Federal Updates
CGA Directs Offices to Implement Abolition of 60% Vacant Regular Posts
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) has directed its concerned offices to implement the Federal Cabinet decision on abolition of 60% vacant regular posts, primarily against the Initial Appointment/Direct Recruitment quota. The letter excludes promotion and transfer/posting vacancies.
CGA directs offices to implement the Cabinet decision
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) has directed its concerned offices to implement the Federal Cabinet decision regarding the abolition of 60% vacant regular posts. The adjustment is to be made primarily against the quota reserved for Initial Appointment/Direct Recruitment, according to the applicable vacancy rosters.
The instructions were issued through CGA letter No. 435/CGA/Promotion/118-C/Cabinet Division/2026 dated 9 September 2026. The letter refers to the Federal Cabinet decision dated 27 August 2024 and an earlier CGA circular dated 12 March 2026.
Which vacant posts are being considered for abolition?
The CGA letter refers to an Institutional Reforms recommendation concerning posts that had been lying vacant for at least one year. The stated objectives are rightsizing and observing austerity.
The letter makes important exceptions: vacancies resulting from transfer or posting, and positions meant for promotion, are not included among the posts to be abolished.
What the direction means for promotion and direct recruitment
Posts meant for promotion are specifically excluded under the instructions in this letter. This is relevant for serving employees who may otherwise interpret the 60% vacant-posts decision as affecting all promotional opportunities.
For implementation in each cadre, the letter directs that abolished posts should be debited primarily from the Initial Appointment/Direct Recruitment quota. This can reduce the number of vacant posts available for direct recruitment in affected cadres after the vacancy rosters are revised.
What concerned accounts offices have been asked to do
All concerned FAOs have been asked to revise or prepare their respective vacancy rosters in accordance with the decision and to process promotion cases accordingly.
The communication was circulated to accounting offices including AGPR and Accountant General offices in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, together with other offices named in the letter.
This does not abolish every Federal Government vacancy
The attached CGA letter should not be interpreted as abolishing 60% of every vacant post across the entire Federal Government. It concerns implementation of the Cabinet decision within the organizational scope addressed by the communication and applies the stated conditions and exclusions.
The letter also does not state that all already advertised Federal Government jobs are cancelled. Candidates should check the concerned department or recruiting authority for the status and number of vacancies in any particular recruitment.
What this may mean for government job seekers
Because abolished posts are to be adjusted primarily against the Initial Appointment/Direct Recruitment quota, the number of vacancies subsequently available for fresh recruitment could be reduced in affected cadres.
Candidates should rely on later official recruitment advertisements for the actual vacancies available. HisaabKit will update this article if CGA, the Finance Division, Cabinet Division, or another competent authority issues further clarification on implementation.
Official letter image and download
Issuing authority: Controller General of Accounts, Government of Pakistan. Letter No.: 435/CGA/Promotion/118-C/Cabinet Division/2026. Subject: Abolition of 60% Vacant Regular Posts in Light of the Decision of the Federal Cabinet dated 27 August 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions About CGA Vacant Posts Direction
Has the Federal Government abolished 60% of all vacant posts?
The attached CGA letter should not be interpreted that broadly. It deals with implementation of the Federal Cabinet decision within the offices and cadres covered by the communication and refers to specific categories of vacant posts.
Which vacant posts are being considered for abolition?
The letter refers to the Institutional Reforms recommendation for posts that had been lying vacant for at least one year.
Will posts reserved for promotion be abolished?
No. The letter says positions meant for promotion are not included among the posts to be abolished.
What about posts vacant because of transfer or posting?
Posts vacant due to transfer or posting are also excluded, according to the CGA letter.
Will direct recruitment be affected?
Potentially, yes. The letter directs that abolished posts in each cadre should be debited primarily from the Initial Appointment/Direct Recruitment quota, according to vacancy rosters.
Have already advertised Federal Government jobs been cancelled?
The attached letter does not state that all already advertised vacancies are cancelled. The status of a particular recruitment should be checked through the concerned department or recruiting authority.