The federal government has finalised a proposed Rs11 billion civil service restructuring package, targeting recruitment, promotions, training and performance-linked rewards.
The plan proposes 11 professional cadres and major changes to the Central Superior Services examination. It awaits approval before implementation.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired Saturday’s consultation. Participants included Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Federal Minister Aleem Khan, former PTI minister Asad Umar, policymakers and sector specialists.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s two reform committees have held 18 meetings since September 2024. They reached consensus on 43 of 46 recommendations.
The package addresses concerns about declining bureaucratic standards and insufficient specialisation.
Proposed groups include HR, Law, Engineering, Science and Technology, IT and Telecom, Energy, Climate, Agriculture and Forestry, Education and Health.
Recruitment would match candidates’ specialisations, ending allocations to fields they have never studied. Placement would follow the principle of the “right person for the right job”.
The government would transform the Establishment Division into a Human Resource and Organisation Development Division. Federal decision-making would shrink from five tiers to three.
A proposed National Executive Service would open BS-20 and higher posts to competition. Serving officers, private-sector professionals and academics would compete equally for five-year contracts with published performance targets.
The Police Service and Foreign Service would remain outside this arrangement.
Drawing on Army practices, promotion boards would apply prescribed criteria collectively. Progression would become increasingly selective at senior levels.
CSS papers in Urdu, new assessment model
The CSS examination would continue. Candidates could attempt five compulsory papers in Urdu: Essay, Précis and Composition, Islamiat, Pakistan Studies and Current Affairs.
Functional English proficiency would remain a screening requirement.
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The preliminary test’s passing threshold would rise from 33% to 40%. The package would introduce analytical reasoning and remove negative marking.
A multi-day, competency-based assessment modelled on ISSB would replace the one-day viva voce. Recruitment assessments would examine psychometric attributes, emotional intelligence and leadership.
Specialised training and multi-tier performance reviews would support the new system.
Published assessment criteria and full digitisation would accompany a recruitment cycle lasting six months or less. Affirmative measures would address unfilled quota seats for Balochistan, Sindh, minorities and women.
Each ministry would sign an annual performance agreement with the prime minister. Individual targets would flow from those commitments.
Officials would undergo twice-yearly evaluations. The package would reserve 5% of employee-related expenditure for performance-based honoraria and pilot performance-linked pay in the federal secretariat.
A proposed retirement package includes a Rs5 million lump sum financed through monthly deductions, alongside subsidised health insurance.
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The National Management Course would run for 10 weeks instead of 18. A National University of Public Administration would combine existing national and specialised training institutions.
The package requires no constitutional amendment, according to the proposal. Following approval, an implementation committee would oversee execution and report monthly to the prime minister.
The government would target full implementation within 120 days of approval.
