Pakistan Administrative Service


The Pakistan Administrative Service, or PAS is the most elite and prestigious cadre of the Civil Service of Pakistan. The Pakistan Administrative Service over the years has emerged as the most consolidated and developed civil institution, with the senior PAS officers of Grade 22 often seen as stronger than the federal government ministers. The service of PAS is very versatile 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 organisations like the National Highway Authority, Trading Corporation of Pakistan and State Life Insurance Corporation usually belong to the elite Pakistan Administrative Service.
Currently Rabiya Javeri Agha serves as the first female president of the Pakistan Administrative Service. Officers in this group are recruited through an extremely high competitive examination held once a year by the Federal Public Service Commission. Those selected for this group have to undergo a two-year training programme at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore.

History

The Indian Civil Service —also known once as Imperial Civil Service in British India, predecessor of the Civil Service of Pakistan and District Management Group—was established by the British to bolster the British Raj. After Indian independence in 1947, the Indian Civil Service component ceded to Pakistan was initially renamed the Pakistan Administrative Service. Later, it 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 administrative reforms of 1973, the name of Civil Service of Pakistan was changed to All-Pakistan Unified Group, which consists of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Police Service of Pakistan and Secretariat Group. Since 1973, each year a new batch of officers undergo a "Common Training Programme" which includes officers of various occupational groups at the Civil Services Academy.

Presidents of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS)

The Pakistan Administrative Service Association is headed by a President who is assisted by a Senior Vice President, four provincial Vice Presidents, a Secretary General, a Treasurer and 11 members of the Central Executive Committee, duly elected by the PAS officers in an annual general meeting.
Since 1948, there have been 24 presidents of the PAS. Quite aptly, the position of the President of the Pakistan Administrative Service Association is considered to be a highly prestigious positions in Pakistan.
PresidentTerm of AppointmentRemarks
1948-1950The first President of Pakistan Administrative Service Association.
1950-1954The second President, was a distinguished civil servant who remained Foreign
Secretary,Defense Secretary and later Governor West Pakistan.
Justice Mohd Shahabuddin1954-1955He was an illustrious civil servant who chose the judicial career and rose to
become the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Mr. Mian Bashir Ahmad1955-1957Remained the Federal Secretary of Pakistan for 2 terms.
Mr Aziz Ahmad1957-1958He remained Pakistan's top diplomat as Foreign Secretary--- and after his
retirement from service-as Foreign Minister.
1958-1962Justice Kayani's judgments as the Chief Justice of West Pakistan High Court are still cited.
He authored many books, some of which are compendiums of his public addresses.
Mr. Qamar ul Islam1962-1966He remained Cabinet Secretary, then Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and lastly,
Pakistan's ambassador to the European Union in Brussels.
1966-1970He served as Chief Justice of Pakistan. He was also Chairman of Anwar ul Haq Commission
on Civil Service Reforms.
Mr. Irfan Ahmad Imtiazi1970-1974He was the last President of the Association before its initial dissolution. He wrote a book on
“Public Administration in Pakistan” in 2008.
Mr. Safdar Kazmi1985-1988Former Federal Secretary, was the first President after restoration of the Association in the 1980's.
Mr. Pervez Ahmad Butt1988-1993Served as Federal Secretary as well as Chairman of COMSATS.
Mr Syed Naseer Ahmad1993-1996Served as Secretary Railways and Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources, and was the
longest serving Home Secretary of Punjab.
Mr. Javed Akram1996-2001Served as Establishment Secretary, Member Federal Public Service Commission and the
Chief Census Commissioner of Pakistan.
Mr. Hafeez Akhtar Randhawa2001-2002Served as Additional Chief Secretary and Chief Secretary of Punjab and Chairman of the
Bank of Punjab.
Mr. Shakeel Durrani2002-2003He served as Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federal Secretary Railways/
Chairman Railway and Chairman WAPDA.
Mr. Hamayun Farshori2003-2005Served as the Chairman P&D Punjab and Federal Secretary for Commerce and Industries.
Mr. Abdul Rauf Chaudhry2006-2007Served as Federal Secretary of Housing and Works, Education Secretary and Cabinet Secretary.
Mr Ismail Qureshi2007-2009He was the 17th President of the Association. He has remained Establishment Secretary,
Secretary Water and Power, and prior to that, Provincial Health Secretary.
2011-2013A BPS-22 Grade Officer, Mr. Javed was also the Kashmir Affairs and
Gilgit-Baltistan Division secretary, was transferred and posted as Disaster
Management Division Secretary in 2011.
Mr. Agha Nadeem2013-2014
BPS-22 Grade Officer & Acting President of PAS in 2013.
2014-2016A BPS-22 Grade Officer, Mr. Jaura served as the Federal Secretary,
Ministry of National Food Security & Research and as PAS President for
a full 2-year term.

2016-2018		A BPS-22 Grade Officer, Mr. Yunus served as Finance Secretary in 2019
and as PAS President for a full 2-year term.
PRESENT
2018 - 2020		The first female President of PAS, Rabiya Javeri Agha currently serves as Federal Secretary
at the Ministry of Human Rights. A BPS-22 Grade Officer, she is one of the senior most
female officers in the country's Central Superior Services in the bureaucracy.

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 -17 grade appointments. Officers of the rank of Captains and equivalents from defense services are also inducted on allocated quota after recommendations of Chairman Federal Public Service Commission.
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 are enumerated such as:
GradeAppointmentRemarks
BPS-17
  • Under Secretary to Provincial Government
  • Section Officer in Federal Secretariat
  • Assistant Commissioner
  • Assistant Political Agent
  • Assistant Director of Federal / Provincial Department
Field appointment of AC combines roles of Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Assistant Collector
BPS-18
  • Deputy Secretary to Provincial Government
  • Senior Section Officer in Federal Secretariat
  • Deputy Commissioner for a smaller district
  • Political Agent for a smaller agency
  • Additional Deputy Commissioner for a larger district
  • Additional Political Agent for a larger agency
  • Deputy Director of a Federal / Provincial Department
Field appointment of DC combines roles of District Magistrate and Collector
BPS-19
  • Deputy Secretary to the Government of Pakistan
  • Additional Secretary to Provincial Government
  • Additional Commissioner of a Larger Administrative Division.
  • Deputy Commissioner for a larger district
  • Political Agent for a larger agency
  • Project Manager for Federal Scheme
  • Director of a Federal / Provincial Department
BPS-20
  • Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan
  • Secretary to Provincial Government
  • Member Provincial Board of Revenue
  • Commissioners of Administrative Divisions
  • Director General of Federal Department
  • Project Director for Federal Scheme
    		• Commissioners of Divisions were previously under Members of Board of Revenue but now they are directly responsible to the Chief Secretary of respective ProvinceEquivalent to Brigadier of the Armed Forces
    BPS-21
    • Acting Secretary to the Government of Pakistan
    • Additional Secretary to the Government of Pakistan
    • Additional Chief Secretary to Provincial Government
    • Chairman Provincial Planning and Development Board
    • Senior Member Provincial Board of Revenue
    • Commissioners of Larger Administrative Divisions
    • Chairman of Federal Organisations
    • Chief Executive / Managing Director of Public Corporation
    • Chief Secretary to AJK / Gilgit-Baltistan Government.
    		Equivalent to Major General of the Armed Forces
    BPS-22
  • Federal Secretary
  • Chief Secretary to Provincial Government
  • Director General of Autonomous Federal Department/Agency
  • Chairman of Autonomous Federal Organisation
  • Managing Director / Chief Executive of Autonomous Public Corporation
    		• Highest attainable rank for a serving officer Equivalent to Lieutenant General of the Armed Forces

    Post-devolution (2001) scenario

    Magistracy continues to be exercised in the federal capital; however, the institution of the office of the Deputy Commissioner has been deprived of its previously held legal authority elsewhere in the country.

    Notable PAS officers