Lucrative special pay scale posts: Govt expands policy on appointments of civil servants

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has expanded its policy governing the appointment of civil servants to lucrative special pay scale positions, bringing contractual posts within the ambit of the existing framework applicable to Management Position Pay Scales (MPS), Project Pay Scales (PPS) and Special Professional Pay Scales (SPPS).

The Finance Division, through a revised Office Memorandum, has amended its policy to formally include contractual positions alongside Management Position Pay Scales (MPS), Project Pay Scales (PPS) and Special Professional Pay Scales (SPPS).

The move will allow federal civil servants selected through an open competitive process for these positions in government-owned corporations, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), autonomous bodies and similar organisations to join such assignments while retaining the status of deputation, subject to applicable rules.

According to the Finance Division’s Office Memorandum, issued in partial modification of its earlier O.M. dated July 1, 2025, a civil servant selected through an open competitive process against any of the specified positions “shall be allowed to join the appointment” and will be considered to be on deputation.

The officer will remain subject to the terms and conditions prescribed under the Establishment Division’s Deputation Policy of December 3, 1990, as amended from time to time, unless otherwise provided under the revised policy.

The Finance Division has also widened the definition of entities covered by the policy. Under the revised provisions, “government-owned” entities will include organisations in which the government holds a majority stake and possesses management rights.

The definition of government has also been broadened to cover both federal and provincial governments.

Finance Division has clarified that the revised terms and conditions will apply to Federal Government civil servants proceeding to join positions carrying Special Pay Scales or contractual positions within either the Federal Government or provincial governments. By bringing contractual positions into the same policy framework, the Finance Division has sought to remove ambiguity surrounding the status of serving civil servants who secure such appointments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026