— An executive instruction cannot override, curtail, or dilute a statutory command — The executive directions must yield to the statute, and any inconsistency must be resolved in favour of the legislative mandate. [2026 CJ Review 3]

— Legitimate expectation — Scope — Where a public authority, through a consistent course of conduct or an express representation, creates a legitimate expectation in favour of beneficiaries, such expectation cannot be defeated arbitrarily or capriciously — The doctrine of legitimate expectation, as consistently recognized by the Superior Courts of Pakistan, obliges public institutions to act fairly, consistently, and in a non-discriminatory manner, particularly where rights and benefits under a social welfare scheme are involved. [2026 CJ Review 3]

— Promissory estoppel — Scope — The principle of promissory estoppel restrains a public authority from resiling from a position that has been consciously adopted and acted upon by affected persons, unless an overriding public interest so demands and such departure is sanctioned by law — Indeed, an authority which has the power to make an order ordinarily also possesses the power to rescind or modify it — However, this principle is subject to a well-recognized exception: where an order has taken legal effect and, in pursuance thereof, certain rights have accrued in favour of an individual, such an order cannot be withdrawn or rescinded to the detriment of those vested rights. [2026 CJ Review 3]