# Government employees in Pakistan

Government employees in Pakistan encompass all individuals employed by the government, including both civil and military personnel, who fulfill their duties within federal, provincial, or district areas of the government of Pakistan. Their recruitment and appointment in respective services adhere to the specifications outlined in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. Appointment and selection of appointees do not discriminate based on gender, ethnicity, race, or sectarian factors. Vacancies within each establishment for the employment of official staff are legally sanctioned by legislators and decision-making bodies.
Each governmental entity has its designated workforce and allocated resources specified for official tasks and responsibilities. Recruitment for positions within these entities varies according to qualification, both in terms of tier and occupation. All services operate within a hierarchical structure, with officials categorized into different grades, typically delineated by a basic pay scale structure. This categorization ensures the smooth, transparent, and meticulous execution of tasks, with remuneration commensurate with assigned responsibilities.

## Pay scales of employees

Responsibilities and tasks associated with each official position vary depending on the type of organization in which appointees are employed. Therefore, various pay scales are established in accordance with the nature of the job, taking into account the competitive environment. Each type of pay scale may differ in the amount paid to each official, as well as in the perks and privileges provided.
However, equivalence criteria within various types of pay scales have also been established, as outlined in the following tables.

### Equivalence of Officials based on pay scales in Pakistan

| S.No | Pay scale type | Stage-1 | Stage-2 | Stage-3 | Stage-4 | Stage-5 | Stage-6 | Stage-7 |
| 1. | Basic pay scales | BPS-1~4 | BPS-5~6 | BPS-7~8 | BPS-9~10 | BPS-11~12 | BPS-13~14 | BPS-15~16 |
| 2. | Special pay scales | SPS-01 | SPS-02 | SPS-03 | SPS-04 | SPS-05 | SPS-06 | SPS-07A (Staff Cadre) |
| 3. | Military pay scales | E-1 | E-2 & E-3 | E-4 | E-5 & E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 |

### Equivalence of Gazetted Officers based on pay scales in Pakistan

| S.No | Pay scale type | Stage-1 | Stage-2 | Stage-3 | Stage-4 | Stage-5 | Stage-6 | Stage-7 | Stage-8 |
| 1. | Basic pay scale | BPS-16 & BPS-17 | BPS-18 | BPS-19 | BPS-20 | BPS-21 | BPS-22 | BPS-Spec | BPS-Apex |
| 2. | Special pay scales | SPS-7 & SPS-8 | SPS-9 | SPS-10 | SPS-11 | SPS-12 | SPS-13 | SPS-14 | – |
| 3. | Military pay scales | O-1, 2 & 3 | O-4 | O-5 | O-6 & 7 | O-8 | O-9 | O-10 | – |
| 4. | Higher Judicial pay scales | – | – | – | – | J-III | J-II | J-I | O-Apex |
| 5. | Management pay scales | – | – | – | MP-III | MP-II | MP-I | MP-Spec | – |
| 6. | State Bank of Pakistan pay scales | OG-1, OG-2 | OG-3, | OG-5, OG-4 | OG-6 | OG-7 | OG-8 | Governor | – |
| 7. | National Bank of Pakistan pay scales | OG-3, OG-2 | OG-1, AVP | VP | SVP | EVP | SEVP | President | – |
| 8. | Higher Education Commission (HEC) pay scales | – | – | TTS-III | TTS-II | TTS-I | TTS-MP | TTS-Spec | – |
| 9. | Diplomatic pay scales | – | – | – | HoM Grd-III | HoM Grd-II | HoM Grd-I | HoM Grd-Spec | HoM Grd-Apex |
| 10. | SSGC pay scales | OG-1 To OG-4 | OG-5, | OG-6, OG-7 | OG-8 | DMD | MD | – | – |
| 11. | Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority Pay scales | EG-01 To EG -02 | EG-03 To EG-04 | EG-05 To EG-06 | EG-07 To EG-08 | EG-09 To EG-10 and ADG (Serving Air Vice Marshal (BPS-21) on deputation from Pakistan Air Force.) | DG | – | – |
| 12. | Financial Monitoring Unit | FMU-1 & FMU-2 | FMU-3 | FMU-4 | FMU-5 | FMU-6 (Serving Executive Director (OG-8) on Deputation from State Bank of Pakistan.) | | | |

## Gazetted Officers in Pakistan

| Group / Services | BPS-16 & 17/ FMU-1 & 2 / O-1, 2 & 3 / SPS-7, SPS-8 / OG-1 & 2 | BPS-18/ FMU-3 / O-4 / SPS-9 / OG-3 & 4 | BPS-19 / FMU-4 / O-5 / SPS-10 / OG-5 & 6 / TTS-III | BPS-20 / FMU-5 / O-6 & 7 / SPS-11 / MP-III / OG-7 / TTS-II / HoM Grd-III | BPS-21 / FMU-6 / J-III / O-8 / SPS-12 / MP-II / OG-8 / TTS-I / HoM Grd-II | BPS-22 / J-II / O-9 / SPS-13 / MP-I / TTS-MP / HoM Grd-I | BPS-Spec / J-I / O-10 / SPS-14 / MP-Spec / TTS-Spec / HoM Grd-Spec | BPS-Apex / O-Apex / HoM Grd-Apex |
| Upper Judiciary | | | | | Additional Judges of the High Court Registrar of the High Court | Judges of the High Court Registrar of the Supreme Court | Judges of the Supreme Court Federal Ombudsman Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court Chief Justice of the High Court | Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) |
| Lower Judiciary | | Civil Judge cum Judicial Magistrate District Attorney (smaller districts) | Senior Civil Judge Assistant District & Session Judge District Attorney (larger districts) | Additional District & Session Judge | District & Session Judge | | | |
| Lawyers | | | | Assistant Advocate-General Deputy Attorney-General | Additional Advocate-General Additional Attorney-General | Advocate-General for province Attorney-General for Pakistan | | |
| Army | JCOs BPS-(13-16) 2nd Lieutenant Lieutenant Captain | Major | Lieutenant Colonel Colonel | Brigadier | Major General | Lieutenant General | General | Field Marshal |
| Navy | CPOs BPS-(13-16) Midshipman Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant | Lieutenant Commander | Commander Captain | Commodore | Rear Admiral | Vice Admiral | Admiral | Admiral of the Fleet |
| Air Force | JCOs BPS-(13-16) Flight Lieutenant Flying Officer Pilot Officer | Squadron Leader | Wing Commander Group Captain | Air Commodore | Air Vice Marshal | Air Marshal | Air Chief Marshal | Marshal of the Air Force |
| Financial Monitoring Unit | FMU-1 Junior Officer FMU-2 Assistant Director | Deputy Director | Additional Director | Director | Director General | | | |
| Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission | SPS-7/Officer Cadre Assistant Technical Officer Assistant Research Officer Assistant Accounts Officer Assistant Librarian SPS-8 Medical Officer Junior Engineer Junior Scientist Admin Officer Accounts Officer Research Analyst Technical Officer Research Officer Fire Officer Principal Nurse-II Khateeb-e-Ala-II | Senior Medical Officer Senior Engineer Senior Scientist Senior Admin Officer Senior Accounts Officer Senior Research Analyst Senior Technical Officer Senior Research Officer Senior Fire Officer Principal Nurse-I Khateeb-e-Ala-I | Principal Medical Officer Principal Engineer Principal Scientist Principal Admin Officer Principal Accounts Officer Principal Research Analyst Principal Technical Officer Principal Research Officer Principal Fire Officer | Deputy Chief Medical Officer Deputy Chief Engineer Deputy Chief Scientist Deputy Chief Admin Officer Deputy Chief Accounts Officer Deputy Chief Research Analyst Senior Principal Technical Officer Senior Principal Research Officer | Chief Medical Officer Chief Engineer Chief Scientist Chief Admin Officer Chief Accounts Officer Chief Research Analyst | Member, P.A.E.C | Chairman, PAEC | |
| Police Service of Pakistan | Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) | Superintendent of Police (SP) Additional Superintendent of Police (Add. SP) | Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP/DPO) | Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG/RPO) | Inspector General of Police (IG) (Special Charge) Additional Inspector General of Police (Add. IG) | Inspector General of Police (IG) (Provincial Police Officer) | | |
| Engineering | Sub Divisional Engineer Assistant Executive Engineer Assistant Director Junior Engineer | Executive Engineer Deputy Director Manager Senior Engineer | Additional Chief Engineer Superintending Engineer Director Deputy General Manager Resident Engineer | Chief Engineer General Manager | Director General Chairman, WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) | | | |
| Intermediate and Degree Colleges | Lecturer | Assistant Professor | Associate Professor | Professor Principal | Distinguished Professor Principal of Large Colleges | | | |
| High Schools | Secondary School Teacher (SST) Senior Certified Teacher Senior Drawing Master Senior Arabic Teacher Senior Theology Teacher Senior Physical Education Teacher | Subject Specialist Senior Subject Specialist Director Physical Education. | Head Master | Principal | | | | |
| Medical | Medical Officer | Senior Medical Officer Medical Superintendent (Officiating) | Principal Medical Officer Medical Superintendent | Chief Medical Officer | Director General, Health Services | | | |
| Higher Education Commission (HEC) / Universities | Research Associate | Lecturer | Assistant Professor | Associate Professor Chairman / Head of Department | Professor Pro Vice Chancellor Dean of Faculty | Vice Chancellor Meritorious Professor | | |
| Inter Services Intelligence | Assistant Director | Deputy Director | Joint Director Additional Director Director | Additional Director General Deputy Director General | Director General of a department | Director General, Inter Services Intelligence | | |
| Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority | Assistant Engineer Scientific Officer | Senior Engineer Senior Scientific Officer | Principal Engineer Principal Scientific Officer | Senior Principal Engineer Chief Scientific Officer | Chief Engineer Chief Scientist | Member, PNRA | Chairman, PNRA | |
| Pakistan Administrative Service | Tehsildar to provincial government Under Secretary to Provincial Government Section Officer in Federal Secretariat Assistant Commissioner (AC) Assistant Political Agent (APA) Assistant Director of Federal / Provincial Department Deputy District Officer Assistant Coordination Officer | Deputy Secretary to Provincial Government Senior Section Officer in Federal Secretariat Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a smaller district Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) for a larger district Political Agent (PA) for a smaller agency Additional Political Agent for a larger agency Deputy Director of a Federal / Provincial Department District Officer Deputy District Coordination Officer | Additional Secretary to Provincial Government Deputy Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Commissioner of a Larger Administrative Division (Appointment created on required basis). Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a larger district Political Agent (PA) for a larger agency Project Manager for Federal Scheme Director of a Federal / Provincial Department District Coordination officer | Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Secretary / Special Secretary to Provincial Government Member Provincial Board of Revenue Commissioners of Administrative Divisions Project Director for Federal Scheme Director General of Federal Department | Additional Chief Secretary to Provincial Government Senior Secretary to Provincial Government Acting Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Senior Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Senior Member Provincial Board of Revenue Commissioners of Larger Administrative Divisions Chairman of Federal Organisation Chief Executive / Managing Director of Public Corporation Chief Secretary to AJ&K / Gilgit-Baltistan Government. Chairman Provincial Statutory Board | Chief Secretary to Provincial Government Federal Secretary Director General of Autonomous Federal Department / Agency Chairman of Autonomous Federal Organisation Managing Director / Chief Executive of Autonomous Public Corporation Chairman Federal Boards | Secretary General to the Government of Pakistan | |
| National Counter Terrorism Authority | Assistant Director Junior Analyst | Deputy Director Analyst | Director Senior Analyst | Director General | Deputy National Coordinator Member | National Coordinator | | |
| Federal Investigation Agency | Assistant Director | Deputy Director | Additional Director | Director | Director General (Special Charge) Additional Director General | Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency | | |
| Foreign services of Pakistan | Third Secretary (Abroad) Vice Consul (Abroad) Section Officer | First Secretary (Abroad) Consul (Abroad) Second Secretary (Abroad) Deputy Director | Consul General (Abroad) Counselor (Abroad) Director | Head of Mission Grade-3 (Ambassador / High commissioner / Permanent Representative) Minister (Abroad) Consul General (Abroad) Director General | Head of Mission Grade-2 Additional Secretary | Head of Mission Grade-1 Foreign Secretary | Secretary General (Foreign Affairs) Ambassador-at-Large | |
| Office Management / Secretariat Group | Section Officer | Senior Section Officer | Deputy Secretary | Joint Secretary | Additional Secretary Senior Joint Secretary | Federal Secretary | | |
| Pakistan Audit and Accounts Group | Assistant Accountant General Assistant Audit Officer Assistant Accounts Officer Assistant Controller Military Accounts Assistant Director Audit Assistant Controller Naval accounts Assistant Controller local Audit | Deputy Accountant General Audit Officer Accounts Officer Deputaty Controller Military Accounts Deputy Director Audit Deputy Controller Naval accounts Deputy Controller local audit | Additional Accountant General Director Audit | Deputy Auditor General Accountant General Controller Military Accountant General Director General Audit Finance Advisor | Military Accountant General Accountant General Pakistan Revenue | Additional Auditor General | Auditor General of Pakistan | |
| Inland Revenue Service | Assistant Commissioner, I.R.S | Deputy Commissioner, I.R.S | Additional Commissioner, I.R.S | Commissioner, I.R.S | Member Federal Board of Revenue Chief Commissioner, I.R.S | Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue | | |
| Customs and Excise Group | Assistant Collector | Deputy Collector | Additional Collector | Collector | Member Federal Board of Revenue Chief Collector | Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue | | |
| Commerce and Trade Group | Commercial Attaché Assistant Director | Commercial Secretary Deputy Director | Commercial Counselor (Abroad) Director | Minister Trade/Economic (Abroad) Consul General (Abroad) | Executive Director General | | | |
| Military Lands and Cantonment Group | Cantonment Executive Officer (C-Cat Cantt) Additional Cantonment Executive Officer (B-Cat Cantt) Military Estate Officer (C-Cat Cantt) | Cantonment Executive Officer (B-Cat Cantt) Additional Cantonment Executive Officer (A-Cat Cantt) Military Estate Officer (B-Cat Cantt) | Cantonment Executive Officer (A-Cat Cantt) Military Estate Officer (A-Cat Cantt) | Director | Deputy Director General Regional Director | Director General | | |
| Railways (Commercial and Transportation) Group | Assistant Commercial/Transportation Officer | Senior Commercial/Transportation Officer Divisional Commercial/Transportation Officer | Chief Operating Superintendent (COPS) Chief Commercial Manager (CCM) Divisional Superintendent (DS) | Additional General Manager (AGM) | CEO/Sr. General Manager, Pakistan Railways | | | |
| Information Group | Assistant Director Information Officer | Press Attaché (Abroad) Private Secretary (State Minister) Public Relations Officer Deputy Director | Press Consular (Abroad) Private Secretary (Minister) Deputy Press Secretary Director | Press Minister (Abroad) Director General | Principal Information Officer Press Secretary (Prime Minister) | | | |
| Postal Group | Post Officer, Postal Unit | Divisional Superintendent Post Assistant Post Master General | Deputy Post Master General | Post Master General | Deputy Director General Post | Director General, Pakistan Post | | |

## Levels of Pay

While there are several Pay Scale Systems in Pakistan besides the Basic Pay Scale (BPS), the BPS is the most widely used pay scale system in the country. The majority of government departments and organizations adhere to the BPS System. Examples of other pay systems in Pakistan include the Special Pay Scale (SPS) and army scales, while private organizations, companies, and industries are free to devise their own pay structures, subject to the government setting a minimum salary for private employees.
BPS scales undergo regular revisions every few years. They were revised in 2008, then again in 2011 after three years, and once more in 2015 after four years, taking into account the inflation rate in Pakistan. As of the latest update, the Basic Pay Scale Structure for 2022 has been introduced.
It's important to note that minimum pay, maximum pay, annual increments, and all other allowances are denoted in Pakistani rupees. Civil servants also receive various other allowances in addition to their basic pay, according to the rules of their department/organization and their terms of service. These allowances may include Ad hoc Relief Allowance, Medical Allowance, Special Pay, Conveyance Allowance, House Rent Allowance, and several other miscellaneous allowances, as applicable.
Both the Federal Government and provincial governments have their own separate pay systems, which are closely similar to each other. Pay, emoluments, allowances, pensions, and all other perks and privileges for government serving/retired servants not only vary with their status, rank, appointment, and service duration but also with their affiliated services. For instance, an officer holding the appointment of additional secretary in the Federal Government is classified as grade 21. However, the same appointment held by an incumbent in the Provincial Government would be of grade 19. Therefore, appointments also vary in scale depending on the individual's affiliated service.

## Promotion opportunities

The Central Selection Board (CSB) of the Federal Public Service Commission is supposed to meet twice in a year to consider promotion opportunities for the appointed employees of Civil Service of Pakistan.