Federal jobs: Govt works out new recruitment policy

Asks ministries and divisions to ensure merit and transparency.

ISLAMABAD:

The establishment division on Saturday issued a recruitment policy for the federal services, autonomous bodies and corporations. The policy will be applicable to ministries, divisions, attached departments, subordinate offices, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, companies and authorities, according to official handout.

As per the recruitment policy, recruitment to posts in BPS-16 and above shall continue to be made through the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) ‘as hitherto fore’. It said the initial appointment to posts that are required to be made on an all-Pakistan basis shall be made under Rule 14 of the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1973.

“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,” the statement said. It said vacancies in posts in BPS-1 and BPS-2 and equivalent would ordinarily be filled on a local basis under Rule 16 of the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion & Transfer) Rules, 1973. “The initial appointment shall be made strictly in accordance with the provisions contained in the recruitment rules of the post concerned,” it said.

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

“No recruitment shall be made in the absence of approved recruitment rules,” it said, adding that an NOC shall continue to be obtained for all recruitment from the surplus pool of the establishment division.

According to the handout, vacancies in each ministry, division, department, autonomous body, corporation – as per the provincial/regional quota etc – shall be advertised through widely published national, provincial and regional newspapers. “Minimum of 15-day time limit may be given for receipt of applications,” it said.

The policy said applicants would be required to apply on a prescribed format without being asked for copies of educational qualification. However, at the time of written test/interview, candidates might be asked to bring with them original certificates/documents for satisfaction of the authority.

“The regional/provincial quota, Women quota, minorities (non-Muslim) quota and disabled persons quota, or any other quota prescribed from time to time, should expressly and clearly be indicated against the vacant post(s) advertised,” the policy said.

It said the required qualification and age limit as provided in the recruitment rules – including general age relaxation – should also be clearly laid down in the advertisement.  The vacancies in posts should be filled only against the approved sanctioned strength of the said category, it added.

“The ministries, divisions, departments, attached departments, sub-ordinate offices, autonomous bodies, semi-autonomous bodies, corporations, authorities etc., are required to finalise the recruitment within 60 days from the date of advertisement,” it said.

According to the handout, the administrative ministries and divisions shall ensure merit and transparency in the recruitment process at all levels. The candidates using or attempting to use any extraneous influence at any level shall be liable to be disqualified.

“Draft advertisements to be published for recruitment may be submitted to Establishment Division for routing of same to Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. No direct advertisements would be placed by any organization,” the policy stated.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2014.