In terms of Section 204A of the Companies Ordinance, 1984, a listed company shall have a whole time secretary and a single member company shall have a secretary possessing such qualification as may be prescribed.The Code of Corporate Governance, in clause (xv), also requires the appointment of a company secretary whose terms and conditions of appointment shall be determined by the Chief Executive Officer with the approval of the board of directors. 

Qualifications of company secretary, appointed in terms of Section 204A of the Companies Ordinance are prescribed in Rule 14 B of the Companies (General Provisions and Forms) Rules, 1985. These qualifications are as follows:  

a)      A member of a recognized body of professional accountants;

b)      A member of a recognized body of corporate/chartered secretaries;

c)      A retired government servant in BS-19 or equivalent or above with at least fifteen years service; and

d)     A person holding a masters degree in Business Administration or Commerce or being a Law Graduate from a university recognized by Higher Education Commission and having at least two years relevant experience:

Provided that a person already engaged by a company as secretary before the 26th October, 2002 may continue in that capacity if he has an experience of not less than five years in that position.