Federal Secretary: Difference between revisions
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== References == |
== References == |
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==See also== |
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Revision as of 00:07, 20 January 2018
The Federal Secretary (also referred to as the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan) is a post and rank in Government of Pakistan, occupied by the most senior civil servant in a specific Ministry or Division. The Secretary is the administrative head of that Ministry or Division and oversees and enforces public policy matters.[1] The authority for the creation of this post solely rests with the Cabinet of Pakistan. The position holder is generally an officer belonging to the Pakistan Administrative Service[2] and is a Grade 22 officer.[3]
The post of the Secretary, however, is an ex-cadre post, hence, anyone can occupy it, but the office-bearers generally are from the Central Superior Services. All promotions and appointments to this rank and post are directly made by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.[4] The post is equivalent to that of Chief Secretary of a provincial Government (within their respective provinces) and to the rank of Lieutenant General and equivalent ranks in the Pakistan Armed Forces.[5]
Powers and responsibilities
The Federal Secretary is the administrative head of the Ministry or Department,[6] and is the principal adviser to the Minister on all matters of policy and administration within the Ministry/Department.[7]
The role of Secretary is as follows[7]:
- To act as the administrative head of the Ministry or Department. The responsibility in this regard is complete and undivided.
- To act as the chief adviser to the Minister on all aspects of policy and administrative affairs.
- To represent the Ministry/Department before the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan.
Perception and image
The federal secretaries are the most senior and experienced officers in the country and are largely considered to be the most powerful individuals in the government, especially the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Cabinet Secretary and Establishment Secretary who work in close coordination with the Prime Minister.[8][9] Promotion to the rank of Federal Secretary is regarded as a very tough task given the high level of scrutiny taken into place when the promotions are done by the High Powered Selection Board (HPSB) which is headed by the Prime Minister.[10] As the career service of federal secretaries and other bureaucrats are immune to the transition of political governments, they are seen as the real policy-makers who govern the country and serve as the spinal cord for the establishment.[11][12]
Notable Federal Secretaries
- Fawad Hasan Fawad
- Roedad Khan
- Nargis Sethi
- Tasneem Noorani
- Raja Sikandar Sultan
- Rizwan Ahmed
- Ghulam Ishaq Khan
- Tariq Bajwa
- Rabiya Javeri Agha
References
- ^ "Promotions: PM appoints 15 federal secretaries - The Express Tribune". 7 January 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "PAKISTAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE - CSA". csa.edu.pk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ Asad, Malik (21 February 2017). "Top bureaucrats promoted to grade 22". Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Siddiqui, Naveed (13 February 2017). "Tehmina Janjua becomes first woman to be appointed Pakistan's foreign secretary". Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Shahid Mehmood becomes new finance secretary - The Express Tribune". 18 June 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "Cabinet Secretariat". cabinet.gov.pk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Cabinet Secretariat". cabinet.gov.pk. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "PM appoints Cabinet, Establishment secretaries". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ "All is not well between country's two top offices". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Asad, Malik (7 October 2017). "Selection board drops top bureaucrats for promotions". Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Top bureaucratic promotions in limbo over PML-N internal strife - Daily Times". 1 October 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- ^ Ghumman, Khawar (19 June 2013). "PM posts 'trusted officers' in federal bureaucracy". Retrieved 10 January 2018.