Senate body looks into CSB promotion decisions
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—A Special Committee of the Upper House Monday looked into the recent decision of the Central Selection Board (CSB) for ascertaining reasons for lack of promotion to grade-21 of the officers from the provinces of Baluchistan, Sindh, NWFP and FATA.
The Chairman of the Special Committee, Senator S.M. Zafar whilepresiding over the meeting observed that though considerations of merit, professionalism etc are important, the peculiar conditions in our country particularly in the context of Centre-Provinces relationship demand a more pragmatic approach.
He said it is all the more imperative to give serious consideration topromoting officers from the smaller provinces particularly Sindh and Baluchistan alongwith FATA. This would, he said re-enforce the belief infederalism and promote national integration and cohesion.
Earlier, the Secretary Establishment Division clarified the region province-wise position of the officers promoted to BS-21 as per recent recommendations of Central Selection Board as Punjab, 49; Sindh, 10; NWFP, 08; Baluchistan, 02; FATA, 01.
He said posts in BS-19 to BS-21 are selection posts. Promotions to theseposts are made on the basis of selection on merit by the appropriate Selection Boards.
Posts carrying basic pay scale 21 fall in senior management categoryinvolving important policy making or extensive administrative jurisdiction.
In addition to the circulation value and variety of experience theincumbents eligible for promotion to such posts must possess proven analytical competence, breadth of vision, emotional maturity and suchother qualities as may determine the potential for successfully holding posts in top management.
This potential can not be judged by mathematical formulae. The SelectionBoard is required to apply its collective wisdom to determine the same, he added.
The members of the Committee said they would like to hear the views ofthe Minister Incharge (Establishment Division) in the next meeting on the subject.
The meeting was attended among others by Senators Hameed Ullah JanAfridi, Raza Muhammad Raza and Col (Red) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi besides the Secretary Establishment Division and senior government officials.