Pakistan Post, CGA powers dispute intensifies

Conflicting orders over postings, transfers create uncertainty among accounts officers

RAWALPINDI:

A dispute between Pakistan Post and the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) over administrative control of the departmental accounts cadre, transfers, postings and other employment-related matters has intensified.

Both sides have issued conflicting orders based on the same court decision.

On July 14, the Chief Accounts Officer, Pakistan Post, stated that the accounts cadre of Pakistan Post, comprising accounts officers, assistant accounts officers, junior accountants, senior auditors and junior auditors, was under the administrative control of the Chief Accounts Officer through the Controller General of Accounts.

The same authority was declared competent to deal with transfers, postings and other employment-related matters.

Two days later, Pakistan Post rejected this position, stating that administrative control of the departmental accounts cadre rested with the Director General Pakistan Post and that the Chief Accounts Officer had no authority to interfere in the department's internal administrative affairs.

In its latest order issued on August 6, Pakistan Post declared the orders issued by the Chief Accounts Officer on July 14 and 16 to be without legal authority and annulled them. The Controller General of Accounts' order dated October 17, 2025 was also declared to be based on an incorrect interpretation of the court decision and relevant law.

Pakistan Post clarified that administrative control over BS-18 accounts officers had been restored to the Director General Pakistan Post.

The Chief Accounts Officer was directed to immediately hand over to Pakistan Post the personal files, salary and service records, details of transfers and postings and other relevant documents of these officers.

The Chief Accounts Officer had also been directed to return the records on May 18, 2026, but the instruction was not followed.

In the latest order, the Chief Accounts Officer was directed to refrain from interfering in Pakistan Post's internal administrative affairs. It stated that administrative matters concerning the accounts cadre would be handled by the Director General Pakistan Post or the relevant postmasters general.