Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan, convened to discuss amendments to the Civil Servants Act, 1973, and proposals aimed at increasing the representation of women and non-Muslims in civil service.

According to Senate of Pakistan, Senators Qurat-ul-Ain Marri, Zamir Hussain Ghumro, and Poonjo Bheel introduced the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2024, advocating for a 10% quota for women and a 5% quota for non-Muslims in civil service appointments, citing unequal opportunities for these groups. The Establishment Division acknowledged the existing quota system but noted the absence of statutory backing. The committee deferred the matter and requested a comprehensive report on gender, domicile, and performance data of successful candidates over the past five years.

The committee also debated a bill introduced by Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, which addresses concerns about civil servants holding dual nationalities. Khan argued that dual nationality poses a potential conflict of interest for bureaucrats. The committee decided to defer further discussions pending a detailed report on the number of dual nationals in civil service.

Additionally, a public petition proposing a national holiday dedicated to tree plantation and climate change awareness was discussed. While acknowledging the petition’s importance, the committee agreed with the Cabinet Secretary’s suggestion to use existing holidays for this purpose instead of introducing a new public holiday.