How To Register a ‘SOCIETY’ Under The Societies Registration Act 1860

Anoosha Shaigan How To Guide, Law FAQs

Given the growing trend towards the startup-culture, an increasing number of people, especially the youth, is interested in formalizing innovative ideas as well as giving legal cover to charitable activities. For these purposes, it is highly recommended that you register yourself.

  • Having a different regulatory framework than that for companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and cooperative societies, the Societies Registration Act 1860 applies to charitable societies with a wide range of public benefit purposes.
  • Under the Act, societies may be formed, by way of a memorandum of association, by any seven or more people associated for any literary, scientific or charitable purpose.
  • 3 copies of the rules and regulations of the society, along with the memorandum of association, have to be filed with the Registrar of Societies.
  • The memorandum has to contain the proposed name of the society and its objectives, plus the names, addresses and occupations of the members of the governing body, by whatever name that governing body may be called (Board of Directors / Management / Presidency, etc.), and duly signed for consent by all the members forming the society (CNIC and affidavit).
  • Applicants would also be required to submit an affidavit on stamp paper confirming the authenticity of the documents filed and stating that there is neither any dispute nor litigation pending against the proposed society.
  • It is advisable to seek legal assistance in order to draft the memorandum and rules & regulations.
  • A fee of approximately Rs. 520/- is payable for registration.
  • Processing time: 2-3 weeks, but would take longer if any document /article / memorandum is incomplete or missing.
  • In Punjab for instance, the District offices of the Industry Department are responsible for registering organizations under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The Registrar can be contacted at: Website: http://icid.punjab.gov.pk/doi.html
    Address : Directorate of Industries, Ponch House, Lahore (Next to Chuburji)

Phone : 0092-42-99211520-21
Fax : 0092-42-99211522

Anoosha Shaigan

Author: Anoosha Shaigan

The writer is a human rights and technology lawyer with an LLM degree in Tech, Media & Telecom Law from Queen Mary UK. She is a High Court Advocate and certified Legislative Drafter, working on legal and political reforms in human rights, international law, gender justice and legal innovation for over 12 years. She serves as the VP and Editor of Courting The Law, Pakistan’s first legal news and analysis portal with various initiatives that leverage technology to improve access to justice. She also serves as VC of the Legal Informatics Committee at Lahore High Court Bar Association, Asia’s oldest and biggest bar. She has worked with various government ministries and international organizations and was also elected on the Governance and Accountability Council of the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community. She has authored the Legislative Brief on Right To Information law for Parliament and has also been nominated as a Young Political Leader by the US Department of State, having served as the Honorary Deputy Secretary of State in Indiana during the US Presidential Election in 2016.