Governor of Punjab, Pakistan

The Governor of Punjab is the appointed head of state of the provincial government in Punjab, Pakistan. Although the Governor is the head of the province on paper, it is largely a ceremonial position; and the main powers lie with the elected Chief Minister of Punjab and the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the senior-most bureaucrat in the province.

Governor of Punjab
Incumbent Sardar Saleem Haider Khan since 10 May 2024
Style	The Honorable (formal)
Residence	Governor's House
Seat	Lahore
Nominator	Prime Minister of Pakistan
Appointer	President of Pakistan
Term length	5 years
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Pakistan
Formation	15 August 1947
First holder	Sir Francis Mudie
Website	governorhouse.punjab.gov.pk

However, throughout the history of Pakistan, the powers of the provincial governors were vastly increased, when the provincial assemblies were dissolved and the administrative role came under direct control of the governors, as in the cases of martial laws of 1958–1972 and 1977–1985, and governor rules of 1999–2002. In the case of Punjab, there was direct governor rule in 1949–1951, when the provincial chief minister of that time was removed and assemblies dissolved.

Powers of Governor

Executive Powers related to appointment, removal , oath taking etc.

Legislative powers related to provincial assembly of Punjab.

Judicial powers related to Lahore High Court or judiciary.

Executive Powers

Governor is ceremonial and appointed head of Province. He is appointed by President on advice of Prime Minister of Pakistan. All executive powers are exercised by Chief Minister and cabinet on his behalf. He is bound to act on the advice of the Chief Minister and cabinet. He serves until removed by the President on the advice of Prime Minister.

Governor is chancellor of public sector universities in Punjab. As chancellor , he appoints Vice Chancellors of public sector universities. He can take action against employees of universities for any unlawful acts.

He appoints provincial ministers on advice of Chief Minister amongst members of provincial assembly of Punjab.

He appoints care taker chief minister after consultation with Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition.

He appoints care-taker cabinet on advice of care-taker chief minister.

This is constitutional obligation of provincial government to kept him inform on all matters of provincial administration and legislative proposals bring before provincial assembly.

He has constitutional authority to invite chief minister to obtain vote of confidence from majiority members of provincial assembly. If he fails he can remove him from post of chief minister. He can exercise this power only when he is satisfied that chief minister has lost confidence of members of provincial assembly.

He appoints Advocate General of Punjab on advice of Chief Minister.

He appoints chairman of Punjab Public Service Commission on advice of Chief Minister.

He can exercise executive powers directly without advice of the chief minister but during governor rule. Governor rule is imposed by President on advice of Prime Minister in emergency situations i.e. financial emergency, constitutional breakdown and when there is threat of war and external aggression.

He take oath from elected and care taker chief minister and members of cabinet

Legislative Powers

All bills passed by provincial assembly of Punjab becomes acts only when assented by Governor or deemed to be assented after passage of certain time according to constitution.

Governor can refuse to sign the bills if he thinks that there is any issue or a bill is not according to constitutional provisions. If the bill is again passed by the provincial assembly with or without amendment, the governor is bound to assent the bill. If he again refuses to sign the bill, it automatically becomes act after passage of certain time, according to the constitution.

The governor can dissolve provincial assembly on advice of chief minister. He can refuse to dissolve the assembly but after 48 hours assembly will be automatically dissolved.

He can also dissolve the provincial assembly in his discretion when no confidence motion against chief minister is successfully passed and no other member of provincial assembly is able to elected as chief minister.

Finance Act which is also passed by provincial assembly is assented by Governor. He can not refuse to sign it because it is money bill.

He has constitutional authority to announce date of general election after dissolution of provincial assembly not later than 90 days.

He can promulgate ordinances when he is satisfies that assembly is not in session on advice of Chief Minister and cabinet.

The reports of auditor general shall be submitted to the governor who shall cause them to be laid to provincial assembly.

Judicial Powers

Chief Justice of Lahore High Court take oath before Governor.

Lahore High Court may have Benches at such other places determined by Governor on advice of cabinet and in consultation with chief justice of Lahore High Court.

The Governor in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court to make rules to provide the following matters, that is to

say,—

(a) assigning the area in relation to which each Bench shall have

exercise jurisdiction vested in the High Court; and

(b) for all incidental, supplemental or consequential matters.

List of governors

Governors of West Punjab

No.	Name	Portrait	Term of office			Party
1	Sir Francis Mudie		15 August 1947	2 August 1949	1 year, 352 days	-
2	Abdur Rab Nishtar		2 August 1949	24 November 1951	4 years, 114 days	Muslism League
3	I. I. Chundrigar		24 November 1951	2 May 1953	1 year, 182 days
4	Mian Aminuddin		2 May 1953	24 June 1954	1 year, 53 days
5	Habib Rahimtoola		24 June 1954	26 November 1954	155 days	Muslism League
6	Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani		26 November 1954	14 October 1955	322 days

Governors of West Pakistan^[1]

No.	Name	Portrait	Term of office			Form of Government	Party
(6)	Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani		14 October 1955	27 August 1957	1 year, 317 days	Democratic government	Muslim League
7	Akhter Husain		September 1957	12 April 1960		Military government	Independent
8	Amir Mohammad Khan		12 April 1960	18 September 1966	6 years, 159 days	Military government / Civilian authority	Muslim League
9	General (retd.) Muhammad Musa		18 September 1966	20 March 1969	2 years, 183 days	Civilian Authority	Independent
10	Yusuf Haroon		20 March 1969	25 March 1969	5 days	Civilian Authority	Civilian Government

Martial Law Administrator

No.	Name	Portrait	Tenure			Form of Government	Service in effect
11	Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman		25 March 1969	29 August 1969	157 days	Military Government	Pakistan Army
12	Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan		29 August 1969	1 September 1969	3 days	Military Government	Pakistan Army
13	Air Marshal Nur Khan		1 September 1969	1 February 1970	153 days	Military Government	Pakistan Air Force
14	Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman		1 February 1970	1 July 1970	150 days	Military Government	Pakistan Army

Punjab Province

No.	Name	Portrait	Term of office		Duration	Party
(14)	Lieutenant-General Attiqur Rahman		1 July 1970	23 December 1971	1 year, 175 days	-
15	Ghulam Mustafa Khar		23 December 1971	12 November 1973	1 year, 324 days	Pakistan People's Party
16	Sadiq Hussain Qureshi		12 November 1973	14 March 1975	1 year, 122 days
(15)	Ghulam Mustafa Khar		14 March 1975	31 July 1975	139 days
16	Mohammad Abbas Abbasi		31 July 1975	5 July 1977	1 year, 339 days
17	Aslam Riaz Hussain		5 July 1977	18 September 1978	1 year, 75 days	-
18	Lieutenant-General Sawar Khan		18 September 1978	1 May 1980	1 year, 226 days	-
19	Lieutenant-General Ghulam Jilani Khan		1 May 1980	30 December 1985	5 years, 243 days	-
(16)	Sajjad Hussain Qureshi		30 December 1985	9 December 1988	2 years, 345 days	-
(12)	Tikka Khan		9 December 1988	06 August 1990	1 year, 240 days	Pakistan People's Party
20	Mian Muhammad Azhar		6 August 1990	25 April 1993	2 years, 262 days	Pakistan Muslim League
21	Chaudhary Altaf Hussain		25 April 1993	19 July 1993	85 days	Pakistan People's Party
22	Iqbal Khan		19 July 1993	26 March 1994	250 days
(21)	Chaudhary Altaf Hussain		26 March 1994	22 May 1995	1 year, 57 days
23	Raja Saroop Khan		19 June 1995	6 November 1996	1 year, 140 days
24	Khawaja Tariq Rahim		11 November 1996	11 March 1997	120 days	-
25	Shahid Hamid		11 March 1997	18 August 1999	2 years, 160 days	Pakistan Muslim League (N)
26	Zulfiqar Ali Khosa		12 August 1999	25 October 1999	74 days
27	Muhammad Safdar		25 October 1999	29 October 2001	2 years, 4 days	-
28	Khalid Maqbool		29 October 2001	16 May 2008	6 years, 200 days	-
29	Salmaan Taseer*		17 May 2008	4 January 2011	2 years, 232 days	Pakistan People's Party
30	Latif Khosa		13 January 2011	2 January 2013	1 year, 355 days
31	Syed Ahmed Mahmud		3 January 2013	13 May 2013	130 days
32	Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar		2 August 2013	29 January 2015	1 year, 180 days	Pakistan Muslim League (N)
33	Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana		7 May 2015	18 August 2018	3 years, 103 days
(32)	Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar		5 September 2018	3 April 2022	3 years, 180 days	Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
33	Omar Sarfraz Cheema		3 April 2022	10 May 2022	37 days
34	Baligh Ur Rehman		30 May 2022	10 May 2024	1 year, 346 days	Pakistan Muslim League (N)
35	Sardar Saleem Haider Khan		10 May 2024	Incumbent	360 days	Pakistan People's Party

See also

• Chief Minister of Punjab
• Senior Minister of Punjab (Pakistan)
• Leader of the Opposition Punjab
• Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab
• Government of Punjab
• Provincial Assembly of the Punjab
• List of current Pakistani governors
• List of current Pakistani chief ministers