PAKISTAN

PM approves plan to cut promotions

A proposal to reduce the quota levels for promotions to the elite Central Superior Services (CSS) of Pakistan has received approval from the country’s Prime Minister, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
   The changes will see Pakistani public sector officials serving at the BPS-20 level in the Secretariat Group compete for fewer fixed quota promotions, a move which has led critics to forecast more friction among several groups in the country’s top bureaucracy.
   A spokesperson for the Cabinet Division said the approved plan proposed cuts to BPS-21 posts and senior joint secretary (SJS) posts from a two-thirds quota to a one-third quota.
   “The pretext given is that Secretariat Group officials are generally promoted faster while those from other groups take longer to move up the ladder,” the spokesperson said.
   The granting of approval has prompted many officials to speak out against the changes with opponents saying it was not accurate to say that that the group was fast moving in promotions as most promotional candidates had completed 22 years of service at BPS-20 level or below.
   However others have called for the quotas to be abolished altogether.
   Former chairman of the Monopoly Control Authority and CSS officer, Saleem Asghar Mian said all appointments should be made on merit alone.
   “If posts become available in BPS-21 or 22 which are in the Federal Secretariat or in the provincial governments, they should be equally distributed on merit among various cadres,” Mr Mian said.
   “The best officers should be given promotion irrespective of their original service group.”

Islamabad, 8 January 2013
Edition 344, 15 January 2013
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