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ACT IX OF 2019 ACT IX OF 2019 BALOCHISTAN MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 2019 An Act to consolidate, alter and amend the law relating to the mentally disordered persons in Balochistan, with respect to their care, treatment and management of their property and other related matters [Gazette of Balochistan Extraordinary, 25th October, 2019] No. PAB/Legis; V (04)/2019, dated 25.10.2019.---The Balochistan Mental Bill No. 04 of 2019 having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on 12th October, 2019 and assented to by the Governor Balochistan, on 24th October, 2019 is hereby published as an Act of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---WHEREAS, it is expedient to consolidate, alter and amend the law relating to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons in Balochistan, to make better provisions for their care, treatment, management of properties and affairs and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto and to encourage community care of such mentally disordered persons and further to provide for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorder; AND WHEREAS in pursuance of the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, the subject matter has been devolved to the provinces, therefore; It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER - IV LEAVE AND DISCHARGE 21. Discharge of a patient.---(1) The psychiatrist in-charge of the treatment of a patient, may by order in writing, direct discharge of the patient at any time he deems it appropriate. (2) Where any order of discharge is made under subsection (1), in respect of a person who has been admitted or is undergoing treatment as a patient in pursuance of an order of a referring authority, a copy of such order shall be immediately forwarded to that authority by the psychiatrist in charge. (3) Any person admitted in a psychiatric facility under an order made in pursuance of an application made under this Act, may be discharged on an application made to the psychiatrist in charge: Provided that no patient shall be discharged under this section if the psychiatrist in charge certifies in writing that the patient is unfit to be discharged for reasons of his own health and safety or the safety of others.