, local roads
- Property tax collection
- Birth/death registration
- Municipal services
1.5 Federal vs Provincial Subjects
Federal Subjects (Exclusive)
- Defense and armed forces
- Foreign affairs
- Currency and banking
- Customs and federal excise
- Communications (postal, telegraph)
- Federal taxes (income tax)
- Citizenship and immigration
Provincial Subjects (After 18th Amendment)
The Concurrent List was abolished by 18th Amendment. Now provinces have:
- Police and law and order
- Health
- Education
- Agriculture and livestock
- Local government
- Environment
- Social welfare
1.6 NLT Pakistan High-Yield Points
⚡ Commonly Asked:
- Punjab Assembly seats: 371
- Sindh Assembly seats: 168
- KP Assembly seats: 145
- Balochistan Assembly seats: 65
- Federal subjects: Defense, foreign affairs, currency
- Provincial subjects: Police, health, education (after 18th Amendment)
- 18th Amendment: Devolved powers to provinces
- Local government: District, Tehsil, Union Council
- President election: Indirect (by Parliament and Provincial Assemblies)
- PM: Chief executive, leader of majority party