District Management Group

District Management Group or DMG, is an elite cadre of the Civil Service of Pakistan.

Officers in this group are recruited through a competitive examination held once a year by the Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan. Those selected for this group have to undergo a two-year training programme at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) in Lahore, Pakistan.

The Indian Civil Service (ICS)—also known once as Imperial Civil Service, predecessor of the Civil Service of Pakistan and District Management Group—was established by the British to bolster the British Raj. After Indian independence, the ICS component ceded to Pakistan was renamed the Pakistan Administrative Service. Later it was named the Civil Service of Pakistan. In 1954, an agreement was reached between the Governor General of Pakistan and the governors of the provinces to constitute an All-Pakistan service. Under administrative reforms of 1973, the name of Civil Service of Pakistan was changed to All-Pakistan Unified Group (APUG) of which the DMG and Police Service of Pakistan are now major components.

Appointments of DMG Officers

After completing initial training and probation at the CSA, officers are posted in field offices throughout Pakistan on BPS 17 Grade appointments. Their first appointment is typically as Assistant Commissioner of a sub-division. They will simultaneously be charged with the responsibilities of Assistant Collector (Revenue) and Sub-Divisional Magistrate. Subsequently as they progress in their careers, DMG Officers are placed on a variety of field, staff, secretarial and instructional appointments. The BPS grades are enumerated (in order of increasing responsibility) as:

Grade	Appointment	Remarks
BPS-17	Assistant Commissioner (AC) Assistant Political Agent (APA) Assistant Coordination Officer (ACO) Deputy District Officer (Revenue) Under Secretary in Provincial Secretariat Section Officer in Federal Secretariat Assistant Director of Federal / Provincial Department	Field appointment of AC combines roles of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Assistant Collector (Land Revenue) In the post Devolution scenario, the AC post has been abolished and replaced with that of DDO(R) in Punjab and Sindh and by ACO in KPK, however, Punjab, KPK, Balochistan has restored the office of AC/SDM. In Many instances DMG officers are posted one step higher as Deputy Secretary and as DO(R) in their Own Pay and Scale.
BPS-18	Deputy Commissioner (DC) / District Magistrate (DM) & Collector (Revenue) for a smaller district Political Agent for a smaller agency (PA) District Coordination Officer (DCO) for a smaller district Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) / Additional District Magistrate (DM) & Additional Collector (Revenue) for a larger district Additional Political Agent for a larger agency Deputy Secretary in provincial secretariat District Officer (Revenue) or Executive District Officer (Revenue) Deputy Director of a Federal / Provincial Department	Field appointment of DC combines roles of District Magistrate (DM) and Collector (Land Revenue) In some departments, DMG officers are appointed on one step higher appointments like Additional Secretary.(in their own pay and scale).
BPS-19	Additional Commissioner of a Division (Appointment created on required basis). Deputy Commissioner (DC) / District Magistrate (DM) & Collector (Revenue) for a larger district Political Agent (PA) for a larger agency District Coordination Officer (DCO) for a larger district Additional Secretary of a Provincial Department. Deputy Secretary in Federal Secretariat Project Manager for Federal Scheme Director of a Federal / Provincial Department	Sometimes BS 19 officers are appointed as Provincial Secretary i.e. one step higher.
BPS-20	Commissioner of a Division Secretary of Provincial Department Member Provincial Board of Revenue Joint Secretary of Federal Ministry/Division Project Director for Federal Scheme Director General of Federal Department	Commissioners of Divisions were previously under Members of Board of Revenue but now they are directly responsible to the Chief Secretary of respective Province.
BPS-21	Additional Chief Secretary of Province (e.g. ACS Planning) Senior Member Provincial Board of Revenue Senior Joint Secretary in Federal Ministry/Division Additional Secretary in Federal Ministry/Division Acting Secretary to the Government of Pakistan Additional Secretary In-charge (ASI) of a Federal Division. (this is different than the acting charge as it is regular posting). Chairman of Federal Organisation. Managing Director of Public Corporation Chief Secretary of AJK / Gilgit-Baltistan.
BPS-22	Secretary of a Federal Division Chief Secretary of a Province Director General of Autonomous Federal Department/Agency Chairman of Autonomous Federal Organisation Managing Director of Autonomous Public Corporation
BPS-SG	Secretary General to the Government of Pakistan in-charge of bigger Federal Division, in special cases as in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Finance. Naveed Ahsan, former Chairman NAB, remained posted as Secretary General Finance Division for many years.