Establishment Division issues federal recruitment policy

Official handout says ministries and divisions will ensure merit and transparency in recruitment process

ISLAMABAD: Over a month after the government lifted a ban on recruitment for federal jobs, the Establishment Division under the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif  issued on Saturday its first  recruitment policy for federal services, autonomous bodies and corporation. 

According to an official handout, “Administrative ministries and divisions shall ensure merit and transparency in the recruitment process at all levels.”

It also stated that the policy in pursuance of the Establishment Division’s order of September 25, 2014 regarding lifting the ban on recruitment under the federal government, will be applicable to ministries, divisions, attached departments, subordinate offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations , companies and authorities.

According to the policy, the recruitment to posts in BPS-16 and above shall continue to be made through the Federal Public Service Commission as before.

“The initial appointment to posts which are required to be made on an all-Pakistan basis shall be made under rule-14 of the Civil Servants (appointment, promotion and transfer) Rules, 1973,” the handout stated,” the handout stated.

It further added that, “The initial appointment to posts in BPS-3 to BPS-15 and equivalent in offices which are required to serve only in a particular Province/Region shall be filled by appointment of persons domiciled in the Province/Region concerned under rule-15 of the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1973.”

“Vacancies in posts in BPS-1 and BPS-2 and equivalent shall ordinarily be filled on local basis under rule-16 of the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1973,” said the official handout.

Initial appointments would be made strictly in accordance with the provisions contained in the recruitment rules of the post concerned.

However, in the absence of recruitment rules, ministries, divisions, attached departments, subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, companies and authorities are first required to frame the recruitment rules and lay down the eligibility conditions for such appointments.

“No recruitment shall be made in the absence of approved recruitment rules,” it stated, adding that the no objection certificate (NOC) from the surplus pool of the Establishment Division will continue to be obtained for all recruitments.

Further, national, provincial and regional newspapers would be used to advertise vacancies for each ministry, division, department, autonomous body and corporation, “as per the provincial/regional quota”.

Additionally, the said departments are to finalise recruitments within 60 days from the date of the advertisement.

“No direct advertisements would be placed by any organization,” it said.

“Draft advertisements to be published for recruitment may be submitted to the Establishment Division for routing of the same to the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.”

Applicants will be required to apply on a prescribed format without being asked for copies of their educational qualification – and will be given a “minimum of 15 days for the receipt of applications”.

However, at the time of the written test and interview, candidates may be asked to bring original certificates and documents.

The official handout also stated that, “Candidates using or attempting to use any extraneous influence at any level shall be liable to be disqualified.”

“The regional/provincial quota, women quota, minorities (non-Muslim) quota and disabled persons quota, or any other quota prescribed should clearly be indicated against the vacant post(s) advertised,” the handout stated.

The required qualification and age limit as provided in the recruitment rules – including the general age -- should also be advertised clearly, and vacancies in posts should only be filled against the approved sanctioned strength of the said category.

According to the policy, any deficiency in the existing provincial and regional representation – and if any in the federal services including autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies – may be adjusted.