The Senate on Friday passed the Iqbal Academy (Amendment) Bill, 2026 with a majority vote after clause-by-clause consideration.
The bill was introduced in the House by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on behalf of Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the Iqbal Academy Pakistan was established in 1951 under the Iqbal Academy Act and later re-enacted through the Iqbal Academy Ordinance, 1962.
The academy is a statutory body of the Government of Pakistan and serves as a centre of excellence for Iqbal studies.
The statement said that, in pursuance of instructions issued by the Cabinet Division on May 13, 2025, regarding the replacement of the term “Federal Government” with the appropriate authority in relevant laws and rules, the academy proposed amendments to certain provisions of the Iqbal Academy Ordinance, 1962.
The proposed amendments were subsequently vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice. Later, the Cabinet Committee for Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) approved the amendments, which were ratified by the federal cabinet in its meeting held on September 18, 2025.
Six bills referred to committees
The Senate on Friday referred six bills to the relevant committees for further discussion and review.
The bills were introduced in the House by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on behalf of Federal Minister for education and Professional Training Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The proposed laws included amendments to the National Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority Act, 2022, the Centre for Clinical Psychology Centres Act, 1983, and the National Textile University Ordinance, 2002.
The House also received bills seeking amendments to the Area Study Centres Act, 1975, the NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology Multan Act, 2012, and the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, 2023.