Pakistan Administrative Service

Pakistan Administrative Service, or PAS (previously known as the District Management Group or DMG), is an elite cadre of the Civil Service of Pakistan. Officers in this group are recruited through a competitive examination held once a year by the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan. Those selected for this group have to undergo a two-year training programme at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) in Lahore, Pakistan.

The Indian Civil Service (ICS)—also known once as Imperial Civil Service, predecessor of the Civil Service of Pakistan and District Management Group—was established by the British to bolster the British Raj. After Indian independence, the ICS component ceded to Pakistan was renamed the Pakistan Administrative Service. Later it was named the Civil Service of Pakistan. In 1954, an agreement was reached between the Governor General of Pakistan and the governors of the provinces to constitute an All-Pakistan service. Under administrative reforms of 1973, the name of Civil Service of Pakistan was changed to All-Pakistan Unified Group (APUG) of which the DMG and Police Service of Pakistan and Secretariat Group are the components. Since 1973, each year a new batch of officers undergo a "Common Training Programme" which includes officers of various occupational groups at the Civil Services Academy. The service of PAS is very versatile in nature and officers are assigned to different departments all across Pakistan during the course of their careers.

Appointments of P.A.S Officers

After completing initial training and probation at the Civil Services Academy, officers are posted in field offices throughout Pakistan on Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 17 Grade appointments. Officers of the rank of Captains (within 3 to 6 years service) and equivalents from defense services are also inducted (in three occupational groups P.A.S, Police and Foreign Services) on allocated quota after recommendations of Chairman Federal Public Service Commission. Officers of P.A.S are first appointed typically as Assistant Commissioners of sub-divisions. They will simultaneously be charged with the responsibilities of Assistant Collector (Land Revenue) and Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The BPS grades are enumerated (in order of increasing responsibility) as:

Grade	Appointment	Remarks
BPS-17	Under Secretary to Provincial Government Section Officer in Federal Secretariat Assistant Commissioner (AC) Assistant Political Agent (APA) Assistant Director of Federal / Provincial Department	Field appointment of AC combines roles of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Assistant Collector (Land Revenue)
BPS-18	Deputy Secretary to Provincial Government Senior Section Officer in Federal Secretariat Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a smaller district Political Agent (PA) for a smaller agency Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) for a larger district Additional Political Agent for a larger agency Deputy Director of a Federal / Provincial Department	Field appointment of DC combines roles of District Magistrate (DM) and Collector (Land Revenue)
BPS-19	Deputy Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Secretary to Provincial Government Additional Commissioner of a Larger Administrative Division (Appointment created on required basis). Deputy Commissioner (DC) for a larger district Political Agent (PA) for a larger agency Project Manager for Federal Scheme Director of a Federal / Provincial Department
BPS-20	Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Secretary / Special Secretary to Provincial Government Member Provincial Board of Revenue Commissioners of Administrative Divisions Director General of Federal Department Project Director for Federal Scheme	Commissioners of Divisions were previously under Members of Board of Revenue but now they are directly responsible to the Chief Secretary of respective Province Equivalent to Brigadier (1 star officer) of the Armed Forces
BPS-21	Acting Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Chief Secretary to Provincial Government (e.g. ACS Planning) Senior Joint Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Senior Member Provincial Board of Revenue Senior Secretary to Provincial Government Commissioners of Larger Administrative Divisions Chairman of Federal Organisation Chief Executive / Managing Director of Public Corporation Chief Secretary to AJK / Gilgit-Baltistan Government.	Equivalent to Major General (2 star officer) of the Armed Forces
BPS-22	Secretary to Government of Pakistan Chief Secretary to Provincial Government Director General of Autonomous Federal Department/Agency Chairman of Autonomous Federal Organisation Managing Director / Chief Executive of Autonomous Public Corporation	Highest attainable rank for a serving officer Equivalent to Lieutenant General (3 star officer) of the Armed Forces
BPS-SG	Secretary General to Government of Pakistan	Position is redundant now/no longer in effect Only for BPS 22 officers who are appointed as Secretary to Government of Pakistan after their retirement from official service Equivalent to General (4 star officer) of the Armed Forces

Post Devolution (2001) Scenario

Magistracy continues to be exercised in the Federal Capital, however, the institution of the office of the Deputy Commissioner has been deprived of its previously held legal authority elsewhere in the country.

See also

• Secretary to Government of Pakistan
• List of serving generals of the Pakistan Army
• Police Services of Pakistan
• Appointment Holder in Government Organizations of Pakistan