ISLAMABAD: After a 16-month hiatus, the Central Selection Board (CSB) will meet in the last week of November to consider the promotion of senior bureaucrats.

As per rules, the CSB is required to meet twice a year.

The federal government has convened the CSB meetings from Nov 25 to 27 to consider the promotion of bureaucrats to BS-20 and BS-21.

A notification issued by the establishment division states, “A meeting of the Central Selection Board (CSB) to consider promotion cases of officers from BS-19 and from BS-20 off all Occupational Groups/Services and Ex Cadre posts will be held on Nov 25, 26 and 27.”

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According to the notification, in addition to the regular service cadres, the CSB will consider promotions of officials of various ministries, departments as well as Inter-Services Intelligence and Intelli­gence Bureau. All relevant federal secretaries, Federal Board of Rev­e­nue chairman, chief secretaries and the inspectors general of police have been asked to attend the meeting.

Reports sought to consider promotion of senior bureaucrats as several other retire before the much-awaited meeting

The notification stated that retired Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz Satti, who is chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), will preside over the CSB meeting. Promotion of scores of civil servants delayed for months, as the government had earlier failed to appoint FPSC chairman on time. Under the Civil Servants Act, only a regular FPSC chairman can head the CSB meeting to consider the promotion of bureaucrats from Grades 19 to 21.

Mr Satti, who was appointed days before his retirement in the army, took oath of his office this month.

Several bureaucrats eligible for promotion to BS-20 and BS-21 retired in the lower grade after achieving the age of superannuation as the CSB meeting could not be held since July 2023.

Finally, the establishment division in the start of October 2024 sent an office memorandum to all secretaries of ministries, divisions and the auditor general of Pakistan, seeking names and details of all cadre and ex-cadre officers in the promotion zone for the CSB meeting.

Also, a form was provided to be signed by the relevant secretary or additional secretary in charge before submitting the officers’ panels. It was made mandatory to include the annual performance reports of officers up to Dec 31, 2023. The last five years of performance evaluation reports were sought, along with reports of mandatory training courses, including SMC, NMC, and NDU courses.

The establishment division instructed that records of any penalties imposed on the officers up to Grade 17 should also be provided for those whose names are sent to the panel.

It should be specified if any conviction has occurred in any criminal case, including under the NAB ordinance, or if any relief was obtained in the cases. A record of any action(s) taken under the E&D rules has also been sought.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2024