Grade 22

Grade-22 (also referred to as BPS-22) is the highest attainable rank for a Civil Servant in Pakistan. Grade 22 is equal to a 4-star rank of the Pakistan Armed Forces. With over five hundred thousand civil servants and bureaucrats in Pakistan,[1] only a few dozen officers serve in BPS-22 grade at a given time. Hence, not even 1% of the country's civil servants and/or bureaucrats make it to the highest rank.[2][3][4] Officers serving in BPS-22 grade are largely considered to be the most influential individuals in the country.[5]

Pakistan Secretariat Buildings, Islamabad

Each officer who reaches Grade-22 has, on average, a civil service career spanning over 30 years to 32 years. Elevation to Grade-22 is decided by the High Powered Selection Board (HPSB), which is chaired by the Prime Minister or President of Pakistan. Other ex-officio members of the Board, who advise the PM on promotions, are the Establishment Secretary of Pakistan, the Cabinet Secretary of Pakistan and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.[6][7][8]

The following key positions in the country are occupied by Grade-22 Officials:

  1. ^ "Growing presence of women in bureaucracy and armed forces". The Express Tribune. 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2022-11-15.
  2. ^ "First batch of newly promoted grade 22 officers meets PM". Pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. ^ "High-Powered Selection Board meets today". Nation.com.pk. 14 September 2018.
  4. ^ Shahzad, Mirza Khurram (4 June 2015). "Analysis: Promotion dilemma of bureaucracy". Dawn.com.
  5. ^ "Top 6 bureaucrats promoted to BS-22 | Top Story | thenews.com.pk | Pindi". thenews.com.pk. 2018-11-20. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  6. ^ "PM approves major reshuffle in federal govt posts". The Express Tribune. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  7. ^ Asad, Malik (21 February 2017). "Top bureaucrats promoted to grade 22". Dawn.com.
  8. ^ "Postings and transfers: 10 promoted to grade-22, another 14 reshuffled". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 14 July 2018.