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. Revised Warrant of Precedence of Pakistan is issued by Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Division vide letter No.7-2-2003-Min. I. Islamabad. It has been amended from time to time, the following Warrant of Precedence for Pakistan is published for general information.

Order

Article	Warrant of Precedence
1	President of Pakistan (Arif Alvi) Prime Minister of Pakistan (Imran Khan)
2	Chairman of Senate (Sadiq Sanjrani) Speaker of National Assembly (Asad Qaiser) Vice President of Pakistan (if in position)
3	Chief Justice of Pakistan (Gulzar Ahmed) Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan (if in position) Senior Minister (when appointed) i.e. Senior Federal Minister
4	President of Azad Kashmir (in their own state within their respective charge) Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir (in their own State within their respective charge, immediately after the President of the same State) Governors of the Provinces (in their own Province within their respective charge) Chief Minister of the Provinces (in their own Province within their respective charge, immediately after the Governor of same Province) Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly
5	Leader of the House in the Senate Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Ministers to the Government of Pakistan i.e. Federal Ministers Attorney-General of Pakistan (if of the status of Federal Minister) Ambassador to United Nations and to other selected countries Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan President and Prime Minister Azad Jammu & Kashimr, Governors and Chief Ministers of provinces, outside their charge (After the Federal Ministers, Ministers of State and Special Assistants to the Prime Minister with Cabinet Rank)
6	Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Army Staff Chief of Naval Staff Chief of Air Staff
7	Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence High Commissioners of Pakistan
8	Former President of Pakistan Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
9	Ministers of State to the Government of Pakistan Generals and equivalents, if of the status of Vice or Deputy Chief of respective Armed Force Services Governor, State Bank of Pakistan Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan Advisors and Special Assistants to the Prime Minister of Pakistan The Auditor General of Pakistan Chairman, Federal Public Service Commission
10	Lieutenant General and equivalents (Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and Heads of Military Organizations) Chief Secretaries to the Provincial Governments President, National Defence University
11	Envoys Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary accredited to Pakistan
12	Chief Election Commissioner, a retired Judge of Supreme Court of Pakistan Wafaqi Mohtasib, Federal Ombudsman Judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Chief Justice, Federal Shariat Court Chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology (if he is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court) Chairman, National Accountability Bureau / Chief Ehtisab Commissioner
13	Chief Justice of the High Courts Chairman, Higher Education Commission Pakistan
14	Vice Chief of Naval Staff, if holding the rank of Vice Admiral Vice Chief of Air Staff, if holding the rank of Air Marshal Commanders of the Military Commands of Pakistan Army, if holding the rank of Lieutenant General
15	Speakers of the Provincial Assemblies Ministers of the Provincial Governments Parliamentary Secretaries, from among the elected representatives to the National Assembly of Pakistan Chairman, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority, Pakistan Federal Tax Ombudsman Rector of the International Islamic University Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission (without Cabinet Rank) Visiting Grade-A Diplomatic Heads of Pakistan's Missions Abroad, including Ambassadors / High Commissioners / Permanent Representatives, if on duty in Pakistan Chairmen / Managing Directors / Director Generals / Executive Directors / Chief Executive Officers of Special Statutory Bodies under control of Federal Government
16	Members of the Senate / Members of the National Assembly (to take precedence over all others in the said group) Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, if he is or has been a Judge of the High Court Puisne Judges of High Courts Controller General of Accounts to the Government of Pakistan Pakistan Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman, Federal Land Commission Director General, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics Director General of Intelligence Bureau National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Authority Provincial Police Officer of the rank of Inspector General Visiting Ambassadors / High Commissioners of Foreign countries, not accredited to Pakistan Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
17	Special Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan, appointed on required basis Attorney General to the Government of Pakistan Additional Judges of the High Courts Additional Auditor General of Pakistan Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan Federal Insurance Ombudsman Federal Ombudsman for Protection of Women Rights Members, Federal Public Service Commission Pakistan Members, Board of Directors, State Bank of Pakistan Members, Federal Board of Revenue Members, Central Zakat Council Members, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Executive Directors, State Bank of Pakistan Chairmen / Managing Directors / Director Generals / Executive Directors / Chief Executive Officers of Category-A Statutory Bodies under control of Federal Government
18	Gun-Salute Rulers of State merged in or acceded to Pakistan (No longer applicable now)
19	Charged’ Affairs, a pied of Foreign Countries Deputy Chairman, National Accountability Bureau Visiting Grade-B Diplomatic Heads of Pakistan Missions Abroad, including Ambassadors / High Commissioners / Permanent Representatives, if on duty in Pakistan Vice Chief of the Naval Staff, if of the rank of Rear Admiral Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, if of the rank of Air Vice Marshal Major General and equivalents Associate Director Generals, Inter-Services Intelligence Director General, Military Lands and Cantonment Director General, National Logistic Cell Inspector Generals, Frontier Corps Director Generals, Pakistan Rangers Director General, Airport Security Force Director General, National Police Bureau / National Public Safety Commission Director General, Federal Investigation Agency Surveyor General of Pakistan Director General, Civil Aviation Authority Director General, Civil Defence Deputy National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Authority (Head of Joint Intelligence Directorate) Vice Chancellors of universities recognized by Higher Education Commission Deputy Chairman, Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority Members Planning Commission of Pakistan Provincial Ombudsman, Mohtasib-e-Aala All other government officials of Grade-22 and equivalent
20	Chief Secretaries to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan
21	Acting Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan Chief Secretaries to the Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Governments Additional Attorney General to the Government of Pakistan Additional Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence (of Civilian Cadre) Additional Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan Additional Chief Secretaries to the Provincial Governments Additional Chief Secretary, Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) Chairman, Karachi Port Trust Charge d’ Affairs, an interim of foreign countries Provincial Police Officer of the rank of Additional Inspector General of Police Commandant, Frontier Constabulary (an officer from Police Services of Pakistan) Accountant Generals Pakistan Revenues Accountant Generals of the Provinces Military Accountant General, Pakistan Executive Director General, Commerce Joint Director General, Intelligence Bureau Principal, Pakistan Administrative Staff College Registrar General of Pakistan / Chairman NADRA Director General (Provincial), National Accountability Bureau General Manager Operations, Pakistan Railways Chief Engineer / Advisor to the Government of Pakistan (Planning, Works and Development) Director General, Meteorological Department of Pakistan Director General, Geological Survey of Pakistan Director General / Chairman, Pakistan Post Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Office Principal Information Officer, Ministry of Information Chairman, Provincial Public Service Commissions Chairmen / Managing Directors / Director Generals / Executive Directors / Chief Executive Officers of Category-B Statutory Bodies under control of Federal Government
22	Ministers and Deputy High Commissioners (of the rank of Ministers in Embassies and High Commissions located in Pakistan)
23	All non-gun salute Rulers of State acceded to/ merged in Pakistan (No longer applicable now) Senior Joint Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan Chief Commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory (with in limits of Islamabad) Additional Inspectors General of Police Brigadiers and equivalents Deputy Director Generals, Inter-Services Intelligence Defence Attaché / Advisors to Embassies and High Commissions (of the rank of Brigadier) Commissioners of the Larger / Capital Administrative Divisions Pro-Vice Chancellor of universities recognized by HEC
24	Members Provincial Assemblies (to take precedence over all others in this group within their own Province) Visiting Ministers Plenipotentiary of Foreign Countries Advocates Generals to the Provincial Governments Visiting Grade-C Diplomatic Heads of Pakistan Missions Abroad, Including Ambassadors / High Commissioners / Permanent Representatives, if on duty in Pakistan Additional Director General, Pakistan Post Project Director PIFRA, Ministry of Finance Deputy Auditor General, (if of the status of Accountant General) Senior Member, Provincial Board of Revenue Senior Secretary to the Provincial Government Advisors, State Bank of Pakistan Chief Collector, Customs and Excise Chief Coordinator, Federal Board of Revenue Chief Commissioner, Inland Revenue Services Regional Taxation Officer, Inland Revenue Services Deputy Director General, Military Land and Cantonments Regional Directors, Military Land and Cantonment Chief Economists, Planning Commission of Pakistan Director General, Civil Service Academy Director General, Federal Government Educational Institutes Director General, Finance Service Academy Additional Director General, Federal Investigation Agency Deans of the Faculties of universities recognized by HEC Meritorious Professors of universities recognized by HEC Deputy Attorney General to the Federal Government Election Commissioners of the Provinces Joint Secretaries to the Government of Pakistan (including Joint Secretary of the National Assembly) Commissioners of Administrative Divisions Mayor of Corporation, will take precedence as per rules but after Commissioner of Division Chief of Protocol Chief Controller of Imports and Exports (if of the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Deputy Military Accountant General Deputy Director General, Intelligence Bureau Deputy Controller General of Accounts Director General Radio Pakistan (if of the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Educational Advisor (if of the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Members, Provincial Board of Revenue (if of the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Secretaries to the Provincial Government (if of the Status of Federal Joint Secretary) Solicitor to the Government of Pakistan (if of the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Additional Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan
25	District and Sessions Judges Departmental Heads / Directors, State Bank of Pakistan Chief Controller, Military Accounts Consular of Embassies and Legation and High Commissioners, of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments Deputy High Commissioners of foreign countries (not holding the rank of Ministers) Visiting Consuls General of Pakistan, if on duty in Pakistan Director, Islamic Research Institute Director General / Executive Director, Health Director General, Investment Promotion and Supplies Post Master Generals of Circles / Provinces Deputy Inspector General of Police Colonels and equivalents Director General, Audit Director General, Pub Relations Director General, Telegraphs and Telephones Additional General Manager, Pakistan Railways Draftsman of the Government of Pakistan Collectors, Customs and Excise Commissioner, Inland Revenue Services Financial and Economic Advisors Members, Provincial Zakat Council Visiting Ministers Plenipotentiary, of foreign countries Directing Staff, National School of Public Policy Chairmen / Managing Directors / Director Generals / Executive Directors / Chief Executive Officers of C – Category Statutory Bodies under control of Federal Government Assistant Advocate Generals to the Provincial Governments Visiting Diplomatic / Commercial Counselor of Pakistan, if on duty in Pakistan Senior Trade Commissioners of Foreign and Commonwealth Government Press Secretary, Ministry of Information Project Directors, Federal Schemes Senior Joint Director, State Bank of Pakistan Controllers, Local Audit Secretaries to the Provincial Governments (if below the status of Federal Joint Secretary) Head of Departments of Universities Professors of Universities and Colleges Principals, Degree Grade Colleges (if of the status of Professor) Chairmen, Text Book Board Chief Engineer (Planning, Works and Development) to the Provincial Governments Director General, Tobacco / NHEPRN Deputy Director General, Health Members, Provincial Pub Service Commissions Deputy Director General, Investment Promotion and Supplies Department Deputy Director General, Telegraphs and Telephones Department Director General, National Crisis Management Cell Joint Chief Economists, Planning and Development Departments of Provinces Chief Economists, Planning and Development Departments of Provinces
26	Additional District and Session Judges Prosecutor General Provincial Law Department Assistant Advocate Generals to the Provincial Governments Diplomatic Consuls and First Secretaries of Pakistan, to Embassies, High Commissioners and Legations of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments Chairmen, Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education Chief Commercial Manager, Railways Chief Internal Auditor, Railways Chief Finance and Accounts Officer Chief Account Officers Deputy Project Director, Federal Schemes Chief Controller of Stores, Railways Chief Engineer, Pakistan Railways Chief Operating Superintendents, Railways Chief Traffic Manager, Railways Chief Conservator of Forests Deputy Post Master General of the Region Government Inspector of Railways Inspector General of forests to the Government of Pakistan Inspector General of Prisons to the Provincial Government Registrars, Universities, of Universities recognized by HEC
27	District Nazim / Chairman of District Council (will take precedence as per rules but above the Deputy Commissioner) Lieutenant Colonel and equivalents Deputy Secretaries of the Federal Government Additional Secretaries to Provincial Government Additional Commissioners of Administrative Divisions Deputy Commissioners, District Coordination Officers, Collectors and District Magistrates Political Agents of Tribal Agencies Chairman Municipal Committee, Chairman Municipal Committee will take precedence as per rules but below the Deputy Commissioner Chairman District Zakat Committee Assistant Inspector Generals of Police / Senior Superintendent of Police Directors, Agriculture Directors, Public Instructions Directors, Railways Wing Chief Health / Medical Officer Additional Director General, Health Deputy Press Secretary, Ministry of Information Controller, Military Accounts Consultant, Physician / Surgeon Principals, Inter Grade Colleges, of the status of Associate Professor Trade Commissioners of Foreign and Commonwealth Government Directors, Intelligence Bureau Directors, Federal Investigation Agency Agricultural Development Commissioner Government of Pakistan Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of Pakistan Chief Controller of Imports And Exports (if of the status of Deputy Secretary to the Federal Government) Deputy, Financial Advisers Regional Director Finance, PIFRA Assistant Corporate Secretary, State Bank of Pakistan Joint Director, State Bank of Pakistan Regional Election Commissioner General Manager, Federal Schemes Additional Collectors, Customs and Excise Additional Commissioners, Inland Revenue Services Assistant Military Accountant General Additional Accountant General Province Deputy Chief Internal Auditor Directors Audits and Accounts Directors of Ordnance Factories Joint Director Finance, Railways President of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Principal Officer, Mercantile Marine Department, Karachi Commercial Manager, Pakistan Railways Associate Professors of Colleges and Assistant Professors of Universities Registrar Cooperative Societies Secretary to the Provincial Assembly Secretaries, Provincial Railway Boards Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan Superintending Engineer / Resident Engineer Directors of Health Services Medical Superintendents of Hospitals of Class-A Hospital Principal Medical/Research Officer Drug Controller / Principal Pharmacist Classified Surgeon / Classified Physician Chief Executive Officers of Cat – A Cantonments Military Estate Officers of Cat – A Cantonments Chief of Sections, Planning and Development Departments of Provinces
28	Senior Civil and Assistant Session Judge Tehsil Nazims Chief Judge of the Small Causes Courts, Karachi Majors and equivalents Diplomatic Vice Consuls and Second Secretaries of Pakistan, to Embassies, High Commissioners and Legations of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments Deputy Secretaries, Provincial Government Junior Joint Director, State Bank of Pakistan Additional Deputy Commissioners of Districts District Election Commissioners Deputy Accountant General Deputy Controller Military Accounts Joint Controller Local Audit Deputy Director Audits and Accounts Community Welfare / Accounts Attaché Divisional Accounts Officer, Railway Deputy Controller Local Audit Assistant Auditor General Assistant Controller General of Accounts Senior Internal Audit Officer District Support Manager, Finance Deputy Collector, Customs and Excise Deputy Commissioners, Inland Revenue Services Senior Account Officer Additional Political Agents of Tribal Agencies Additional Registrar, Universities, of Universities recognized by HEC Assistant Professors of Colleges and Lecturer of Universities Collectors of Central Excise and Land Customs Director of Inspection, Income Tax Executive District Officers Executive Engineer / Senior Engineer Superintendents of Police Commercial Secretary Deputy Commercial Manager, Pakistan Railways Project Manager, Federal Scheme Public Relation Officers Assistant Director General Health Deputy Medical Superintendent Senior Registrar / Resident Surgeon Associate Surgeon / Physician Deputy Drug Controller / Senior Pharmacist Senior Medical Officer Divisional Superintendent, Post Office Divisional Transport Officer, Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officers of Cat – B Cantonments Military Estate Officers of Cat – B Cantonments Deputy Director, Intelligence Bureau Deputy Director, Federal Investigation Agency Senior Section Officers to the Federal Government Section in Charge, Planning and Development Departments of Provinces
29	Holders of President’s Award of Pride of Performance Civil Judge cum Judicial Magistrate Town Nazim Captains and equivalent Assistant Commissioners of Administrative Sub-Divisions Assistant Political Agents of Tribal Sub-Divisions Assistant Director, Intelligence Bureau Assistant Director, Federal Investigation Agency Assistant Registrar Supreme Court Section Officers to the Federal Government Under Secretaries, Provincial Government District Officers Additional Superintendent of Police Deputy Project Managers, Federal Schemes District Attorney Election Officers Assistant Dental Surgeon Assistant Collector, Customs and Excise Assistant Commissioners, Inland Revenue Services Assistant Military Accountant General Assistant Accountant General Chief Executive Officers of Cat – C Cantonments Military Estate Officers of Cat – C Cantonments Deputy Registrar of universities Desk Officers, Foreign Office Pakistan Sub-Divisional Engineer / Assistant Engineer / Junior Engineer Assistant Controller Military Accounts Assistant Director Audit and Accounts Account Officer, State Bank of Pakistan Medical Officer (General Duty)
30	Civil Judge cum Magistrate* Town Municipal Officer Third Secretaries to Diplomatic Missions of Pakistan Abroad, to Embassies, High Commissioners and Legations of Foreign and Commonwealth Governments Lieutenants / Second Lieutenants and equivalents Assistant Superintendent of Police Section Officer to the Provincial Government Deputy / Assistant District Officers Deputy Superintendent of Police Lecturers, Universities and Colleges Assistant Director, State Bank of Pakistan Foreign Exchange Officer, State Bank of Pakistan Assistant Transport Officer, Pakistan Railways Research Associate, Planning and Development Departments of Provinces Information Officer Unit Officers, Pakistan Post (working at operational level) Assistant Registrar, Universities (of Universities recognized by HEC) Research Associates, Universities Assistant Drug Controller / Pharmacist Principal, Senior Secondary Schools

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. Officers of Law Enforcement Agencies when in uniform will salute senior officers of neighboring Arm / Force / Law Enforcement Agency. They will also "SALUTE" National / State office holders (both elected and nominated) before each official meet. Rule for saluting will be governed by above stipulated precedence. Correspondingly, office holders / civilian officials will also greet senior officers of Law Enforcement Agencies considering their protocol.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. When an officer holds more than one position in the table he will be entitled to the highest position accorded to him.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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.
12. Order of protocol will be followed in the same manner for making phone calls through operators.

References