Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), previously known as the District Management Group (DMG), is a general management cadre of the Pakistan’s civil services. The officers of this cadre act as managers at district, provincial and finally at the policy-making levels in the highest echelons of the Federal bureaucracy.
History and Genesis
The District Managment Group was established as a result of 1973 administrative reforms. Its name was changed to Pakistan Administrative Service in 2012. DGM drew its primary membership from the officers of Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP), an All-Pakistan Service (part of the APUG), established in November 1950 in pursuance of an inter-provincial agreement.
Recruitment
Pakistan’s federal bureaucracy primarily consists of 12 occupational groups, known by the collective name of Central Superior Services (CSS). They are inducted on merit through competitive examination conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission during the fall of each year. The persons appearing on the top in the merit list, in each of the federating units of Pakistan, usually opt for the PAS. The PAS attracts the best of young brains into its fold, with around 20 young officers getting inducted into the PAS each year (although the number of inductions in the last few years has been around 40).
Function and Responsibilities
- OMG is a better service. OMG ends after 18 Grade, and then Secretariat Group starts. It is one of components of All Pakistan unified grades. What is All Pakistan Unified Grades (APUG): 1.DMG 2.PSP.3.Secretariat Group composes APUG. Officers of APUG can be posted anywhere in Pakistan and enjoy a good scope.
- The salary ranges from Rs.150,000-575,000 per month. University Lecturer. Lecturers are receiving attractive salaries packages in the educational sector of Pakistan who deliver lectures in their specialized subjects. The salary ranges from Rs.30, 000-150,000 per month. There are also other best careers and highest paying jobs in Pakistan.
Having its roots in the former Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP), the District Management Group (DMG) despite the recent historic restructuring of power and authority in Pakistan, continues to maintain its niche of being a central and one of the most coveted Administrative service groups of the Civil Service of Pakistan albeit with a slightly changed scope and mandate.
The starting point for the PAS officers at the district level is the position of Assistant Commissioner of a subdivision. They are entrusted with general management, administration of the State land, revenue matters, coordination between the government departments and (except in Punjab and Sind) law and order.
At senior levels, the PAS Officer can become Secretary of any of the various federal government divisions like Commerce and Trade, Establishment, Housing, Information Technology etc. Likewise in the provincial governments they act as Secretaries for departments such as Education, Health, Home, Services and General Administration etc. and as Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development, and Chief Secretary. The horizontal mobility of the PAS officers ensures wide experience and exposure to the officers who are posted to various command and staff appointments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1:- What is PAS?
It is a group of officers performing management functions at federal, provincial and local level with a unique blend of experience, exposure and practice.
Q2:- What is the historical background of this Group?
This group derives its origin from Indian Civil Services termed as the “Steel frame” of the whole governmental structure. In 1947, ICS became Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS). In 1950, PAS became Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP). Under Civil Servants Act of 1973, twelve groups were created out of which one was named District Management Group. PAS shouldered the responsibility of nation building and policy making at different tiers and was instrumental in early institution building.
Q3:- How far can one excel in PAS?
Young officers join service for managing local affairs and ultimately reach public policy management position. They undertake strategic policy making and higher level management.
Q4:- How many different kinds of training opportunities are offered to PAS officers?
Following different types of training are conducted before assuming office:
a) Common Training Programme (CTP) (6-9 months duration)
b) Specialized Training Programme (STP) (10 months duration)
c) Field attachment with a district (22 weeks)
During their career, the following training programs are a pre-requisite for promotion into next grade:
(i) Mid Career Management Course (MCMC) for promotion into BS-19
(ii) Senior Management Course (SMC) for promotion into BS-20
(iii) National Management Course (NMC) for promotion into BS-21
A number of foreign training courses offered by bilateral agencies are also available to the officers during the course of their careers.
Q5:- What is the duration of STP and which courses are being taught there?
Please click below for complete information about PAS STP:
PAS STP
Q6:- What is the post-devolution scope of the service?
With the restructuring of the political and administrative authority after devolution, the service structure of PAS was initially seen to be adversely affected after the abolition of all-powerful positions of ACs, DCs and Commissioners and the abolition of the executive magistracy.
Conversely, the post devolution scenario has shown that the role and scope of the administrative cadres as DCOs and Town Administrators has increased manifolds. So, PAS still remains to be the central and one of the most coveted service group of the Civil Services of Pakistan.
Q7:- What are the threats to this Group?
PAS officers have dual accountability before the law and their political leadership. Besides, current unstable political environment of the country and the inconsistent public policies are also some major factors that pose serious challenges to the service.
Q8:- How do you compare PAS with other cadres especially Police?
Each group of civil service has its own distinctive importance which distinguishes it from others, but PAS has no comparison as the members of this group occupy the senior most positions in bureaucracy. In PSP, the prospects of promotion are good upto BPS-20 and there is one ultimate task i.e., maintenance of law and order. While PAS officers are the real policy makers at all levels and they deal with larger issues and get to paint a bigger picture eventually.
Q9:- What are the advantages of joining PAS?
This Group provides an opportunity of public service with an access to the marginalized segments of society. It offers versatility in nature of tasks/duties performed during the service along with both vertical and horizontal career progression. In Short, PAS is the interface of government at the field level.
Q10:- How secure is this job?
PAS has adopted the role of permanent executive at district, provincial and federal level. It is a very secure career as it has undergone various reforms but its place remains pivotal in the affairs of governance.
Q11:- What are the prospects for females to join this group?
In this globalized world, the role of Pakistani women needs to be mainstreamed. By joining PAS, females can not only become a part of highest level public sector management but can also contribute in the national policy making.
Q12:- What are the perks and privileges for officers of this Group?
The perks and privileges of officers vary from post to post and grade to grade. The officers are entitled to salary and allowances as per government scales and rules. Transport is provided in most cases to the officers or at least pick and drop facility is provided after an officer completes training.
Q13:- What are the prospects for promotion in the PAS?
The prospects for promotion are very high and the promotion of the PAS officers is very rapid as compared to other occupational groups. The details are as follows:
Requirement for promotion to:
BS-18: Min 5 years of service termination of Probation and passing of Deptt. Exam
BS-19: 12 years of service, MCMC and eligibility score of 60 in PERs
BS-20: 17 years of service, SMC and eligibility score of 70 in PERs
BS-21: 22 years of service, NMC / NDC and eligibility score of 70 in PERs
BS-22: Selected from amongst BS-21 officers of APUG
Q14:- Can PAS officers be posted outside the country?
Yes, PAS officers can be posted outside Pakistan if they are selected for work in Pakistani embassies abroad as Commercial Counselors, etc.
CSS no more attractive for educated youthISLAMABAD: Quality youngsters are not appearing in the annual Central Superior Services (CSS) examinations for different reasons, keeping the pass percentage low over the years.
In the just announced CSS results for the last examination held in early 2016, only 2.06 percent candidates finally qualified for appointment in grade 17 after the written test and viva voce.
A total of 9,613 candidates had appeared in the written examination with 202 of them having passed it. As many as 199 contenders were finally qualified after the interview. However, a total of 193 were recommended for appointment.
In the preceding year of 2015, the pass percentage, 3.02 %, was much better than this year. A total of 12,176 candidates had appeared in the written test. Of them, 379 contestants passed while 368 of them finally qualified after the viva voce. However, as many as 238 lucky ones were recommended for appointment.
The year 2014 was worst in terms of the pass percentage, which was put at 1.77 %. A total of 26,640 candidates had applied while only 13,170 contenders dared to appear in the written examination that 439 of them passed, making the written examination qualified to the appeared ratio to 3.3 %. As many as 377 candidates finally qualified and thus the qualified to appeared ratio came to 2.86 %. Some 315 vacancies had been advertised. A total of 233 candidates were ultimately allocated to different departments.
Some blame declining pass percentage of CSS candidates on lack of attraction for the educated youth in the civil service, massive course alteration and the change in subject grouping which became effective from the 2016 examination.
A large number of private academies, where the aspirants study, were also clueless about what kind of the questions would be asked because of the course change. The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) hardly guided the candidates in this connection. Those appearing in this test faced the new experiment contrary to the past when they had some idea about the pattern of papers. The same year, the introduction of change in subject grouping also negatively impacted the contenders.
It is stated that quality youngsters who made CSS superior, are no more appearing in the examination and it has now become a competition mostly among those who are in bottom cohort of class.
“Another factor is that qualified top notch civil servants are quitting the service. So why would good youngsters be motivated to come forward?” a senior bureaucrat asked when his comments were sought on the low pass percentage.
He said that the 1990 CSS batch had 126 officers selected with 23 toppers have been allocated the District Management Group (DMG). Almost half of them left the service mostly during Pervez Musharraf’s martial law.
They are doing great in World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Lahore University of Management Sciences, internationaldevelopment consulting and even private sector, he pointed out.
The downward trend started after Pervez Musharraf in 2000 and his now forgotten devolution plan. It has been stated that when the lynchpin of administrative structure of Pakistan the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Assistant Commissioner (AC), was made “exalted clerks” and subservient to half-literate Nazim, the key decision making at federal and provincial level shifted elsewhere, first through martial law monitoring and transition teams and then through core committees.
Thus the resulting collapse of civil and administrative structures is less because of political interference and more due to systemic destruction of civil services through blatant intervention by unelected adventurous men on horseback, the official said.
Dmg Group Salary In Pakistan List
He said the civil service and politicians are global part of a dynamic system, and Constitution and law provide them duties and roles. They are supposed to maintain a balance, and if certain red lines are crossed, the red light flashes on the ballot box. All this resulted in young educated, fired by idealism, not considering civil service as their first port of call.
Another bureaucrat expressed the view that the standards have not gone down so much, but the top cohort of every class is much sharp, knowledgeable and enterprising than top cohort of the same class 30 years ago. The only difference is that this present lot is not interested in civil service, which practically has no role in decision-making and rule of law.
Lack of living wage is also a factor behind declining interest of the talented educated youth in the civil service, but it is a secondary reason because most civil servants know that the government doesn't pay a living wage, but gives good housing and other comforts like health and education in better public sector schools. However, the wages have become important as the quality in all these sectors -- housing, health education -- is also offered by private sector.
A young DC or DCO (district coordination officer) gets just Rs70,000 while a provincial secretary Rs100,000. On the other hand government salaries in lower rungs are not bad compared to private sector.
Dmg Group Salary In Pakistan 2016
The official said that the civil service is a key to developing future generations through mentoring and role models, who are already leaving. Therefore, why should bright young graduates aspire for a dying institution?
Dmg Group Salary In Pakistan 2018
While there has been massive decline in several spheres, the civil service is still most merit-based avenue of social mobility in Pakistan. Young bright educated middle and even lower middle class people through dint of hard work excel and reach highest level of decision-making and official hierarchy. The main motivation is to have a reasonable standard of life, to contribute to national decision-making, and lead the development of a rule-based society.
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