The Establishment Division has cancelled, with immediate effect, every no-objection certificate and permission issued to federal civil servants under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964. An office memorandum issued in the second week of August 2026 declares that all approvals granted under Rules 6, 16, 18, 20, 21 and 22 of the old framework are withdrawn and directs officers to seek fresh authorisation under the Civil Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2026.

Permissions now void

The cancellation covers NOCs and permits for:

  • employment in private enterprises
  • media engagement, including column writing, articles in newspapers or magazines, and participation in radio and television programmes
  • public speeches
  • receiving awards, titles and honours from foreign governments, institutions or individuals
  • disclosure or transmission of government documents and official information to unauthorised persons or the media

Who is affected

The directive applies to officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service, the Police Service of Pakistan, the Secretariat Group, the Office Management Group, and other occupational and service groups under the federal government.

New framework applies

All permissions previously obtained under the 1964 rules are treated as withdrawn. The Establishment Division has instructed that the record of every NOC and permission obtained since 1964 be compiled afresh under the 2026 rules. The memorandum has been sent to all federal ministries, divisional secretaries, chief secretaries of the provinces, and inspectors-general of police for implementation.

What officers must now do

Officers holding any prior NOC or permission must:

  • treat the existing approval as void immediately
  • submit a fresh application under the Civil Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2026
  • obtain the new NOC before resuming the activity that was previously permitted

The memorandum does not specify a deadline for submitting fresh applications, nor does it detail the exact form or channel through which officers should apply. The full text of the Civil Servants (Conduct) Rules, 2026 was not available on the Establishment Division website at the time of reporting, and the memorandum reference number has not been publicly disclosed.