PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB SECRETARIAT SERVICES ACT 2019

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THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB 
SECRETARIAT SERVICES ACT 2019  
(IX of 2019) 
CONTENTS 
CHAPTER-I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, application and commencement 
2. Definitions 
CHAPTER-II 
SECRETARIAT 
3. Secretariat 
4. Strength and composition of the Secretariat 
CHAPTER-III 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 
5. Terms and conditions of service 
6. Appointments 
7. Appointments on deputation 
8. Probation 
9. Confirmation 
10. Seniority 
11. Promotion 
12. Posting and transfer 
13. Termination of service 
14. Reversion to a lower post, etc 
15. Retirement from service 
16. Pay 
17. Employment after retirement 
18. Conduct 
19. Efficiency and discipline 
20. Right of appeal or representation 
CHAPTER-IV 
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Saving 
22. Indemnity 
23. Jurisdiction barred 
24. Removal of difficulties 
25. Interpretation 
26. Rules 
27. Directions of the Speaker 
28. Relaxation of rules 
29. Repeal 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PUNJAB SECRETARIAT 
SERVICES ACT 2019 
(IX of 2019) 
[March 1st, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to regulate the recruitment and the conditions of service of persons appointed in the 
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat. 
WHEREAS, it is expedient to regulate the recruitment and the conditions of service 
of the persons appointed i n the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat, as 
required by Article 87(2), read with the Article 127, of the Constitution, and to provide 
for matters connected therewith or ancillary thereto; 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
CHAPTER-I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, application and commencement. – (1) This Act may be cited as 
the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat Services Act 2019. 
(2) It applies to all the employees in the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 
Secretariat wherever they may be. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.– (1) In this Act, unless, the context otherwise require: 
(a) “ad hoc appointment” means appointment of a duly qualified 
person made otherwise than in accordance with the pre scribed 
method of recruitment, pending recruitment in accordance with 
such method; 
(b) “appointing authority”, in relation to a post, means the person 
authorized to make appointment to a post; 
(c) “Basic Pay Scales (BPS)” means pay scales prescribed by the  
Provincial Government and adopted by the Secretariat; 
(d) “civil servant” shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in 
the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974 (Act VIII of 1974); 
(e) "competent authority" means the appointing authority; 
                                                 
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 27 February 2019; and was assented to by Governor of the 
Punjab on 28 February 2019; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 01 March 2019, pp. 2055-2061; 
and repealed by the Punjab Laws (Repealing and Removal of Difficulties) Ordinance 2022 (X of 2022), s.3; and published in the 
Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), 14.06.2022; pp. 6141-6142; and revived by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat 
Services (Repeal and Revival) Act 2022 ( XIV of 2022), w.e.f. 24.06.2022, s. 3; and published in the Punjab Gazette 
(Extraordinary), dated 16 August 2022, pp. 141. 
(f) “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of 
Pakistan 1973; 
(g) “deputation” means temporary transfer of the services of an 
employee from the Secretariat or transfer to the Secretariat of a 
person from Federation or any Province or other authority or 
organization controlled by the Government; 
(h) “directions” means written directions of the Speaker as notified 
in the official Gazette; 
(i) “employee” means a person appointed in the Secretariat, who 
shall have the status of a civil servant subject to su ch 
modifications as the Speaker in consultation with the Finance 
Committee may make, but does not include- 
(i) a person who is on deputation to the Secretariat; and 
(ii) a person who is employed on contract or work -charge 
basis or who is paid from contingencies; 
(j) “Finance Committee” means the Finance Committee of the 
Provincial Assembly of the Punjab constituted under Article 88, 
read with the Article 127, of the Constitution; 
(k) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
(l) “initial appointment” mea ns appointment made otherwise than 
by promotion or transfer; 
(m) “pay and allowances” means the amount drawn monthly by an 
employee as pay and includes technical pay, special pay, 
personal pay, qualification pay, allowances and emoluments 
declared as such by the Speaker, the Finance Committee or the 
Government, as the case may be, when the same is adopted by 
the Speaker; 
(n) “permanent post” means a post sanctioned without limit of time; 
(o) “post” means a post sanctioned in the Secretariat; 
(p) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules or directions of the 
Speaker, as the case may be, notified in the official Gazette 
from time to time; 
(q) “rules” means rules made or deemed to have been made under 
this Act; 
(r) “Secretariat” means the Provincial Assembly of th e Punjab 
Secretariat; 
2
[(s) “Secretary” means the Secretary General of the Secretariat who 
shall have the status of a Secretary to the Government and, in 
case of absence of Secretary General, includes any other officer 
of the Assembly Secretariat authorized by the Speaker to 
                                                 
2Substituted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Laws (Amendment) Act, 202 4 (I of 202 4); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30.04.2024, pp. 4235-4236, s.3(i)(a). 
perform the functions as Acting Secretary  General for the time 
being;] 
(t) “selection authority” means, a Departmental Selection 
Committee or other authority or body on the recommendation of 
or in consultation with which any initial rec ruitment, promotion or 
transfer, as may be prescribed, is made; 
(u) “Speaker” means the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the 
Punjab; and 
(v) “temporary post” means a post other than a permanent post. 
(2) For the purposes of this Act, an appointment, w hether by promotion or 
otherwise, shall be deemed to have been made on regular basis if it is made in the 
prescribed manner. 
(3) All words and expressions used but not defined in this Act, shall unless the 
context otherwise requires, have the meanings assigned to them in the Constitution. 
3
[(4) Any expression referring to “Secretary of the Assembly Secretariat”, used and 
contained in ‘The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat (Services) Rules 
2019’, ‘Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Finance Committ ee Rules 1974’, ‘Rules of 
Business, Government of the Punjab 2011’, ‘The Punjab Delegation of Financial 
Power Rules 2016’, ‘Punjab Procurement Rules 2014’, ‘Revised Leave Rules 1981’ 
and ‘Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Hostel Rules 2002’, shall be deeme d as 
expression referring to “Secretary General of the Assembly Secretariat”, who shall 
exercise and perform the powers and functions of head of the Assembly Secretariat.] 
CHAPTER-II 
SECRETARIAT 
4
[3. Secretariat.– There shall be a separate Secretariat of t he Provincial 
Assembly of the Punjab headed by the Secretary General.] 
4. Strength and composition of the Secretariat. – (1) The Secretariat shall 
have permanent and temporary posts as may, from time to time, be sanctioned and 
notified in the official Gazette. 
(2) The Speaker may create, upgrade, re-designate or abolish any post: 
Provided that no post in BPS -17 or above shall be created or upgraded for a 
period exceeding six months, except after consultation with the Finance Committee. 
(3) The Speaker may by order direct that his power under sub-section (2), 
in such circumstances and under such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the 
direction, also be exercisable by the 
5
[Secretary General]. 
                                                 
3Added by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Laws (Amendment ) Act, 202 4 (I of 202 4); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30.04.2024, pp. 4235-4236, s.3(i)(b). 
4Substituted by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Laws (Amendment) Act, 202 4 (I of 202 4); and published in the Punjab 
Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30.04.2024, pp. 4235-4236, s.3(ii). 
5Substituted for the word “Secretary” by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Laws (Amendment) Act, 202 4 (I of 2024); and 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated 30.04.2024, pp. 4235-4236, s.3(iii). 
(4) When a post is created or upgraded or re-designated, permanently or 
temporarily, or abolished, it shall be notified in the official Gazette. 
CHAPTER-III 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE 
5. Terms and conditions of service. – (1) The terms and conditions of service 
of an employee shall be as provided in this Act and the rules. 
(2) The terms and conditions of service of any person to whom this Act 
applies, shall not be varied to his disadvantage. 
(3) Subject to this Act and rules, all other terms and conditions of service, 
including pay, allowances, advances, retirem ent, deputation, pension, gratuity, 
provident fund, benevolent fund, group insurance, financial or family assistance 
packages including in service death, leave or all other rights, perks, privileges, 
prerogatives, concessions, entitlements, memberships, fa cilities, including medical, 
housing, education and all other schemes of the Government, of an employee, 
notwithstanding any judgment or order of any court, tribunal or a quasi -judicial 
authority, shall be such as governed by the law, rules, policies, inst ructions and 
guidelines for the time being in force and applicable, admissible or enjoyed or 
available to the civil servants of the Punjab Civil Secretariat, whatsoever their cadre 
may be, in the corresponding posts or BPS, subject to such modifications, v ariations 
or exceptions as may be made by the Speaker with concurrence of the Finance 
Committee: 
Provided that, in case of urgency, the Speaker may make such modifications, 
variations or exceptions in anticipation of the concurrence of the Finance Committee. 
(4) The decisions made by the Speaker or the Finance Committee, as the 
case may be, shall be final and binding upon the Finance Department as well as the 
Accountant General Punjab. 
(5) All orders made, actions taken and directions or instructions given by 
the Speaker or by the Finance Committee or by any authority, which were made, 
taken or given, or purported to have been made, taken or given, prior to the 
commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to be and always to have been validly 
made, taken or given and shall not be called in question in any Court on any ground 
whatsoever. 
6. Appointments.– Appointments in the Secretariat shall be made in the 
prescribed manner by the Speaker or by a person authorized by the Speaker in that 
behalf by one or more of the following methods, namely: 
(a) by promotion of a person employed in the Secretariat; 
(b) by transfer within the Secretariat in the same BPS; 
(c) by direct recruitment through internal circulation; 
(d) by direct recruitment: 
7. Appointments on deputatio n.– (1) Appointment on deputation to a post 
shall be made in the interest of the Secretariat. 
(2) The competent authority may appoint on deputation a person serving 
outside the Secretariat in connection with the affairs of the Federation or any 
Province or authority or organization controlled by the Government. 
(3) The terms and conditions of service of a person appointed in the 
Secretariat on deputation shall be such as may be prescribed by rules. 
8. Probation.– (1) Appointment to a post by initial recruit ment under section 6, 
not being an ad hoc appointment, shall be on probation for a period of two years. 
(2) Every person appointed to a post by promotion or transfer may also be 
placed on probation for a period of one year. 
(3) If in the opinion of the app ointing authority, the work or conduct of an 
employee on probation is unsatisfactory or shows that he is unlikely to become 
efficient, or where, in respect of any post, the satisfactory completion of probation 
includes the passing of a prescribed examinati on, test or course or successful 
completion of any training, a person appointed on probation to such post who, before 
the expiry of the original or extended period of his probation, has failed to pass such 
examination or test or to successfully complete th e course or the training shall, 
except as may be prescribed otherwise– 
(a) be on probation for such extended period not exceeding one year, as 
deemed appropriate; or 
(b) if he was appointed to such post by initial recruitment, be discharged; 
or 
(c) if he was appointed  to such post by promotion or transfer, be reverted 
to the post from which he was promoted or transferred and against 
which he holds a lien or, if there be no such service or post, be 
discharged: 
Provided that, in the case of initial appointment to a post,  an employee shall 
not be deemed to have completed his period of probation satisfactorily until his 
competence, character and antecedents have been verified as satisfactory in the 
opinion of the appointing authority. 
(4) On the satisfactory completion of p eriod of probation, the appointing 
authority may terminate the probation and confirm a probationer in his appointment 
provided a clear vacancy exists. 
9. Confirmation.– (1) A person appointed on probation shall, on satisfactory 
completion of his probation,  be eligible for confirmation in a post as may be 
prescribed. 
(2) An employee promoted to a post on regular basis shall be eligible for 
confirmation after rendering satisfactory service for the period prescribed for 
confirmation therein. 
(3) An employee wh o, during the period of his service, was eligible to be 
confirmed against any post retires from service before being confirmed shall not, 
merely by reason of such retirement, be refused confirmation against such post or 
any benefits accruing there from. 
(4) Confirmation of an employee against a post shall take effect from the 
date of occurrence of permanent vacancy of that post or from the date of continuous 
officiation on such post, whichever is later. 
(5) There shall be no confirmation against any temporary post. 
10. Seniority.– (1) For proper administration, the appointing authority shall cause 
a seniority list of the employees, for the time being, of such group, category or post 
to be prepared, but nothing herein contained shall be construed to confer an y vested 
right to a particular seniority in such group, category or post, as the case may be. 
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub -section (1), the seniority of an 
employee shall be reckoned in relation to other employees belonging to the same 
group or pos t whether serving in the same department or office or not, as may be 
prescribed. 
(3) Seniority on initial appointment to a group, category or post shall be 
determined as may be prescribed. 
(4) Seniority in a group, category or post to which an employee is 
promoted shall take effect from the date of regular appointment to that post: 
Provided that employees who are selected for promotion to a higher post in 
one batch shall, on their promotion to the higher post, retain their inter se seniority as 
in the lower post. 
11. Promotion.– (1) An employee possessing such minimum qualifications as 
may be prescribed shall be eligible for promotion to a higher post for the time being 
reserved under the rules for promotion in the service or cadre to which he belongs. 
(2) A post referred to in sub-section (1) may either be a selection post or a 
non-selection post to which promotions shall be made as may be prescribed- 
(a) in the case of a selection post, on the basis of selection on 
merit; and 
(b) in the case of a non -selection post , on the basis of seniority -
cum-fitness. 
12. Posting and transfer. – Every employee shall be liable to serve anywhere 
within Pakistan, in any equivalent or higher post subject to approval of the competent 
authority: 
Provided that, where an employee is requi red to serve in a post outside his 
service or cadre, his terms and conditions of service as to his pay shall not be less 
favorable than those to which he would have been entitled if he had not been so 
required to serve. 
13. Termination of service.– (1) The service of an employee may be terminated 
without notice– 
(a) during the initial or extended period of his probation: 
Provided that where such employee is appointed by promotion on 
probation or, as the case may be, is transferred from one service, 
group, category or post to another service, group, category or post, his 
service shall not be so terminated so long as he holds a lien against his 
former post in such service, group, category or post but he shall be 
reverted to his former service, group, category or p ost as the case may 
be; 
(b) if appointed on contract, on the expiry of the initial or extended period 
of his contract; or 
(c) if the appointment is made ad hoc terminable on the appointment of a 
person on the recommendation of the selection authority, on the 
appointment of such person or conclusion of the selection process. 
(2) Where, on the abolition of a post or reduction in the number of posts in 
a group, the services of an employee are required to be terminated, the person 
whose services are terminated shall or dinarily be the one who is the most junior in 
such group. 
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub -section (1), but subject to the 
provisions of sub -section (2), the service of an employee in temporary employment 
or appointed ad hoc shall be liable to ter mination on fourteen days' notice or pay in 
lieu thereof. 
14. Reversion to a lower post, etc.– (1) An employee appointed to a higher post 
on ad hoc, temporary or officiating basis shall be liable to reversion to his lower post. 
(2) No employee shall be dismissed or removed from service or reduced in 
rank by an authority subordinate to that by which he was appointed. 
(3) No such employee as aforesaid shall be dismissed or removed from 
service or reduced in rank until he has been given a reasonable opportunit y of 
showing cause against the action proposed to be taken against him: 
Provided that this sub-section shall not apply - 
(a) where an employee is dismissed or removed from service or reduced 
in rank on the grounds of conduct which has led to his conviction on a 
criminal charge; or 
(b) where the employee is still on probation or working on ad hoc basis; or 
(c) where the Speaker or any person authorized by him under this Act is 
satisfied, for reasons to be recorded in writing, that in the interest of the 
security of Pakistan or any part thereof it is not expedient to give to that 
employee such an opportunity. 
15. Retirement from service.– (1) An employee shall retire from service- 
(a) on such date after he has completed twenty years of service qualifying 
for pension or other retirement benefits as the competent authority 
may, in public interest, direct; or 
(b) where no direction is given under clause (a), on the completion of the 
sixtieth year of his age or at the option of an employee on completion 
of twenty five years of his ser vice qualifying for pension and other 
retirement benefits. 
(2) No direction under clause (a) of sub -section (1) shall be made until the 
employee has been informed in writing of the grounds on which it is proposed to 
make the direction and has been given a reasonable opportunity of showing cause 
against the said direction. 
16. Pay.– An employee appointed to a post shall be entitled in accordance with 
the rules to the pay sanctioned for such post: 
Provided that where the appointment is made on a current -charge basis or by 
way of additional charge, his pay shall be fixed in the prescribed manner: 
Provided further that where an employee has, under an order which is later 
set aside, been dismissed or removed from service or reduced in rank, he shall, on 
the setting aside of such order, be entitled to such arrears of pay as the authority 
setting aside such order may determine. 
17. Employment after retirement.– (1) A retired employee shall not ordinarily be 
reemployed in the Secretariat, unless such re -employment is necessary in the public 
interest and is made with the prior approval of the authority next above the 
appointing authority: 
Provided that where the appointing authority is the Speaker, such re -
employment may be ordered with the approval of the Finance Committee. 
(2) Subject to law and rules, an employee may, during leave preparatory 
to retirement or after retirement from the Secretariat, seek any employment and 
profession: 
Provided that where employment is sought by an employee while on leave 
preparatory to retirement, he shall obtain prior approval of the competent authority. 
18. Conduct.– The conduct of an employee shall be regulated by rules made, 
directions notified or instructions issued by the Speaker, whether general or in 
respect of a specified group of employees. 
19. Efficiency and discipline.– An employee shall be liable to disciplinary action 
and penalties in accordance with the prescribed procedure. 
20. Right of appeal or representation. – (1) Where a right to prefer an appeal or 
apply for a review  in respect of any order relating to the terms and conditions of his 
service is provided to an employee under any rules applicable to him, such appeal or 
application for review shall, except as may be otherwise prescribed, be made within 
thirty days of the  date of such order and where a right to prefer an appeal does not 
exist it may lie to the Finance Committee. 
(2) Where no provision for appeal or review exists under the rules in 
respect of any order or class of orders, an employee aggrieved by any such o rder 
may within thirty days of the communication to him of such order, make a 
representation against it to the authority next above the authority which passed an 
order: 
Provided that no representation shall lie on matters relating to the 
determination of f itness of a person to hold a particular post or to be promoted to a 
higher post or BPS. 
CHAPTER-IV 
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Saving.– Nothing in this Act or in any rule shall be construed to limit or 
abridge the power of the Speaker to deal with the case of an emp loyee in such 
manner as may appear to him to be just and equitable: 
Provided that, where this Act or any rule, is applicable to the case of an 
employee, the case shall not be dealt with in a manner less favorable to him than 
that provided by this Act or such rule. 
22. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against 
an employee for anything done in his official capacity which is in good faith done or 
intended to be done under this Act or the rules, instructions or directions mad e or 
issued or adopted from time to time. 
23. Jurisdiction barred. – Save as provided under this Act, the Punjab Service 
Tribunals Act, 1974 (Act IX of 1974) or the rules, no order made or proceedings 
taken under this Act or the rules, by the Speaker or any  officer authorized by him, 
shall be called in question in any court and no injunction shall be granted by any 
court in respect of any decision made or proceedings taken in pursuance of any 
power conferred by, or under, this Act or the rules. 
24. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the 
provisions of this Act, the Speaker may make such order, not inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, as may appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of 
removing the difficulty. 
25. Interpretation.– All questions relating to interpretation of provisions of this 
Act shall be referred to the Speaker whose decision thereon shall be final. 
26. Rules.– (1) The Speaker may, with the concurrence of the Finance 
Committee, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) Any rules, orders or instructions in respect of any terms and conditions 
of service of employees duly made or issued by an authority competent to make 
them and in force immediately before the commencement of t his Act shall, in so far 
as such rules, orders or instructions are not inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act, be deemed to be made under this Act. 
27. Directions of the Speaker. – All matters not specifically provided for in this 
Act or the rules made thereunder and all questions relating to the detailed working of 
the Secretariat shall be regulated in such manner as the Speaker may, from time to 
time, direct. 
28. Relaxation of rules. – Where the Speaker is satisfied that the operation of 
any provision of the rules made under this Act cause any hardship in any particular 
case, he may, with the concurrence of the Finance Committee, by order, dispense 
with or relax the requirements of that provision to such extent and subject to such 
conditions as he may consider necessary for dealing with the case in a just and 
equitable manner. 
Provided that, in case of urgency, the Speaker may relax or dispense with 
such requirements of that provision in anticipation of the concurrence of the Finance 
Committee. 
29. Repeal.– (1) The Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Secretariat (Recruitment 
and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1986 are hereby repealed: 
Provided that orders and instructions, including method of appointment 
already notified issued and posts created under these  rules shall continue to be in 
force until relevant directions and rules are made under this Act. 
(2) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 
Secretariat (Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1986, all orders made, 
proceedings taken and acts done, including appointments made either through initial 
recruitment, induction, absorption, promotion, regularization or on contract basis, 
obligation, liability or penalty incurred, power conferred or exercised, by any authority 
or by any person, under the said rules and anything done in exercise of the powers, 
or purported exercise of the powers, conferred by or under the said rules, shall 
continue and be deemed to be and always to have been validly made, taken, done 
incurred, conf erred, exercised or issued under this Act and shall not be called in 
question in any court on any ground whatsoever.