LAHORE: The Provincial Management Service Association (PMSA), Punjab, has alleged persistent discrimination against the province’s executive civil service in promotions, postings, key appointments and even allotment of official residences.
In a seven-page ‘Charter of Demands’, issued by PMSA President Qamar Zaman Qaisrani on Nov 7, the association has urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to order correction of the imbalance, saying it undermines the principles of merit, transparencyand fairness, which are part of her good governance vision.
The association alleges a skewed postsharing formula, delayed promotion boards, occupation of 79.3pc of the key posts by the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officers, postings under Section 9, and lack of transparency in house allotment, provision of loans and forming panels for key appointments.
It seeks a meeting with the chief minister, where the PMSA office-bearers want to present proposals for merit-based reforms.
Seeking her personal intervention for transparent and equitable reforms, the association says the resolution of these issues would help restore confidence and professional motivation among the PMS officers, as well as strengthen provincial governance and administrative efficiency.
Highlighting its foremost concern, theassociation pointed at extremely slow career progression, particularly to BS-19 and above. It says Punjab has around 1,300 PMS officers against about 336 PAS officers, yet the existing post-sharing formula disproportionately restricts promotional opportunities for the provincial service officers.
Under the formula, BS-22 posts are reserved 100pc for the PAS, with zero share for the PMS. For BS-21 posts, the PAS’ share is 65pc against 35pc for the PMS, while for BS-20 slots, it is 60pc for the PAS and 40pc for the PMS. Only for BS-19 slots, the share is equal for both.
The association says the disparity becomes evident when Punjab PMS officers are compared with officers of corresponding provincial services in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan inducted in the same batch. While officersof the 2008 batch in the three other provinces have progressed to BS-20, their counterparts in Punjab remain in BS-18, it states.
Mr Qaiserani stated that only two promotion boards for the BS-19 and above, and one for BS-17 to BS-18, were held in the last three years, against the required quarterly meetings, a delay that prejudices officers and creates shortages at senior levels. It also questioned the neutrality of the Provincial Selection Boards (PSBs), which were headed by PAS officers, whose service interests may conflict with those of PMS officers.
With no fixed schedule, the PMSA president states promotion meetings remain pending for up to two years. In order to ensure impartiality, the association proposes that the PSB be headed by the Punjab Public Service Commission chair-man, with elected representatives as members, on the pattern of the Central Selection Board for PAS officers, to eliminate perceptions of discrimination and conflict of interests.
The association says the PMS officers face significant disparity in key field and secretariat assignments. Of 41 secretaries, only eight (19.5pc) are from PMS and 33 from PAS, while of 10 commissioners, only two are from PMS. Of the 41 deputy commissioners, it says, only nine are from PMS. Overall, PAS officers hold 73 of the 92 key posts (79.3pc) against 19 for PMS. While acknowledging the government’s prerogative to appoint officers on merit, it says such sustained disparity creates a perception of discrimination based on service affiliation, and sought a transparent posting policy, ensuring a level playing field.
The association also flags panels for key appointments, saying they lack both balance and transparency, alleging influence of personal preferences over objective merit. It sought a transparent, merit-based process in which all eligible officers are interviewed on seniority and competence, and final panels are formed through impartial assessment so the chief minister can choose the most suitable officer free from personal likes and dislikes.
The association expressed concern over frequent posting of junior officers against higher-grade posts under Section 9 of the Punjab Civil Servants Act. While occasionally necessary, its excessive use disturbs command and seniority, demoralises senior officers and creates scope for favouritism, it said and added that posts are at times upgraded or downgraded to accommodate particular officers. ‘Theuse of Section 9 be restricted to exceptional cases under notified criteria, with shortages met through timely promotions rather than routine placement of juniors against senior posts,’ Mr Qaiserani asserted.
The representation also alleges lack of transparency in allotment of government residences, citing GOR DHA Central 1 example, where over 100 residences went to PAS officers against very few to the PMS officers.
It demands complete digitisation of house allotment with online waiting lists and verifiable decisions.
On the officers’ loan scheme, it seeks full digitisation with online applications, computerised priority lists and traceable approvals to end perceptions of arbitrariness. It also alleges discriminatory denial of Punjab Civil Officers Mess (PCOM) membership to the eligible PMS officers, demanding fair and non-discriminatory criteria, ensuring equal access, irrespective of service affiliation.
Referring to row over the newlycreated AAC posts, the associationquestions how a BS-17 officer can work under another BS-17 assistant commissioner, how reporting and evaluation will operate between officers of the same grade, and why two officers of equal rank are needed at the tehsil level.
It says the additional chief secretary had assured that the AAC posts will be open to both PAS and PMS officers, with an independent job description and reporting to the deputy commissioner concerned. However, it says, the PMS officers are formally posted as AACs, while some PAS officers are given only additional charge of the post, and instructions created ambiguity by requiring the AACs to report through the assistant commissioners.
It demands rationalisation of the AAC posts with equitable availability, independent job descriptions and direct reporting to the deputy commissioner.
Hoping the chief minister will consider its submissions and take timely measures.