Status of the Districts in Pakistan

Scouting movement in Pakistan is governed by the Ordinance No. XLIII of 1959 (known as Pakistan Boy Scouts Association Ordinance, 1959) and the subsequent rules, latest being those published vide SRO 140/KE/93 in the Gazette of Pakistan, Extra July 27, 1993, and known as Pakistan Boy Scouts Association Rules, 1992. These rules of 1992 which define the policies to follow organizational setup for effective management and rules for administration of Pakistan Boy Scouts Association (PBSA) are also termed as Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of PBSA.

The District is a branch of Sindh Boy Scouts Association (SBSA), one of the ten (10) Provincial Scouts Associations of PBSA which comprises of a setup of twenty seven (27) Districts through out the Sindh Province. Primarily, scouting movement is practically being managed in the country by Provincial Scouts Associations and the purpose of the Districts is to manage the movement with efficacy and as per the rules and regulation of PBSA. There are four (04) Scouts Districts in Karachi namely (i) City Scouts District Karachi, (ii) Karachi Open District, (III) Private Schools Management District, Karachi and (iv) Ismaili District Boy Scouts Association (I.D.B.S.A.), Karachi.

The I.D.B.S.A. was formed in 1994; as per decision of the Executive Committee of SBSA to form a separate District, namely Ismaili District Boy Scouts Association (I.D.B.S.A.), for management of twenty (20) Ismaili Scouts Groups of Karachi which were earlier registered with Karachi Open Scouts District. The total strength of Ismaili Scouts at that time of transition was around 4,500 members.

It is a mandatory requirement for all the Scouts Groups of Pakistan to get registration with respective Provincial Scouts Association through their concerned District Scouts Association. Therefore, at present, all the twenty four (24) Ismaili Scouts Groups and two (02) Pipe Bands of Karachi with more than 5500, members are registered with Sindh Boy Scouts Association (SBSA) through the Ismaili District.

Role of the District

Each District of SBSA is responsible for implementing the National Training Policy & System as well as National Youth Programme Policy & Systems of PBSA at the Scouts Groups level and has to follow stringently regulatory procedures as outlined in the POR and frequent instructions from the national and provincial headquarters.

Each District has an exclusive mandate to ensure that principles of scouting movement are being adhered to by their concerned Scouts Groups and therefore it is solely responsible for:

- monitoring and accountability of Scouts Groups

- implementation of training for youth members of all three sections, viz. Shaheens, Scouts and Rovers, as mentioned in the National Youth Programme, Policy and System

- grooming and upgrading of leaders as per National Training Programme, Policy and System including organization of courses for leaders

- execution of scouting activities including camps, hikes and other events as part of requirements of various training course

- nomination of youth and adult leaders for provincial, national and international scouting events, activities and programmes

- appointment and re-appointment of Scouters including Group Scout Leaders and issuance of warrants for their appointments

- nomination for various scouting awards

Setup of the District

As per POR, each Scout District is required to have its own District Scout Council and an Executive Committee.  Accordingly, Ismaili District has a District Scout Council which comprises of members of the Group Councils of registered Ismaili Scouts Groups and of the Executive Committee, with the following composition:

District Commissioner

Assistant District Commissioner(s)

District Secretary

District Treasurer

District Joint Secretary

District Quarter Master

District Registrar

District Public Relation Officer

District Organiser

District Rover Leader(s)

District Scout Leader(s)

District Shaheen Leader(s)

General members elected from each Area (I, II, III)

Assistant Leader Trainer(s).

The District Commissioner is appointed by the Provincial Scout Commissioner as per POR Rule No. 97 while Assistant District Scout Commissioner(s) are appointed upon the recommendation of District Commissioner, as per POR Rule No. 98. For the rest of the designations, procedure is followed as per POR and approved Bye-Laws of the District.