The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat approved “The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” instructing the Establishment Division to protect the rights and interests of government employees likely to be affected by the ongoing administrative reforms. The Committee emphasized minimizing layoffs resulting from the government’s restructuring initiatives and urged maximum accommodation of affected employees through internal transfers or appropriate severance compensation.
This legislative framework, intended as a key facet of the government’s rightsizing policy, was approved in a meeting chaired by Member National Assembly (MNA) Malik Ibrar Ahmad at Parliament House. During the session, the Committee directed the Establishment Division to limit layoffs and ensure the welfare of employees potentially impacted by these reforms. Members also underscored the necessity of implementing a structured mechanism to redeploy surplus or redundant employees into other departments wherever possible. In instances where redeployment is not feasible, the Committee directed for the development of an adequate severance package, prioritizing the well-being and economic security of affected civil servants.
Explaining the rationale behind the Civil Servants Amendment Bill, the Establishment Secretary informed the Committee that the current Civil Servants Act (1973) only envisaged termination on an individual basis and lacked provisions to manage broader restructuring scenarios resulting from overarching policy decisions. He clarified that the primary aim of amendments in the original act was to equip the federal government with an enabling legal mechanism to carry out meaningful administrative reforms efficiently. The Committee unanimously approved the bill without amendments.
In the same session, the Standing Committee discussed and approved “The National School of Public Policy (Amendment) Bill 2025,” also without modifications. The Establishment Secretary explained that the amendment responds to a Cabinet decision mandating the replacement of the term “Federal Government” with more precise and appropriate authorities across various pieces of legislation and administrative regulations. This change will ensure consistency and clarity of authority within the National School of Public Policy Act, aligning it with current government guidelines.
Additionally, the Committee deliberated and passed “The Asaan Karobar Bill 2025” without amendments, commending the Board of Investment (BOI) initiative aimed at simplifying Pakistan’s complex business environment. The Additional Secretary of BOI highlighted that Pakistan had inherited a regulatory framework built predominantly on British-era laws. Over time, incremental amendments have resulted in cumbersome regulations and complexity impacting business competitiveness and attractiveness for investment. He informed the Committee that the Asaan Karobar Bill seeks to streamline regulatory compliance by unifying and modernizing existing rules and procedures, thereby facilitating local investment and attracting foreign businesses. Following the bill’s enactment, BOI will establish a dedicated unit tasked solely with regulatory modernization, mapping regulatory frameworks, and delivering simplified compliance structures.
The meeting was attended by committee members and MNAs including Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Nuzhat Sadiq, Pir Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani, Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghumman, Mr. Ali Asghar Khan, Mr. Khurram Munawar Manj, Syed Raza Ali Gillani, Sayed Sami Ullah, Ms. Shahida Begum, Mr. Nelson Azeem, Ms. Rana Ansar, and Syed Rafiullah (via video link), along with movers Mr. Noor Alam Khan, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, and Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah. Senior officers, including the Secretary Cabinet Division, Secretary Establishment Division, and officials from other relevant departments, were also present during the proceedings.
