SAHIWAL: The promotion process for nearly 519 male and female college teachers across Punjab — from assistant professor to associate professor (BPS-18 to 19) and associate professor to professor (BPS-19 to 20) — has come to almost standstill allegedly due to bureaucratic delays in the Higher Education Department (HED).

In addition, thousands of lecturers who completed 12 to 15 years of service in BPS-17 have been awaiting promotion to BPS-18 for the last three years. The primary reason cited is the stagnant promotions in the above grades that had practically frozen the promotion processes.

Compounding the issue is the absence of Promotion Link Training (PLT) — a mandatory prerequisite for departmental promotions for meetings of the Provincial Selection Board (PSB) I and PSB-II.

Sources close to the situation said no PLT sessions had been conducted for any grade for the past two years. Official data reveals that more than hundred of general cadre teachers retired without receiving their due promotions to BPS-18, 19 and 20, underscoring systemic inefficiencies. A glaring example involves 238 female assistant professors’ cases whose promotions to associate professor are pending for over three years. Despite completing PLT in 2022, their cases continue to languish in the HED.

Sources within the department confirmed that at least two annual confidential reports (ACRs) and two Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) reports — required for no objection certificates (NOCs) — have lapsed, rendering them time-barred, further delaying the process. In 2025, fresh ACRs and ACE reports were sought again. Over30 female teachers retired in their previous grades due to delays caused by the 2024 e-transfer policy, which imposed a ban on upgrading and downgrading of posts. However, concerns remain that if the HED delays the issuance of posting orders, the current cycle may lapse, necessitating new ACRs and ACE reports. Currently, around 180 male faculty members from BPS-19 to 20, who completed the PLT in August 2024 and submitted their latest ACRs in January 2025, are waiting for promotion and posting orders.

Sources close to situation said their promotion from BPS-19 to 20 of male teachers would not be done as their ‘seniority list lapsed’. The last information was that their cases were sent to the Anti-Corruption Establishment for clearance but none pursued and still no reply came from their side.

A source told Dawn with anonymity that the secretary HED had raised ‘concerns’ over the lapse of seniority list of the male cadre.

Faiza Raana questioned the ‘efficiencies’ of the department in handling promotions. According to her, the delay again stemmed from the 2024 e-transfer policy, which prohibited upgradation, downgrading and shifting of seats within college cadre posts. No BPS-20 female professors were willing to vacate their positions which complicating the process and later department herself changed her e-transfer policy of 2024 allowing upgradation.

Faiza demanded the refixing of cadre under five-tier formula, announcing of the PLT and fast-track promotion in all cadres. She said by inducting ad hoc 9,000 college teaching interns (CTIs), the HED had frozen the college cadre, making zero availability for promotion of a lecturer inducted through the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC).

Rana Tajamal, special secretary HED, while speaking to Dawn, said there was no delay in promotion among the general college teacher from the department’s end and added that just two days back, the Pre-PSB had been done of 238 female teachers going to be promoted from BPS-18 to 19.

Mahwish Azhar, additional secretary HED, said she was not authorised to make comments on the matter.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025