Warrant of Precedence for Pakistan

The Warrant of Precedence for Pakistan is a protocol list at which government of Pakistan functions and officials are seated according to their rank and Office. In supersession of the 'Home Affairs Division Notification No. 21/2/61/-Public dated 7 March 1963 as amended from time to time, the following Warrant of Precedence for Pakistan is published for general information.

Article

Appointment/Designation

Remarks

1

President of Pakistan

The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Pakistan

Prime Minister of Pakistan

Immediately after the President

2

Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan

Above the Speaker of National Assembly

Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan

Vice President of Pakistan

Not in position now

3

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Senior Federal Ministers

Exclusively Includes Defense/Foreign Ministers

4

Governors of the Provinces

Within their respective Charges

President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Within his own State

Chief Ministers in their own Provinces

Next to the Governor of the Same Province

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Next to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir within his own State

Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly

5

Leader of the House in the Senate

Leader of Opposition in the Senate

Federal Ministers to the Government of Pakistan

Attorney General to the Government of Pakistan

If of the status of Federal Minister

Governors of Provinces / President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Chief Ministers / Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir out side their Provinces / State

Always after Federal Ministers, Minister of the States, Special Assistants/Advisor to the Prime Minister (with Cabinet Rank)

Rector of the Islamic International University

Chairman Consultative Committee on Economic Policy

Ambassador-at-Large

Accredited to Selected Countries only

Deputy Chairman to the Senate of Pakistan

Deputy Speaker to the National Assembly of Pakistan

6

Advisors to the President of Pakistan

With Cabinet Rank (Not in position now)

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

To rank senior to the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces

Chief of the Army Staff

Seniority Accounted as Army, Navy and Air Force

Chief of the Naval Staff

Chief of the Air Staff

7

Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Pakistan

8

Ex-President of Pakistan

Ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan

9

Deleted

10

Ministers of States to the Government of Pakistan

Governor State Bank of Pakistan

Advisors/Special Assistants to the Prime Minister

Secretaries General to the Federal Government

Chairman Federal Public Service Commission

Higher official appointed by President

Note:- The Inter-se seniority of dignitaries till article 10 will be determined in order as indicated above

11

Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary

Accredited to Pakistan

12

Chief Election Commissioner

Wafaqi Mohtasib

Ombudsman

Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan

Chief Justice Federal Shariat Court

Chief of the Council of Islamic Ideology

If he is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court

Chief Ehtasab Commissioner

13

Chief Justice of the High Courts

14

Generals and Equivalents

15

Speakers of the Provincial Assemblies

Ministers of the Provincial Governments

Lieutenant Generals and Equivalents

Visiting Ambassadors/High Commissioners

Of the Foreign countries not accredited to Pakistan

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission

16

Members of the Senate/National Assembly of Pakistan

To take precedence over all others in the said group

Judges/Puisne Judges of the High Courts

Comptroller and Auditor General of Pakistan

Will rank senior to the Federal Secretaries

Federal Secretaries

In charge of Ministries and Divisions, including Principal Secretary to the President

Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology

If he is or has been a Judge of High Court

Secretary Generals of the Senate/National Assembly

Inspector General of Police

If in BPS-22

Director General Intelligence Bureau

Director Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

17

Attorney General for Pakistan

Not with a Cabinet Rank

18

All Gun-Salute Rulers of State

19

Charge d' Affairs

A pied of Foreign Countries

Members of the Planning Commission

Visiting Ambassador/High Commissioners of Pakistan

If on duty

Major General & Equivalents

Vice Chancellors of Universities

Professors and High Qualified Persons of HEC recognized Universities

20

Chief Secretaries to the Provincial Government

21

Surveyor General of Pakistan

Chairman of Federal Statutory Bodies

Federal Secretary/Federal Additional Secretary

Chief Commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory

Inside the limits of Islamabad Capital Territory

Acting Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan

Federal Additional Secretary

Additional Secretaries to the Federal Government

Inspector Generals of Police

Provincial Police Officer in BPS-21

Additional Chief Secretaries to the Provincial Government

Members Federal Board of Revenue

Principal Administrative Staff College

Member Federal Zakat Council

22

Ministers and Deputy High Commissioners

Of Minister's Rank in Embassies/High Commissions located in Pakistan

23

All Non-Gun Salute Rulers

Of States acceded to Pakistan (No more applicable)

24

Members of Provincial Assemblies

With in province will take precedence over all others in said group

Chairman Provincial Public Service Commissions

High qualified Official appointed by Governor of the same Province

Brigadiers and equivalents

Including defense Attaches

Additional Inspector Generals of Police

Including Regional/Capital City Police Officers in BPS-21

Advocate Generals to the Provincial Governments

Consuls General

Chief Controller of Imports and Exports

Chief Engineer/Advisor, Pakistan PWD

Chief Economist in Planning Commission

Commissioners

In charge of Administrative Divisions in BPS-20 and BPS-21

Senior Joint Secretaries/Joint Secretaries to the Federal Government

Including Joint Secretary to the National Assembly

Provincial Secretaries

Federal Senior Senior/Joint Secretaries in BPS-20 and BPS-21 respectively

Counselors of Embassies/Legations and High Commissioners

Of foreign and Commonwealth countries

Deputy High Commissioners

Not holding the Rank of Minister

Members, Federal Public Service Commission

Director General Investment Promotion and Supplies

Director General Geological Survey

Director General Military Lands and Cantonments

Director General Public Relations

Director General Radio Pakistan

Director General Telegraph and Telephone

Director General Post Office

Director General Health

Federal Economic Advisor

Senior Joint Secretary/Joint Secretary

Federal Finance Advisor

Federal Education Advisor

Director International Islamic Institute

Director Finance Service Academy

Director Civil Services Academy

Draftsman to the Government of Pakistan

Senior Joint Secretary/Joint Secretary

Mayor of a Corporation

(City District Nazim) always after Commissioners of Divisions

Members Provincial Board of Revenue

Members Provincial Zakat Council

Visiting Ministers Plenipotentiary

Of foreign Countries

Director General Civil Aviation

25

Station Commanders

Of the rank of Colonels and Equivalents

Prosecutor Generals to the Provincial Governments

Pro Vice Chancellors of Universities

Professors of HEC recognized Universities

Foreign Defense Advisors to High Commissioners

Chairmen Provincial Statutory Bodies

Senior Trade Commissioners

Of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments

26

Colonels and Equivalents

less holding Appointments of Station Commanders

Accountant Generals of Provinces

Military Accountant General

Chief Commercial Manager, Railways

Chief Mechanical Engineer, Railways

Chief Controller of Stores, Railways

Chief Traffic Manager, Railways

Chief Operating Superintendent, Railways

Councils and First Secretaries

To Embassies, High Commissions and Legations of Foreign Governments

District Nazims

Chairmen, District Councils

Deputy Auditor General of Pakistan

Accountant General

Chief Conservator of Forests

Chief Engineer, Provincial PWD

Deputy Director General Intelligence Bureau

Deputy Inspector General of Police

Including Regional/Capital City Police Officers

Directors of Agriculture Department

Directors of Health Service

Director Public Instructions

Special Secretaries to the Provincial Governments

Below Federal Joint Secretaries of Provincial Cadre

Trade Commissioners

Of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments

District and Session Judge

Finance Advisor/Chief Account Officers, Railways

Government Inspector of Railways

Inspector Generals of Forests to Provincial Government

Inspector Generals of Prison to Provincial Government

Principal of Colleges

Of Degree/Medical/Engineering Colleges

Deans of the Faculties

Of HEC Recognized Universities

Director Railways Wing

27

Lieutenant Colonels and equivalents

Deputy Commissioners / District Coordination Officers / Political Agents

District Magistrate / Collector within Districts / Agencies

Assistant Inspector Generals of Police/Senior Superintendents of Police

Including District Police Officers of Large Districts

Additional District and Session Judges

Commissioners of Agriculture Development Department

Commissioners of Animal Husbandry Department

Commissioners of Income Tax Department

Executive District Officers

Postmaster General

Command Controller of Military Accounts

Federal Deputy Secretaries

Including Deputy Secretaries to the President and National Assembly

Director General Radio Pakistan

Finance Advisors

Joint, POF (Wah), Navy and Air Force

Controller of Imports and Exports

Deputy Financial Advisor

Provincial Additional Secretaries

Of Provincial Cadre

Provincial Directors of Departments

Additional Commissioner

Chairman District Zakat Committee

Chairman Municipal Committee

Chairman Karachi Port Trust

President of Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal

Deputy Chief Engineer

Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, Karachi

Heads of Departments of Universities

Of HEC recognized Universities

Provincial Director Generals

Professors

HEC recognized Instructors will Rank One step High

Secretaries to the Provincial Assemblies

Secretaries of Provincial Railway Board

Principal of Government Inter Colleges

Professors/Associate Professors

Principal Medical Officers

Registrar Co-operative Societies

28

Majors and equivalents

Tehsil Nazims

Chairman Tehsil Council

Superintendents of Police

With more than 8 years of Service

Collectors of Central Excise and Land Customs

Deputy Director General Investment Promotion and Supplies Department

Deputy Director General Telegraph and Telephone Department

Associate Professors

HEC recognized Instructors will Rank one step high

Chief Medical Officer

Secretaries to Provincial Public Service Commission

Superintendents of Police

With less than 8 years of Service

Senior Civil Judge

Principal Information Officers

District Officers

Director of Inspection, Income Tax

29

Holders of President's Award of Pride of Performance

Captains and equivalents

Union/Town Nazim

Chairman Union/Town Councils

Senior Medical Officers

Executive Engineers

Assistant Professors

HEC recognized Instructors will Rank one step high

Section Officers in higher grade and Under Secretaries

To the Federal and Provincial Governments respectively

30

Lieutenant/Second Lieutenant and equivalents

Assistant Commissioners / Tehsil Municipal Officers / Assistant Coordination Officers / Assistant Political Agents

In charge of Subdivision / Tehsil

Judicial Magistrate/Civil Judge

Assistant / Deputy Superintendents of Police

Section Officers

To the Federal and Provincial Governments only

Assistant Accountant Generals

Deputy/Assistant District Officers

Local Audit Officers

Medical Officers

General duty

Lecturers

HEC recognized Instructors will Rank one step high

Sub Divisional Officers (Engineers)

Explanatory Notes

  1. The entries in the above table, which are in alphabetical order in each article, apply exclusively to the persons entered therein, and while regulating their relative precedence with each other accordingly to the number of the article, do not give them any precedence over member of the non-official community resident in Pakistan, who shall take their place according to usage.
  2. Officers in the above table will take precedence in order of the numbers of entries. Those included in one number will take precedence inter-se according to date of entry into the number. When two or more officers enter an article on the same, their inter-se seniority will be fixed on the basis of length of class 1 service. Officers of the defense service will rank inter-se in accordance with their seniority.
  3. When an officer holds more than one position in the table he will be entitled to the highest position accorded to him.
  4. An officer on entering an article, by virtue of a change in his office to an article lower than that which was occupied by him immediately preceding this change, will take his seniority in the lower article with effect from the date of his entry into the higher article: provided that if he re-enters a lower article in which he was included earlier, he will take his seniority in that lower article from the original date of his entry into it.
  5. All officers not mentioned in the above table whose rank is regulated by comparison with rank in the army, will have the same rank with reference to civil servants as is enjoyed by military officers of equal grades, but officers of defense force will have precedence over all others in respective articles.
  6. All persons not mentioned in the above table, who hold an ex-officio rank, will be placed in the same article as persons holding that rank.
  7. All ladies, unless by virtue of holding an appointment themselves, they are entitled to a higher position in the table, will take place according to the rank herein assigned to their husbands.
  8. The inter-se seniority of the gun-salute rulers will be determined on the basis of the gun-salute admissible to each ruler. In case two or more rulers having equal number of gun-salute, their inter-se seniority will be determined with reference to the date of accession to the ‘gaddi’. In the case of other rulers, who are not entitled to gun-salute, their inter-se seniority will be determined on the basis of accession to the gaddi. (no longer applicable now).
  9. All other persons who may not be determined in this table will take rank according to general usage, which is to be explained and determined by the president in case any question shall arise.
  10. Retired civil and military officers will be placed at the end of the articles in which they were included immediately before their retirement.
  11. Seniority of the officers will be determined with reference to the holding appointment mentioned in the article, irrespective of the grades which they possess.