Secretariat positions capped at 400% of Assembly members; current staff must comply within 18 months
National Assembly. Photo: File
The National Assembly approved the NA Secretariat Employees (Amendment) Bill 2025, introducing strict staffing limits, regulating recruitment and formalizing hiring procedures to prevent political interference.
According to the new law, the total number of positions in the Secretariat, both permanent and temporary, cannot exceed 400 percent of the members of the Assembly, and existing employees must be brought back within this limit within 18 months after its entry into force. Amendments require the approval of the Finance Committee for the creation of new posts, upgrades or abolition of any post, and all new posts must be officially notified in the Official Gazette.
Recruitment rules have been revised to ensure merit-based hiring: positions of grade 15 and below will be filled on the recommendation of the Departmental Selection Committee and through open advertisements, while positions of grade 16 and above will follow the recommendations of the Federal Civil Service Commission. If the FPSC does not advertise within six months, departmental selection may be used. The federal quota system will continue to apply to all appointments.
The appointments of deputations are also redefined, with a maximum duration of five years and no possibility of permanent absorption within the Secretariat. Deputy officers of grade 20 and below will receive allowances based on the latest pay certificate from their parent department.
The Bill introduces significant legal and structural changes: employees of the Secretariat are now formally referred to as “Employees of the Secretariat of the National Assembly”, references to “Ministry” or “Division” are replaced by “Secretariat of the National Assembly” and references to “President” or “Prime Minister” are replaced by “President”. The position of “Secretary” is legally defined as “Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Assembly”.
Several sections of the 2018 Act are proposed to be repealed, including sections 8, 9, 10, 12 to 24, 26, 28 and 29. A new section 31 ensures that this Act will prevail over any conflicting legislation. President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq stressed that the reforms aim to reduce unnecessary posts, improve administrative efficiency and ensure transparency and accountability in personnel matters in the National Assembly Secretariat.
