The Pakistan Administrative Service, or PAS ( ur, ) (previously known as the District Management Group or DMG before 1 June 2012) is an elite cadre of the Civil Services of Pakistan. The Pakistan Administrative Service over the years has emerged as the most consolidated and developed post-colonial institution in Pakistan, with the PAS officers of Grade 22 often seen as stronger than the federal government ministers. The service of PAS is generalist in nature and officers are assigned to different departments all across Pakistan during the course of their careers. Almost all of the country's highest-profile positions such as the Federal Secretaries, the provincial Chief Secretaries, and chairmen of top-heavy organizations like the

National Highway Authority The National Highway Authority (NHA; ur, ) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Communications (MoCom) of Pakistan. History In 1978, the Government of Pakistan federalised five important inter-provincial roads and named them ''National ...

Trading Corporation of Pakistan The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) ( ur, ) is a Pakistani state-owned commodity trading company, mainly responsible for export and import of commodities. It also issues tenders for export and import of agricultural products. TCP has its of ...

and

State Life Insurance Corporation The State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan, commonly known as State Life or SLIC, ( ur, ) is the largest life insurance company of Pakistan, and is one of the largest companies in Pakistan by assets. It maintains an agency network of aroun ...

usually belong to the Pakistan Administrative Service. Pakistani Flag

Officers in this occupational group are recruited through a national competitive examination held once a year by the

Federal Public Service Commission The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) ( ur, ) is a federal agency of Government of Pakistan that is responsible for recruiting civil servants and bureaucrats for Government of Pakistan. History The Public Service Commission was set ...

. Those selected for this group have to undergo a two-year training programme at the

Civil Services Academy Situated in Lahore, Pakistan, the Civil Services Academy Lahore is an academy for training the young bureaucrats of the country who are commissioned by the Federal public service commission through a very competitive and tough exam known as C ...

(CSA) in

Lahore Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest ...

Notable PAS officers

Ghulam Ishaq Khan Ghulam Ishaq Khan ( ur, غلام اسحاق خان; 20 January 1915 – 27 October 2006), was a Pakistani bureaucrat who served as the seventh president of Pakistan, elected in 1988 following Zia's death until his resignation in 1993. He wa ...

Chaudhry Muhammad Ali Chaudhry Muhammad Ali (Urdu, pa, ; 15 July 1905 – 2 December 1982), best known as Muhammad Ali, was a Pakistani politician and statesman who served as the fourth prime minister of Pakistan, appointed on 12 August 1955. His government trans ...

Farooq Leghari Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari ( ur, ; 29 May 194020 October 2010), was a Pakistani politician who served as the eighth president of Pakistan from 14 November 1993 until resigning on 2 December 1997. He is the first Baloch to have been elected as ...

Qudrat Ullah Shahab Qudrat Ullah Shahab (or Qudratullah Shahab, ur, ; 26 February 191724 July 1986) was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan. Shahab holds the distinction of having served as the Principal Secretary to three heads ...

Shehzad Arbab Muhammad Shehzad Arbab is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served as Advisor to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Establishment from August 2018 to 10 April 2022. Before his retirement from civil services, Arbab served in BPS-22 grade as th ...

Raja Muhammad Abbas Raja Muhammad Abbas (born 20 December 1953) is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Federal Secretary Ministry of Interior, Board of Investment, & Ministry of Housing & Works. Interior Secretary of Pakistan and C ...

Kamran Rasool Kamran Rasool (born April 9, 1948) is a retired Pakistani civil servant belonging to the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan, Chief Secretary Punjab and later on as the Defence Secret ...

Nargis Sethi Nargis Sethi ( ur, ) is a retired Pakistani civil service officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Other heav ...

Shahjehan Syed Karim Shahjehan Syed Karim was a Pakistani civil servant and educator who served in Grade 22, BPS-22 grade as the Information Secretary of Pakistan and Chief Secretary Sindh. He is best known as founder of Institute of Business Management, one of Paki ...

Nasir Mahmood Khosa Nasir Mahmood Khosa is a retired Pakistani civil servant from Dera Ghazi Khan who belonged to the Pakistan Administrative Service and served in BPS-22 grade, the highest attainable rank for a serving officer. He was promoted to the rank of Feder ...

Tasneem Noorani Tasneem Noorani is a retired Pakistani civil servant who has served in BPS-22 grade as the Interior Secretary and Commerce Secretary of Pakistan. Education Tasneem attended Pakistan Air Force School Sargodha for high school from 1956 to ...

Syed Darbar Ali Shah Syed Darbar Ali Shah (21 July 1923 – 20 June 1996) was a Pakistani civil servant who served as a Central Superior Services officer. He held many important administrative positions, including that of Commissioner Karachi during the 1965 War betwe ...

* Mutawakil Kazi *

Shahid Aziz Siddiqi Shahid Aziz Siddiqi () (born January 26, 1945 – November 7, 2019) in Lucknow, India) was a Pakistani bureaucrat who served as Chairman State Life Insurance and Chairman National Highway Authority. He has also remained the Vice Chancellor of the ...

Maroof Afzal Maroof Afzal (died 10 December 2020) was a Pakistani civil servant who belonged to the Pakistan Administrative Service and served as the Establishment Secretary and Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan. Biography He served in BPS-22 grade as the Cab ...

* Rizwan Ahmed *

Naveed Kamran Baloch Naveed Kamran Baloch is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabinet Secretary and Finance Secretary of Pakistan. Baloch belonged to the Pakistan Administrative Service and was promoted to the rank of Federal Sec ...

Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade (highest attainable rank for a serving officer) as the Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan. Sukhera did his Bachelor's degree in Economics from the London Sch ...

Azam Suleman Khan Maj (r) Azam Suleman Khan ( ur, میجر (ر) اعظم سلیمان خان ) is a retired Pakistani civil servant who serves as the Ombudsman of Punjab. He previously served in BPS-22 grade as the Interior Secretary of Pakistan, Chief Secret ...

Kamran Lashari Kamran Lashari is a retired Pakistani civil servant of the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-22 grade as the Petroleum Secretary of Pakistan and Chief Secretary Sindh. Lashari is best known for his five-year stint as chairman of ...

Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri Mir Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri is a retired Pakistani civil servant of the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-22 grade as the Establishment Secretary of Pakistan and Chief Secretary Balochistan. Lehri is the most decorated federal secret ...

Shoaib Mir Memon Shoaib Mir Memon is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Education Secretary of Pakistan and Chief Secretary Balochistan. Memon belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and was promoted to the rank of Feder ...

Mumtaz Ali Shah Mumtaz Ali Shah is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Maritime Secretary of Pakistan and Chief Secretary Sindh. Hailing from Sindh, Shah joined the Pakistan Administrative Service after passing the Central Supe ...

Allah Bakhsh Malik Allah Bakhsh Malik is a social scientist, public policy advisor, academic, researcher, and author with experience in management, education and institutional and human development. He served as Secretary for Education during 2017-2019. Malik was c ...

* Iqbal Hussain Durrani *

Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad is a retired Pakistani civil servant who serves as chairman of the Federal Land Commission of Pakistan (with status of a Federal Minister), in office since April 2020. Previously, he served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabi ...

Syed Abu Ahmad Akif Syed Abu Ahmad Akif is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Cabinet Secretary and Climate Change Secretary of Pakistan. Akif belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and was promoted to the rank of Federal ...

Jawad Rafique Malik Jawad Rafique Malik (Urdu: جواد رفیق ملک) is a Pakistani civil servant who serves in BPS-22 grade as Industries Secretary of Pakistan. Hailing from Lahore, Malik belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with ...

Tariq Bajwa Tariq Bajwa is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Finance Secretary and Economic Affairs Secretary of Pakistan. Bajwa also served as the 19th Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and the 20th Chairman of ...

Fawad Hasan Fawad Fawad Hasan Fawad ( ur, ) (born 14 January 1960) is a retired Pakistani civil servant who served in BPS-22 grade as the Principal Secretary to two Prime Ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Fawad belongs to the Pakistan Adminis ...

Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqi Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqi is a Pakistani civil servant who serves in BPS-22 grade as the Commerce Secretary of Pakistan, in office since July 2020. Faruqi belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and was promoted to the rank of Federal ...

Sikandar Sultan Raja Sikandar Sultan Raja is a retired Pakistani civil servant who serves as the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, in office since January 2020. He belongs to the Pakistan Administrative Service and is batchmates with Rizwan Ahmed, Hussain As ...

Fazal Abbas Maken Fazal Abbas Maken is a retired Pakistani civil servant, belonging to the Pakistan Administrative Service, who retired in BPS-22 grade. He remained Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan from 14 August 2018 until his retirement on 21 March 2019. Prior t ...

Agha Jan Akhtar Agha Jan Akhtar is a retired officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service who served in BPS-21 grade as the Chairman of the Port Qasim Authority under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he served as a provincial ...

* Masood Khaddarposh *

Aftab Ghulam Nabi Kazi Aftab Ghulam Nabi Kazi ( ur, آفتاب غلام نبی قاضی; 6 November 1919 – 9 August 2016) , also known as AGN Kazi, was a Pakistani civil servant and a bureaucrat during the Cold War and during the post cold war. Kazi was born in S ...

Roedad Khan Roedad Khan ( Urdu: روئیداد خان; born 28 September 1923) is a Pakistani politician and former civil servant. He was a leading figure in Pakistan from the start to the end of the Cold War. During his long career, Khan was one of the m ...

Ishrat Hussain Ishrat Husain is a Pakistani banker and economist who served as the dean of the Institute of Business Administration (2008-2016) and the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (1999-2006). He presently serves as Advisor to Prime Minister Imran ...

* Masood Mufti *

Mustafa Zaidi Mustafa Zaidi (born Syed Mustafa Hasnain Zaidi; 10 October 1930 – 2 October 1970) was a Pakistani Urdu poet and a civil servant. Early life In 1954, he passed the competitive examination and was sent to England for training before being ...

Mumtaz Mufti Mumtaz Husain, better known as Mumtaz Mufti ( ur, ; September 11, 1905 – October 27, 1995), was a writer from Pakistan.Aminullah chaudhry *

Usman Ali Isani Usman Ali Isani is a former senior Pakistani bureaucrat, educationist and a philatelist. He was born in 1934 in his village Bado of Shikarpur District. He is alumnus of Prince of Wales Royal Military College Dheradhoon. Later, after the Indo ...

Shafqat Mahmood Shafqat Mahmood ( Punjabi, ; 19 February 1950) is a Pakistani bureaucrat-turned-politician who served as thFederal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training and Federal Minister for National History and Literary Heritage, from 2 ...

Orya Maqbool Jan Orya Maqbool Jan () is a Pakistani columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, i ...

Rabiya Javeri Agha Rabiya Javeri Agha (born Rabiya Adila Javeri on December 2, 1963) is the Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights in Pakistan and a retired civil servant officer who served in the Government of Pakistan in BPS-22 grade as Federal S ...

* Hamza Shafqaat

History

The

Indian Civil Service The Indian Civil Service (ICS), officially known as the Imperial Civil Service, was the higher civil service of the British Empire in India during British rule in the period between 1858 and 1947. Its members ruled over more than 300 million ...

(ICS)—also known once as Imperial Civil Service in

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

, predecessor of the Civil Service of Pakistan and District Management Group—was established by the British to colonize India and perpetuate the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi language, Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Q ...

. After Indian independence in 1947, the Indian Civil Service component ceded to Pakistan was renamed the Civil Service of Pakistan. In 1954, an agreement was reached between the Governor General of Pakistan and the governors of the provinces to constitute an All-Pakistan service valid throughout Pakistan. Later under the administrative reforms of 1973, the name of Civil Service of Pakistan was changed to District Management Group, which became one of thirteen occupational groups under the All-Pakistan Unified Groups (APUG). Since 1973, each year a new batch of officers undergo a "Common Training Programme" (CTP) which includes officers of thirteen occupational groups at the

Appointments of PAS Officers

After completing initial training and probation at the Civil Services Academy, officers are posted in field offices throughout Pakistan on Basic Pay Scale (BPS)-17 grade appointments. Officers of the rank of Captains (within 3 to 6 years' service) and equivalents from defense services are also inducted (in three occupational groups; P.A.S, Police and Foreign Services) on allocated quota after recommendations of Chairman Federal Public Service Commission. This quota was introduced by President General Zia ul Haq through an infamous amendment to the law primarily to have domination of military over civil bureaucracy and is still in vogue. Officers of PAS are first appointed typically as Assistant Commissioners of sub-divisions. They will simultaneously be charged with the responsibilities of Assistant Commissioners of Sub-Divisional level. The Basic Pay Scales (BPS grades) are enumerated (in order of increasing responsibility) such as:

Post-devolution (2001) scenario

Post devolution, local government ordinance PLGO 2001. The Divisional Governments/Administrative Divisions were abolished by the then President Pervaiz Musharraf in 2001 and hence the office of Divisional Commissioner was abolished. The Office of Deputy Commissioner was upgraded/up scaled and designated as District Coordination Officer DCO and was deprived of the powers of District Magistrate. However, in 2008, after the presidency of General Musharraf,

provincial governments of Pakistan The four provincial governments of Pakistan administer the four provinces of Pakistan. There is also a federal capital territory and two disputed regions which have similar governments but with some differences. The head of each province is a non ...

again established the office of Divisional Commissioner. In 2011 and 2017, the term DCO was also re named as Deputy Commissioner in Sindh and Punjab provinces respectively and District Magistracy continues to be exercised in the

federal capital A federal capital is a political entity, often a municipality or capital city, that serves as the seat of the federal government. A federal capital is typically a city that physically encompasses the offices and meeting places of its respective gov ...

; however, the institution of the office of the Deputy Commissioner has been deprived of its previously held judicial powers elsewhere in the country.

References

External links