The government has announced it will take strict action against officers who do not submit declarations about their own and their dependants’ foreign nationality status within one week. The Establishment Division highlighted that several officers from PAS, PSP, SG, and OMG cadres have yet to comply with the requirement to declare foreign nationality as mandated by the rules.
In an official memorandum, the competent authority directed that officers failing to provide these declarations within the stipulated timeframe will be subject to proceedings under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020. The memo further warned that either failing to submit the declaration or providing false information will be treated as misconduct under the relevant service regulations.
Notably, the rules require all civil servants to submit a declaration within 90 days of the rules’ notification in the official gazette. This declaration must cover their own and their dependants’ foreign nationality status, possession of foreign travel documents, and any foreign national marriages, in a format specified by the Establishment Division.
In a significant development last July, the Establishment Division introduced mandatory declaration forms compelling civil servants to disclose details regarding foreign citizenship and travel documents for themselves and their dependants. Muhammad Khurram Shehzad, Section Officer of the Discipline Wing at the Establishment Division, circulated a memorandum to all ministries, divisions, provincial chief secretaries, and police inspectors general, instructing officers to submit these forms to their respective cadre administrators.
Furthermore, if any facts about foreign nationality were concealed at the time of appointment, the appointment may be declared null and void. The rules stipulate that civil servants must submit these declarations on three occasions: upon joining government service, annually thereafter, and whenever there is a change in the foreign citizenship status of the employee or their dependants.
