Pakistan Study Centre was established under and Act of the parliament, passed in 1976. The Act defined the purpose of the Centre as being the creation of national cohesion through the study of languages, literatures, social structure, customs, attitudes and motivations of the people of various regions of Pakistan.

To achieve this objective, Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi designed a comprehensive multi-disciplinary course which is taught at the Masters level. Over the years, the Centre has also emerged as one of the most prestigious research centres in the country producing quality research publications and journals.

Even though the Centre was established in September 1977, its first Director was appointed in 1982. The Board of Governors was appointed in 1983; the Board’s first meeting was held on 7 August 1983. According to the requirement of the Act, an Academic Committee was also constituted the same year. Therefore, it would be apt to say that the Centre formally started functioning in 1983.