The Senate on Thursday passed the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which mandates civil servants in grades BPS-17 to BPS-22 to publicly declare both their domestic and foreign assets, including those of their immediate family members.
The declarations will be made available on departmental websites to ensure greater transparency and accountability. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will be responsible for overseeing the digital asset disclosure system, while the Establishment Division will conduct risk-based audits of these declarations.
According to media reports, the bill, introduced by Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar on behalf of Senator Ahad Cheema, Minister for Establishment, aims to amend the Civil Servants Act, 1973, as reported by the Standing Committee.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar informed the House that the bill had already been passed by the National Assembly and was part of Pakistan’s commitment to international organisations, such as Transparency International and Amnesty International, aimed at curbing corruption and enhancing governance.
The proposed legislation seeks to enhance the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964 — particularly Rules 12, 13, and 13-A — bringing them in line with the Right to Information Act, 2017.
According to the new framework, civil servants in Basic Pay Scale (BPS) 17 to 22, including their immediate family members, will be required to digitally file asset declarations for both domestic and international assets. These declarations will be made publicly accessible.
The bill also stipulates that adequate measures will be taken to protect sensitive personal information, such as national identity numbers, residential addresses, and banking or bond account details.
In addition to the asset declaration bill, the Senate also addressed two amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which aim to abolish the death penalty for two controversial offences:
- Section 354-A (Public stripping of women): The maximum punishment for this offence will now be life imprisonment, along with property forfeiture and a fine. The death penalty, which had been imposed under General Ziaul Haq in 1983, has been removed. However, the offence remains non-bailable, non-compoundable, and arrestable without a warrant.
- Section 402-C (Harbouring hijackers): The death sentence has been removed for harbouring hijackers. The new punishment is life imprisonment and a fine. The law minister emphasized that “intent to commit the crime” will be an essential factor in determining the punishment.
Opposition leader Shibli Faraz expressed support for a broader review of criminal laws, a suggestion that the law minister agreed should be taken up by the relevant committee.
