Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 — Article 27

27. Safeguard against discrimination in services..—(1) No citizen otherwise qualified for appointment in the service of Pakistan shall be discriminated against in respect of any such appointment on the ground only of race, religion, caste, sex, residence or place of birth: Provided that, for a period not exceeding 2[forty] years from the commencing day, posts may be reserved for persons belonging to any class or area to secure their adequate representation in the service of Pakistan: 1 Omitted and ins. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. X of 2010), ss. 8-9. 2 Subs. and shall be deemed always to have been so subs. by the Constitution (Sixteenth Amendment) Act, 1999 (Act No. VII of 1999), s. 2. Provided further that, in the interest of the said service, specified posts or services may be reserved for members of either sex if such posts or services entail the performance of duties and functions which cannot be adequately performed by members of the other sex 1[:] 1 [Provided also that under-representation of any class or area in the service of Pakistan may be redressed in such manner as may be determined by an Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)]

(2)Nothing in clause (1) shall prevent any Provincial Government, or any local or other authority in a Province, from prescribing, in relation to any post or class of service under that Government or authority, conditions as to residence in the Province, for a period not exceeding three years, prior to appointment under that Government or authority. 28. Preservation of language, script and culture. Subject to Article 251 any section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture shall have the right to preserve and promote the same and subject to law, establish institutions for that purpose. CHAPTER 2 PRINCIPLES OF POLICY