Senior Bureaucratic Promotions Remain Stalled
Promotions from Grade 21 to Grade 22 in the federal bureaucracy remain delayed.
The High-Powered Selection Board has not yet been convened. This has slowed the promotion process for senior civil servants awaiting elevation to the country’s highest civil service grade.
According to sources, the Establishment Division has completed all administrative preparations for the board meeting. However, the formal schedule has not been issued yet.
The meeting will be announced only after instructions are received from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The delay has created uncertainty among senior officers. Several important federal positions also remain linked to the outcome of the promotion process.
Establishment Division Sends Promotion Panels
Sources said the Establishment Division has already forwarded panels of eligible officers to the Prime Minister’s Office.
These panels include officers who fall within the promotion zone. Their cases will be reviewed by the High-Powered Selection Board once the meeting is scheduled.
The last meeting of the board was held in March 2025. Since then, no new meeting has taken place for Grade 22 promotions.
This means the process has remained pending for nearly one year and three months.
The upcoming meeting is expected to be chaired by either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister.
More Than 30 Officers May Be Promoted
The board is expected to consider several senior officers from different services and groups.
These include seven officers from the Pakistan Administrative Service and five officers from the Police Service of Pakistan.
One officer each from the Secretariat Group, Inland Revenue Service, and Information Group may also be considered.
Overall, more than 30 officers from various occupational groups are expected to be promoted to Grade 22, subject to approval.
Sources said the meeting may also decide postings and transfers of some promoted officers.
Grade 22 promotions are highly important in Pakistan’s civil service system. They determine eligibility for key administrative and policymaking roles in the federal government.
The prolonged delay has affected senior-level decision-making. It has also left several top positions waiting for final decisions.
