The government has decided to take strict action against officers who fail to submit, within a week, declarations regarding their own foreign nationality status and that of their dependants. In an office memorandum, the Establishment Division noted that a number of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), Secretariat Group (SG) and Office Management Group (OMG) officers have not submitted the declaration of foreign nationality under the rules to the authority.

"It is therefore directed by the competent authority that those officers who have failed to furnish their declaration under these rules within a week, are liable to be proceeded against under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020," read the memo. It warned that failure to submit the required declaration, or submitting a false declaration, would constitute misconduct under the applicable service rules.

"Within 90 days after these rules are notified in the official gazette, all civil servants shall make a declaration in a format or manner to be specified by the Establishment Division, as to them and their dependants' status regarding nationality of any foreign country, holding any foreign country travel documents and marriage with a foreign national," it added. In July, the Establishment Division issued new mandatory declaration forms requiring civil servants to provide details of their own and their dependants' foreign citizenship and travel documents.

In cases where facts were concealed at the time of appointment, the appointment itself may also be declared void. Under the rules, civil servants will be required to submit declarations on three occasions: the first upon joining government service, the second annually, and the third whenever there is any change in the foreign citizenship or related status of the employee or any of their dependants.