LAHORE, July 27: The Central Selection Board’s meeting to consider and recommend cases of BS-20 federal civil servants for their promotion to BS-21 is being held on Saturday (tomorrow) in Islamabad after a lapse of one year despite instructions from Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that such meetings should be held every six months to dispose of maximum number of cases.

This is also the CSB’s first meeting under the chairmanship of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) head Lt-Gen Shahid Hamid (retired). All the four provincial chief secretaries, federal petroleum, interior, establishment and cabinet secretaries and a senior inspector general of police are members of the board.

Official sources told Dawn on Thursday that the prime minister had last year notified that the selection board of the federal civil servants should be held every six months to fill vacancies in different grades after promoting them. However, the board could not manage to comply with the orders, however, the reason of non-compliance was best known to the authorities concerned.

They said it would be a test of Mr Hamid to promote able officers as they had to ensure smooth functioning of government departments and execute development projects.

A senior federal government employee said: “It is a common thing that most of the times corrupt officers manage to manipulate their annual confidential report (ACR) in their favour, knowing that promotion is given on it (ACR) and seniority basis.

The functioning of the state\government and institutions\departments is deteriorating because corrupt officials are at the helm of affairs.”

Ideally, he said an officer should be promoted for his honesty, eligibility and keeping in view requirements of the future assignment.

A PSP officer suggested that the board should follow the criteria set by the army for promotion of its officers. In army, he said, all promotions from Lt.Col and above were made after considering their ability to command and observing standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Giving the example of police, he said they were being provided with huge funds but their performance could not improve, rather the law and situation was worsening throughout the country.

“This is happening because most of the able officers are often not promoted and appointed on key positions.”

He urged the chairman and members to also give their opinion based on their personal knowledge about an officer during the CSB meeting so that his or her case could be judged, besides ACR and seniority as well.

When contacted, Lt-Gen Shahid Hamid (retired) declined to comment in this regard.