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THE CIVIL SERVANTS ACT, 1973
CONTENTS
1. Short title, application and commencement
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
2. Definitions
CHAPTER II
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF CIVIL SERVANTS
3. Terms and conditions
4. Tenure of office of civil servants
5. Appointments
6. Probation
7. Confirmation
8. Seniority
9. Promotion
10. Posting and transfer
10A. Restriction on service in international organization
11. Termination of service
11A. Absorption of civil servants rendered surplus
11B.
12. Reversion to lower post, etc.
Page 1 of 12
12A. Omitted
13. Retirement from service
14. Employment after retirement
15. Conduct
15A. Declaration of Assets
16. Efficiency and discipline
17. Pay
18. Leave
19. Pension and gratuity
20. Provident Fund
21. Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance
22. Right of appeal or representation
CHAPTER III
MISCELLANEOUS
23. Saving
23A. Indemnity
23B. Jurisdiction barred
24. Removal of difficulties
CHAPTER IV
RULES
25. Rules
26. Omitted
Page 2 of 12
THE CIVIL SERVANTS ACT, 1973
ACT NO. LXXI OF 1973
[26th September, 1973]
An Act to regulate the appointment of persons to, and the terms and conditions of service of persons
in, the service of Pakistan
WHEREAS it is expedient to regulate by law, the appointment of persons to, and the terms and
conditions of service of persons in, the service of Pakistan, and to provide for matters connected
therewith or ancillary thereto;
It is hereby enacted as follows:__
1. Short title, application and commencement.__ (1) This Act may be called the Civil
Servants Act, 1973.
(2) It applies to all civil servants wherever they may be.
(3) It shall come into force at once.
_______
CHAPTER I.__ PRELIMINARY
2. Definitions.__ (1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,__
(a) “ad hoc appointment” means appointment of a duly qualified person made
otherwise than in accordance with the prescribed method of recruitment,
pending recruitment in accordance with such method;
(b) “civil servant” means a person who is a member of an All-Pakistan Service or
of a civil service of the Federation, or who holds a civil post in connection with
the affairs of the Federation, including any such post connected with defence,
but does not include__
(i) a person who is on deputation to the Federation from any Province or
other authority;
(ii) a person who is employed on contract, or on work-charged basis or who
is paid from contingencies; or
(iii) a person who is a “worker” or “workman” as defined in the Factories
Act, 1934 (XXV of 1934), or the Workman’s Compensation Act, 1923
(VIII of 1923);
(c) “initial appointment” means appointment made otherwise than by promotion or
transfer;
Page 3 of 12
(d) “pay” means the amount drawn monthly by a civil servant as pay and includes
technical pay, special pay, personal pay and any other emoluments declared by
the prescribed authority to be pay;
(e) “permanent post” means a post sanctioned without limit of time;
(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules;
(g) “rules” means rules made or deemed to have been made under this Act;
(h) “selection authority” means the Federal Public Service Commission, a
departmental selection board, departmental selection committee or other
authority or body on the recommendation of, or in consultation with which any
appointment or promotion, as may be prescribed, is made; and
(i) “temporary post” means a post other than a permanent post.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an appointment, whether by promotion or otherwise, shall be
deemed to have been made on regular basis if it is made in the prescribed manner.
_______
CHAPTER II.__ TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE OF CIVIL SERVANTS
3. Terms and conditions.__ 1[(1)] The terms and conditions of service of a civil servant shall
be as provided in this Act and the rules].
2
[(2) The terms and conditions of service of any person to whom this Act applies shall not be
varied to his disadvantage.]
3
[(3) The Federal Government may transfer a civil servant of a devolved Ministry or Division,
working in an Attached Department or Subordinate Office situated in a Province, to the Province
concerned, in consequence of the devolution of functions pursuant to the Constitution (Eighteenth
Amendment) Act, 2010 (X of 2010) and thereby he shall become the civil servant of the respective
Province, on the same terms and conditions of service as were applicable to him before such transfer.
(4) The Federal Government may transfer a civil servant working in a Ministry, Division,
Attached Department or Subordinate Office located in the Islamabad Capital Territory to any other
Ministry, Division, Attached Department or Subordinate Office, in consequence of the abolition of
such Ministry, Division, Attached Department or Subordinate Office pursuant to the Constitution
(Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 (X of 2010) and thereby he shall become the civil servant of the
respective Ministry, Division, Department or Office to which he is so transferred, on the same terms
and conditions of service as were applicable to him before such transfer.
(5) The seniority of the civil servants transferred by virtue of sub-sections (3) and (4) shall be
determined by the concerned Province, Ministry or Division, as the case may be, in accordance with
the rules.
1
Re-numbered by Act No. V of 1996, s. 2.
2
Cl. (2) added ibid., s. 2.
3
Added by Act No. IX of 2016 s. 2.
Page 4 of 12
(6) The cases of civil servants of a Ministry, Division, Attached Department or Subordinate
Office devolved in pursuant to the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 (X of 2010) and
working in FATA, Gilgit Baltistan and AJK shall be dealt with in the manner as may be provided by
an Order made by the President in this behalf.]
4. Tenure of office of civil servants.__ Every civil servant shall hold office during the pleasure
of the President.
5. Appointments.__ Appointments to an All-Pakistan Service or to a civil service of the
Federation or to a civil post in connection with the affairs of the Federation, including any civil post
connected with defence, shall be made in the prescribed manner by the President or by a person
authorised by the President in that behalf.
6. Probation.__ (1) An initial appointment to a service or post referred to in section 5, not being
an ad hoc appointment, shall be on probation as may be prescribed.
(2) Any appointment of a civil servant by promotion or transfer to a service or post may also
be made on probation as may be prescribed.
(3) Where, in respect of any service or post, the satisfactory completion of probation includes
the passing of a prescribed examination, test or course or successful completion of any training, a
person appointed on probation to such service or post who, before the expiry of the original or extended
period of his probation, has failed to pass such examination or test or to successfully complete course
or the training shall, except as may be prescribed otherwise,__
(a) if he was appointed to such service or post by initial requirement, be discharged;
or
(b) if he was appointed to such service or post by promotion or transfer, be reverted
to the service or post from which he was promoted or transferred and against
which he holds a lien or, if there be no such service or post, be discharged:
Provided that, in the case of initial appointment to a service or post, a
civil servant shall not be deemed to have completed his period of probation
satisfactorily until his character and antecedents have been verified as
satisfactory in the opinion of the appointing authority.
7. Confirmation.__ (1) A person appointed on probation shall, on satisfactory completion of
his probation, be eligible for confirmation in a service or, as the case may be, a post as may be
prescribed.
(2) A civil servant promoted to a post 1[* *] on regular basis shall be eligible for confirmation
after rendering satisfactory service for the period prescribed for confirmation therein.
(3) There shall be no confirmation against any temporary post.
(4) A civil servant who, during the period of his service, was eligible to be confirmed in any
service or against any post retires from service before being confirmed shall not, merely by reason of
such retirement, be refused confirmation in such service or post or any benefits accruing therefrom.
1
Omitted by the Ordinance No. III of 1984, s. 2.
Page 5 of 12
(5) Confirmation of a civil servant in a service or post shall take effect from the date of
occurrence of permanent vacancy in that service or post or from the date of continuous officiation, in
such service or post, whichever is later.
8. Seniority.__ (1) For proper administration of a service, cadre or 1[post], the appointing
authority shall cause a seniority list of the members for the time being of such service, cadre or 1[post]
to be prepared, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer any vested right to a particular
seniority in such service, cadre or 1[post], as the case may be.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the seniority of a civil servant shall be reckoned
in relation to other civil servants belonging to the same 1[service or cadre], whether serving in the same
department or office or not, as may be prescribed.
(3) Seniority on initial appointment to a service, 1[cadre] or post shall be determined as may be
prescribed.
1
[(4) Seniority in a post, service or cadre to which a civil servant is promoted shall take effect
from the date of regular appointment to that post:
Provided that civil servants who are selected for promotion to a higher post in one batch shall,
on their promotion to the higher post, retain their inter se seniority as in the lower post.]
9. Promotion.__ (1) A civil servant possessing such minimum qualifications as may be
prescribed shall be eligible for promotion to a 2[higher] post for the time being reserved under the rules
for departmental promotion in 3[* * *] the service or cadre to which he belongs [:]4
4
[Provided that the posts of__
(a) Additional Secretary and Senior Joint Secretary may, in the public interest, be
filled by promotion from amongst officers of regularly constituted Occupational
Groups and services holding, on regular basis, posts in Basic Pay Scale 20; and
(b) Secretary may, in the public interest, be filled by promotion from amongst
officers of regularly constituted Occupational Groups and services holding, on
regular basis, posts in Basic Pay Scale 21,
in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.]
(2) A post referred to in sub-section (1) may either be a selection post or a non-selection post
to which promotions shall be made as may be prescribed__
(a) In the case of a selection post, on the basis of selection on merit; and
(b) in the case of a non-selection post, on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness.
1
Subs. by Ordinance No. III of 1984, s. 3.
2
Added by Ordinance No. III of 1984, s. 4.
3
Omitted ibid.
4
Subs. and added by Ordinance No. XXXIII of 2001, s. 2.
Page 6 of 12
1
[(3) Promotion to posts in basic pay scales 20 and 21 and equivalent shall be made on the
recommendations of a Selection Board which shall be headed by the Chairman, Federal Public Service
Commission.]
10. Posting and transfer.__ Every civil servant shall be liable to serve any where within or
outside Pakistan, in any 2[equivalent or higher] post under the Federal Government, or any Provincial
Government or local authority, or a corporation or body set up or established by any such Government:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to a civil servant recruited
specifically to serve in a particular area or region:
Provided further that, where a civil servant is required to serve in a post outside his service or
cadre, his terms and conditions of service as to his pay shall not be less favourable than those to which
he would have been entitled if he had not been so required to serve.
3
[10A. Restriction on service in international organization.__ (1) No civil servant shall,
during his service, serve in any international organization, including an international non-
governmental organization, international financial institution and foreign donor agency.
(2) The restriction under sub-section (1) shall not apply to a civil servant who is posted or
deputed in such an organization on behalf of Pakistan or with prior permission of the Federal
Government in accordance with rules, which shall be laid before both Houses of Majlis-e-Shoora
(Parliament).]
11. Termination of service.__ (1) The service of a civil servant may be terminated without
notice__
(i) during the initial or extended period of his probation:
Provided that, where such civil servant is appointed by promotion on
probation or, as the case may be, is transferred from one 4[service], cadre or post
to another 4[service], cadre or post, his service shall not be so terminated so long
as he holds a lien against his former post in such 4[service], cadre or post as the
case may be;
(ii) on the expiry of the initial or extended period of his employment; or
(iii) if the appointment is made ad hoc terminable on the appointment of a person on
the recommendation of the selection authority, on the appointment of such
person.
(2) Where, on the abolition of a post or reduction in the number of posts in a cadre or 4[service],
the services of a civil servant are required to be terminated, the person whose services are terminated
shall ordinarily be the one who is the most junior in such cadre or 4[service].
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (1), but subject to the provisions of sub-
section (2), the service of a civil servant in temporary employment or appointed ad hoc shall be liable
to termination on fourteen days’ notice or pay in lieu thereof.
1
Added by Ordinance No. XLIII of 2000.
2
Ins. by Act No. V of 1996, s. 3.
3
Ins. by Act No. XVII of 2016, s.2.
4
Subs. by Ordinance No. III of 1984, s. 5.
Page 7 of 12
1
[11A. Absorption of civil servants rendered surplus.__ Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Act, the rules, agreement, contract or the terms and conditions of service, a civil servant who is
rendered surplus as a result of re-organization or abolition of a Division, department, office or abolition
of a post in pursuance of any Government decision may be appointed to a post, carrying basic pay
scale equal to the post held by him before such appointment, if he possesses the qualifications and
fulfils other conditions applicable to that post :
Provided that where no equivalent post is available he may be offered a lower post in such
manner, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed and where such civil servant is appointed
to a lower post the pay being drawn by him in the higher post immediately preceding his appointment
to a lower post shall remain protected.]
2
[11B.__ (1)Where it is brought to the notice of the appointing authority that
appointment of a person to a civil post was made without observing the prescribed procedure or without
fulfilling the prescribed qualification, experience and age limit, it may send a reference to the Federal
Public Service Commission for determination whether he is fit to hold the post to which he was
appointed and, if not, whether he is fit to hold any other post compatible with his qualification and
experience.
(2) On receipt of the advice of the Federal Public Service Commission on a reference made
under sub-section (1), the appointing authority may pass such order of appointment or termination of
service as may be considered by it to be just and equitable:
Provided that if it is proposed to pass order of termination of service in the light of the advice
of the Commission, a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the order of termination, shall
be provided.
(3) Where an order of appointment is made on the advice of the Commission, it shall be treated
as a case of fresh appointment and seniority of such an appointee shall be determined in accordance
with the Civil Servants (Seniority) Rules, 1993.]
3
[12. Reversion to lower post, etc.__ (1) A civil servant appointed to a higher post on ad hoc,
temporary or officiating basis shall be liable to reversion to his lower post.
(2) No civil servant shall be dismissed or removed from service or reduced in rank by an
authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed.
(3) No such civil servant as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed from service, or reduced
in rank, until he has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the action proposed
to be taken against him:
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply__
(i) where a civil servant is dismissed or removed from service or reduced in rank
on the ground of conduct which has led to his conviction on a criminal charge;
or
1
Added by Ordinance No. XX of 2001, s. 2.
2
Ins. by Ordinance No. CXXX of 2002, s. 2.
3
Subs. by Act No. V of 1996, s. 4.
Page 8 of 12
(ii) where the President or any person authorised by him under the rules is satisfied,
for reasons to be recorded in writing, that in the interest of the security of
Pakistan or any part thereof, it is not expedient to give to that civil servant such
an opportunity.]
12A. 1[Omitted]
2
[13. Retirement from service.__ (1) A civil servant shall retire from service__
(i) on such date after he has completed 3[twenty] years of service qualifying for
pension or other retirement benefits as the competent authority may, in public
interest, direct; or
(ii) where no direction is given under clause (i), on the completion of the sixtieth
year of his age.
(2) No direction under clause (i) of sub-section (1) shall be made until the civil servant has
been informed in writing of the grounds on which it is proposed to make the direction, and has been
given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause against the said direction.
Explanation: In this Section, “competent authority” means the appointing authority prescribed
in rule 6 of the Civil Servants (Appointment, Promotion and Transfer) Rules, 1973.]
14. Employment after retirement.__ (1) A retired civil servant shall not be re-employed under
the Federal Government, unless such re-employment is necessary in the public interest and is made
with the prior approval of the authority next above the appointing authority:
Provided that, where the appointing authority is the President, such re-employment may be
ordered with the approval of the President.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Ex-Government Servants
(Employment with Foreign Governments) (Prohibition) Act, 1966 (XII of 1966), a civil servant may,
during leave preparatory to retirement, or after retirement from Government service, seek any private
employment:
Provided that, where employment is sought by a civil servant while on leave preparatory to
retirement or within two years of the date of his retirement, he shall obtain the prior approval of the
prescribed authority.
15. Conduct.__ The conduct of a civil servant shall be regulated by rules made, or instructions
issued, by Government or a prescribed authority, whether generally or in respect of a specified group
or class of civil servants.
4
[15A. Declaration of Assets.__ Notwithstanding anything contained in clause (g) of section 7
of the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017 (XXXIV of 20l7), the declaration of assets of a Civil
Servant of BS-17 and above, his spouse and dependent children, including domestic and foreign assets
1
Omitted by Act No. IX of 2016, s. 4.
2
Subs. by Ordinance No. XX of 2000, s. 2.
3
Subs. by Ordinance No. XXXIV of 2001, s. 2.
4
Ins. by Act No. XX of 2025, s.2.
Page 9 of 12
and liabilities, as may be prescribed, shall be digitally filed with the Federal Board of Revenue and
same shall be publicly available, through Federal Board of Revenue, in accordance with the rules as
may be prescribed:
Provided that the extent of disclosure, under this section, shall give due regard to the balance
between public interest for good governance and individual’s privacy and security.]
16. Efficiency and discipline.__ A civil servant shall be liable to prescribed disciplinary action
and penalties in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
17. Pay. A civil servant appointed to a post 1[* *] shall be entitled, in accordance with the rules,
to the pay sanctioned for such post 1[* *]:
Provided that, when the appointment is made on a current charge-basis or by way of additional
charge, his pay shall be fixed in the prescribed manner:
Provided further that where a civil servant has, under an order which is later set aside, been
dismissed or removed from service or reduced in rank, he shall, on the setting aside of such order, be
entitled to such arrears of pay as the authority setting aside such order may determine.
18. Leave.__ A civil servant shall be allowed leave in accordance with the leave rules applicable
to him, provided that the grant of leave will depend on the exigencies of service and be at the discretion
of the competent authority.
19. Pension and gratuity.__ (1) On retirement from service, a civil servant shall be entitled to
receive such pension or gratuity as may be prescribed.
(2) In the event of the death of a civil servant, whether before or after retirement, his family
shall be entitled to receive such pension, or gratuity, or both, as may be prescribed.
(3) No pension shall be admissible to a civil servant who is dismissed or removed from service
for reasons of discipline, but Government may sanction compassionate allowance to such a civil
servant, not exceeding two-thirds of the pension or gratuity which would have been admissible to him
had he been invalided from service on the date of such dismissal or removal.
(4) If the determination of the amount of pension or gratuity admissible to a civil servant is
delayed beyond one month of the date of his retirement or death, he or his family, as the case may be,
shall be paid provisionally such anticipatory pension or gratuity as may be determined by the
prescribed authority, according to the length of service of the civil servant which qualifies for pension
or gratuity; and any overpayment consequent on such provisional payment shall be adjusted against
the amount of pension or gratuity finally determined as payable to such civil servant or his family.
20. Provident Fund.__ (1) Before the expiry of the third month of every financial year, the
accounts officer or other officer required to maintain provident fund accounts shall furnish to every
civil servant subscribing to a provident fund the account of which he is required to maintain a statement
under his hand showing the subscriptions to, including the interest accruing thereon, if any, and
withdrawals or advances from, his provident fund during the preceding financial year.
(2) Where any subscription made by a civil servant to his provident fund has not been shown
or credited in the account by the accounts or other officer required to maintain such account, such
1
Omitted by Ordinance No. III of 1984, s. 8.
Page 10 of 12
subscription shall be credited to the account of the civil servant on the basis of such evidence as may
be prescribed.
21. Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance.__ All civil servants and their families shall be
entitled to the benefits admissible under the Federal Employees Benevolent Fund and Group Insurance
Act, 1969 (II of 1969), and the rules made thereunder.
22. Right of appeal or representation.__ (1) Where a right to prefer an appeal or apply for
review in respect of any order relating to the terms and conditions of his service is provided to a civil
servant under any rules applicable to him, such appeal or application shall, except as may be otherwise
prescribed, be made within thirty days of the date of such order.
(2) Where no provision for appeal or review exists under the rules in respect of any order or
class of orders, a civil servant aggrieved by any such order may, within thirty days of the
communication to him of such order, make a representation against it to the authority next above the
authority which made the order:
Provided that no representation shall lie on matters relating to the determination of fitness of a
person to hold a particular post or to be promoted to a higher post or grade.
_______
CHAPTER III.__MISCELLANEOUS
23. Saving.__ Nothing in this Act or in any rule shall be construed to limit or abridge the power
of the President to deal with the case of any civil servant in such manner as may appear to him to be
just and equitable:
Provided that, where this Act or any rule is applicable to the case of a civil servant, the case
shall not be dealt with in any manner less favourable to him than that provided by this Act or such rule.
1
[23A. Indemnity.__ No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against a civil
servant for anything done in his official capacity which is in good faith done or intended to be done
under this Act or the rules, instructions or directions made or issued thereunder.
23B. Jurisdiction barred.__ Save as provided under this Act and the Service Tribunals Act,
1973 (LXX of 1973), or the rules made thereunder, no order made or proceedings taken under this Act,
or the rules made thereunder by the President or any officer authorized by him shall be called in
question in any Court and no injunction shall be granted by any Court in respect of any decision made,
or proceedings taken in pursuance of any power conferred by, or under, this Act or the rules made
thereunder.]
24. Removal of difficulties.__ If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions
of this Act, the President may make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may
appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such power shall be exercised after the expiry of one year from the coming
into force of this Act.
1
Ins. by Ordinance No. LXI of 2001, s. 2.
Page 11 of 12
CHAPTER IV.__ RULES
25. Rules.__ (1) The President, or any person authorised by the President in this behalf, may
make such rules as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for carrying out the purposes of this
Act.
(2) Any rules, orders or instructions in respect of any terms and conditions of service of civil
servants duly made or issued by an authority competent to make them and in force immediately before
the commencement of this Act shall, in so far as such rules, orders or instructions are not inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to be rules made under this Act.
26. 1[Omitted]
_______
RGN. Dated 06-08-2025
_________________________________________________________________________________
1
Omitted by the Federal Laws (Revision and Declaration) Ordinance, 1981 (Ordinance No. XXVII of 1981) s. 3 and Sch., II.
Page 12 of 12
Source: Pakistan Code, Ministry of Law and Justice (pakistancode.gov.pk). Text on this page is reproduced verbatim from the official PDF and is provided for reference only. For the authoritative version, always consult the source document or a current reported edition.
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