Constitution-making after independence
Pakistan initially used an adapted form of the Government of India Act 1935 while the Constituent Assembly developed a permanent constitutional framework. The Objectives Resolution of 1949 established guiding principles for the new state.
The Constitutions of 1956 and 1962
The 1956 Constitution established the Islamic Republic of Pakistan with a parliamentary and federal framework. The 1962 Constitution introduced a presidential system and a different institutional design.
The consensus Constitution of 1973
The 1973 Constitution was adopted through parliamentary consensus and remains the foundation of Pakistan’s federal parliamentary system. It defines the roles of Parliament, the President, the Prime Minister, the courts, the provinces and other constitutional institutions.
Constitutional development through amendments
Successive amendments have refined the distribution of authority, electoral arrangements, judicial provisions and federal–provincial relations. The Eighteenth Amendment of 2010 is especially important for parliamentary government and provincial autonomy.
Current official text
Readers should consult the National Assembly’s official consolidated edition for the operative text and amendment history.
Official sources
Last reviewed: 17 October 2026.