New BS-22 Promotion Rule for Civil Servants Announced

ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced a new rule barring civil servants from further consideration for BS-22 promotions if they have been reviewed twice but were not recommended. The decision, formalized through S.R.O. 255(I)/2025, was announced by the Establishment Division on March 5, 2025. The notification cites the Civil Servants Act, 1973 as the legal basis for the amendment.

As per the notification, a new clause has been added to the Civil Servants (Promotion to the post of Secretary, BS-22 and equivalent) Rules, 2010. It states that any officer reviewed twice for promotion to BS-22 by the High Powered Selection Board but not recommended will be deemed ineligible for further consideration. This amendment aims to streamline the promotion process and address the backlog of pending promotions within the federal bureaucracy.

The notification, issued under the authority of Abdul Qayyum Kakar, Section Officer (CP-VI), emphasizes the government’s intention to make the promotion system more efficient and merit-based. Analysts believe this move could impact a significant number of senior bureaucrats who have been awaiting promotion despite multiple considerations.

The new rule is seen as a part of broader efforts to reform the civil service structure by ensuring that only the most qualified officers advance to the highest ranks. However, it has also sparked discussions within bureaucratic circles, with some officials arguing that the amendment may limit career progression unfairly.

The Civil Servants Act, 1973, which governs the rules and regulations for federal employees, has seen multiple amendments over the years to improve administrative efficiency. The latest change reflects ongoing attempts to refine the civil service promotion system amid rising demands for transparency and accountability in the federal bureaucracy.