August 21, 2002	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Saani 11,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: The cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, is expected to empower the chief executive to make promotions to the posts of BS-22 in the civil services at his discretion.

Sources told Dawn this was a part of the promotion policy for civil servants that was approved by President Pervez Musharraf on July 13.

The cabinet would also approve creation of the Economic Management Group (EMG) of BS-19 to 22 officers to deal with economic and financial management and policy making.

According to the summary to the cabinet, promotions to posts in BS-22 would be made on the basis of selection on merit but at the discretion of the chief executive.

The new policy has made performance evaluation report (PER) quantification threshold of 60, 65, 70 and 75 as one of the conditions precedent for eligibility for consideration for promotion to posts in BS-18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively.

Promotions up to BS-18 would be made on fitness-cum-seniority basis.

Promotions to the posts in BS-19 to 21 shall be made by selection on merit.

The policy lays down the role of the Central Selection Board (CSB) in promotions to selection posts.

The proposed policy has been made on the principle that equal potential does not realise and develop equally because of mismatch between aptitude and assignment, unequal drive and ambition, certain individuals blooming later than others and other reasons.

In case of posts of BS-19 and above, if an officer is superseded twice he would be disqualified for further consideration for promotion.

The EMG would comprise around 200 posts of BS-19 and above in the federal secretariat, its attached departments and autonomous bodies. Recruitments in the EMG would be made in BS-19 through a competitive examination by the Federal Public Service Commission.

Around 25 per cent EMG posts in BS-20 would also be filled directly through the FPSC on a competitive basis while other posts in BS-20 to 22 would be reserved for promotions.

At present, 33 per cent of senior officers possess relevant academic qualification and about 70 per cent of their career has been spent outside the economic ministries. Approximately 30 per cent of establishment charges are incurred on consultancy.

The policy, finalised on the recommendations of the secretaries committee, also envisaged broadening of selection board by involving secretaries of all ministries and divisions.

In case of management group and police service, the chief secretaries and inspectors-general of police of the provinces would be co-opted as members of the CSB.

For the posts in BS-19, service record, including performance evaluation reports (PERs), performance in promotion examination, training institutions and disciplinary record would have 50 per cent share in determination of suitability for promotion and 50 per cent marks would be given to judgment of the board.

For promotion to posts in BS-20 and 21, 40 per cent weightage would be given to service record and 60 per cent to the judgment of the board.

For promotion to BS-18, at least three PER in BS-17 would be required with minimum quantification threshold of 50 marks. For BS-19, at least five PERs in BS-18 would be required with minimum 60 marks in PERs for BS-17 and 18.

Similarly, for promotion to BS-20, three PERs in BS-19 with minimum of 70 marks in PERs for BS-17, 18 and 19 and for promotion to BS-21, at least five PERs in BS-20 would be required with 75 marks.

Exemption from mandatory training on account of being above 56 years of age or service in training institutions would be discontinued.

The criteria would also be applicable to the civil servants in specialist cadres, such as doctors, teachers, scientists and incumbents of technical posts.