In a significant move aimed at enhancing governance and improving bureaucratic performance, the Establishment Division has implemented a new strategy focused on promoting the best performers while holding underachievers accountable.
This new strategy has already been applied at the Departmental Selection Board (DSB) level, targeting officers from the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), and Office Management Group (OMG).
On August 6, 2024, the Departmental Promotion Board convened to evaluate the promotion of BS-18 officers from PAS, PSP, and OMG. Only a select few who met the merit criteria were promoted, while the majority were deferred or superseded due to unsatisfactory performance. Specifically, out of 106 PAS officers considered, only 28 were promoted, 15 were granted acting charge promotions, 50 were deferred, nine were placed under performance watch, and four were superseded.
Similarly, in the Police Service, out of 58 officers evaluated, 17 were promoted, eight received acting charge promotions, 24 were deferred, five were put on performance watch, and four were superseded. In the OMG, 43 out of 189 officers were promoted, 23 received acting charge promotions, 115 were deferred, and seven were placed under performance watch.
According to an official source, the DSB’s focus on merit aimed to advance the best performers while ensuring accountability for those who underperformed. This process is guided by a commitment to fostering a civil service that is efficient, capable, and driven by meritocracy.
The Establishment Division, through this DSB, has set a precedent for promoting professionalism and integrity within the civil service. The criteria for supersession and performance included below-average Performance Evaluation Reports (PERs), average training evaluations, allegations of financial misconduct, and inappropriate behavior toward the public.
Officers placed on the performance watch list were identified as disinterested in active service or involved in misuse of official authority for personal gain. Other issues included inaccessibility to the public, poor work habits, questionable financial integrity, disciplinary problems, and non-compliance with Establishment Division orders.
Those granted acting charge promotions have advanced temporarily due to missing criteria and will be re-evaluated in the next board meeting.
