Pakistan’s High Powered Selection Board (HPSB) is expected to meet during the first week of August 2026 to consider the long-awaited promotions of senior civil servants from Grade 21 to Grade 22, potentially ending a delay that has lasted for around 15 months.
The HPSB, which is responsible for reviewing and approving promotions to the highest ranks of Pakistan’s civil service, has not held a meeting since March 2025. The prolonged delay has created uncertainty among senior bureaucrats and slowed the promotion process across several government departments.
According to officials, many Grade 21 officers who were eligible for promotion have already retired while waiting for the board to convene, preventing them from being considered for advancement before leaving public service.
Sources said the Establishment Division has completed all administrative preparations for the meeting. The proposal is now awaiting final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office, after which the meeting is expected to be formally scheduled.
The session will likely be chaired by either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister, depending on official arrangements.
During the meeting, the board will review the service records, annual performance evaluations and overall eligibility of senior officers from different occupational groups for promotion to Grade 22.
Officials said the officers expected to be considered include eight from the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), six from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), four from the Secretariat Group, one from the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), and one from the Information Group.
The anticipated meeting is expected to clear a significant backlog in senior civil service promotions and provide long-awaited career progression opportunities for eligible officers.
