The federal government has introduced new restrictions on acting appointments in ministries and government departments in an effort to address administrative and financial irregularities linked to temporary leadership arrangements.

In an official clarification, the Establishment Division stated that the practice commonly referred to as “look after charge” has no legal backing under the Civil Servants Act, 1973. Ministries and divisions have therefore been directed to avoid assigning senior positions on an informal or temporary basis without proper authorization.

Under the revised instructions, officers may only be assigned limited interim responsibilities to ensure continuity of routine office work. However, they will not be permitted to exercise financial, administrative, policy, or quasi-judicial powers unless formally granted an additional or current charge in accordance with service rules.

Officials said the clarification was issued after concerns emerged over decision-making authority being exercised by officers serving without legally sanctioned appointments, which created governance and accountability issues across several institutions.

The new guidelines allow the senior-most officer to oversee day-to-day operations temporarily, but major decisions will remain subject to review by the competent authority. Ministries and attached departments have also been instructed to immediately advertise vacant senior posts to ensure permanent appointments are made without unnecessary delay.

Sources indicated that a number of federal institutions are currently being managed through interim arrangements. Among them, Murtaza Hassan Andrabi is serving on a temporary basis as Chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council.

Similarly, several organizations under the Ministry of Science and Technology — including the Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technologies and the National Institute of Electronics — are reportedly operating under acting leadership arrangements.

Officials believe the move will strengthen administrative discipline, ensure compliance with civil service regulations, and reduce misuse of authority within federal government institutions.