On this page 11 sections
- The Format: 7 Parts
- How Much Notice Do I Give?
- How to Resign in Pakistan: 5 Steps
- Sample 1: Government Servant
- Sample 2: Private Sector Employee
- Sample 3: Resigning During Probation
- Sample 4: Immediate Resignation with Pay in Lieu
- Do I Need an NOC After Resigning?
- Do I Lose My Pension If I Resign in Pakistan?
- Mistakes to Avoid
- Frequently Asked Questions
A resignation letter in Pakistan is a short formal letter in which you tell your employer you are leaving your job. It states your last working day, and it asks for acceptance and a relieving letter. In a government job it is also the document that starts your final settlement: your service certificate, your no-dues clearance, your GP fund and your leave encashment.
Here is the format, the notice rules, the step-by-step process, four samples for different situations, and the rules on NOC and pension.
The Format: 7 Parts#
| Part | What to write |
|---|---|
| 1. Address | The head of your department or the appointing authority |
| 2. Subject | Resignation from the post of [designation] |
| 3. Opening | Your name, designation, BPS and date of joining |
| 4. Reason | One line, polite, no detail needed |
| 5. Notice | Your last working day, per your notice period |
| 6. Request | Acceptance, relieving letter, service certificate |
| 7. Closing | Thank you, signature, date, contact number |
Keep the letter short and polite. Do not list complaints. Do not explain your next job. A resignation letter is a record, not a farewell speech. Write it on plain paper or on your department’s letterhead if you are a government servant, and keep a copy with a receiving stamp.
How Much Notice Do I Give?#
There is no single statutory notice period in the Civil Servants Act, 1973. Your notice period is set by your appointment letter and your service rules. Check your appointment letter first. In practice, the period is usually one to three months depending on your grade and department: officers in BPS-17 and above often serve three months, while lower grades usually give one month. A probationer usually gives a shorter notice, often 14 days. A contract employee gives one month’s notice, or surrenders one month’s pay in lieu. Our probation guide explains the rules that apply during probation.
You can also pay in lieu of notice. If you cannot serve the notice period, you can pay one month’s salary in lieu of notice, if your rules allow it. Ask your department in writing whether it will accept pay in lieu, and get the answer in writing.
Your resignation must be decided within 30 days. A resignation tendered by a government servant must either be accepted or rejected by the competent authority within not more than 30 days of its submission, and the decision must be communicated to the government servant. That is the Esta Code rule, applied by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Service Tribunal. The Establishment Division publishes the service rules at establishment.gov.pk. Your service ends when your resignation is accepted in writing and you receive a relieving letter.
How to Resign in Pakistan: 5 Steps#
Step 1: Read your appointment letter. Find your notice period, your probation status and any bond or training agreement. If you benefited from a scholarship, a training bond or a service agreement, resigning may trigger a penalty.
Step 2: Write the letter. Use the format above. State your last working day. Keep the reason to one line. Sign and date it.
Step 3: Submit it through the proper channel. Address it to the appointing authority through the head of your department. Submit it in writing and keep a stamped copy. Do not resign by WhatsApp or by word of mouth.
Step 4: Serve the notice period. Work your notice period, hand over your charge, files and government property, and clear your dues. A clean handover speeds up your relieving letter.
Step 5: Collect your documents. Ask for your relieving letter, your service certificate and your no-demand certificate. Settle your GP fund, your leave encashment and any gratuity or provident fund. Our experience certificate guide explains what the certificate must contain.
Sample 1: Government Servant#
To, The Secretary, [Department], [City]. Subject: Resignation from the post of [Designation] (BPS-[Scale]) Respected Sir/Madam, I, [Name], [Designation] (BPS-[Scale]), joined this department on [Date]. I hereby tender my resignation from service with effect from [Date], after serving one month's notice as per my appointment letter. I request you to please accept my resignation and issue my relieving letter, service certificate and no-demand certificate. I shall hand over my charge and complete all formalities before my last working day. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, [Name] [Designation, BPS] [Contact number] [Date]
Sample 2: Private Sector Employee#
To, The Manager HR, [Company Name], [City]. Subject: Resignation from the post of [Designation] Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to inform you that I am resigning from my position as [Designation] in [Department], effective [Date], after serving one month's notice as per my appointment letter. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had in this company. I will complete my pending work and hand over my responsibilities before my last working day. Please issue my relieving letter and experience certificate. Thank you, Yours sincerely, [Name] [Designation] [Contact number] [Date]
Sample 3: Resigning During Probation#
To, The Head of Department, [Department], [City]. Subject: Resignation during probation from the post of [Designation] Respected Sir/Madam, I, [Name], [Designation], joined this department on [Date] and am currently on probation. I hereby tender my resignation from service with effect from [Date], after serving [14 days'] notice as per my appointment letter. I request you to please accept my resignation and issue my relieving letter. I shall hand over my charge before my last working day. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, [Name] [Designation] [Contact number] [Date]
Sample 4: Immediate Resignation with Pay in Lieu#
To, The Head of Department, [Department], [City]. Subject: Resignation from the post of [Designation] with pay in lieu of notice Respected Sir/Madam, I, [Name], [Designation] (BPS-[Scale]), joined this department on [Date]. I hereby tender my resignation from service with immediate effect. I am unable to serve the notice period, and I request that one month's salary be accepted in lieu of notice, as per my appointment letter. I request you to please accept my resignation and issue my relieving letter, service certificate and no-demand certificate. I shall hand over my charge and complete all formalities. Thanking you, Yours faithfully, [Name] [Designation, BPS] [Contact number] [Date]
Do I Need an NOC After Resigning?#
If you are joining another government department, yes. You need a No Objection Certificate from your previous department, confirming that you have no dues and no pending inquiry. Apply for it before you join the new department, and keep it with your service record.
If you are joining the private sector, no. No NOC is needed for a private job. But collect your service certificate, your relieving letter and your no-demand certificate anyway. A future employer, a bank or a visa office may ask for them.
If you are joining another government job, apply through the proper channel. A government servant who applies for another government post must apply through the proper channel, with the department’s permission. If you resign to take up another government appointment with proper permission, your past service is not forfeited.
Do I Lose My Pension If I Resign in Pakistan?#
Not necessarily. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has held that pension is a vested constitutional and statutory right, not a discretionary concession. The right to pension vests immediately upon retirement or acceptance of resignation. The Court held that the Civil Service Regulations rule on resignation (CSR 418) pertains only to the computation and counting of service periods, and does not authorise wholesale forfeiture of pension. Resignation per se does not disentitle an employee who has already completed the prescribed length of service.
The qualifying service is 20 years. The 2001 amendment to the Civil Servants Act, 1973 reduced the minimum qualifying service for pension from 25 years to 20 years. If you have completed 20 years of qualifying service, your pension right has vested, and resignation does not take it away.
Your GP fund is yours. You are entitled to your GP fund contribution and profit as per the rules, whatever your length of service. Settle it before you leave. You may also get payment for unused earned leave, depending on your department’s policy, and gratuity or provident fund per your length of service.
Mistakes to Avoid#
Resigning by WhatsApp or by word of mouth. A resignation must be in writing, addressed to the appointing authority through the head of your department. A verbal resignation has no record.
Leaving without a relieving letter. Your service ends when your resignation is accepted in writing and you receive a relieving letter. Without it, your record shows you absent, not resigned.
Forgetting the handover. Hand over your charge, files and government property before your last day. An incomplete handover delays your clearance and your documents.
Assuming you lose everything. Your pension right vests after 20 years of qualifying service, and your GP fund is yours. Do not walk away from money you have earned.
Resigning to escape an inquiry. Resigning does not stop a pending inquiry or a demand. Clear your dues and your record before you leave. Our offer letter vs appointment letter guide explains what your appointment letter said about your terms, including any bond.
Frequently Asked Questions#
How much notice do I give?
There is no single statutory notice period in the Civil Servants Act, 1973. Your notice period is set by your appointment letter and your service rules. In practice it is usually one to three months depending on your grade and department: officers in BPS-17 and above often serve three months, lower grades usually give one month, and probationers usually give a shorter notice, often 14 days. You can also pay one month’s salary in lieu of notice, if your rules allow it. Always check your appointment letter.
Do I need an NOC after resigning?
If you are joining another government department, yes: you need a No Objection Certificate from your previous department, confirming no dues and no pending inquiry. If you are joining the private sector, no NOC is needed, but collect your service certificate, relieving letter and no-demand certificate anyway. If you resign to take up another government appointment with proper permission, your past service is not forfeited.
Can I withdraw my resignation?
Yes, before it is accepted. You can withdraw your resignation in writing at any time before the competent authority accepts it. After acceptance, withdrawal needs the appointing authority’s permission. The authority must accept or reject your resignation within 30 days of its submission.
Do I lose my pension if I resign?
Not necessarily. The Supreme Court has held that pension is a vested right, and resignation per se does not disentitle an employee who has completed the prescribed qualifying service. The minimum qualifying service for pension is 20 years, after the 2001 amendment reduced it from 25 years. Your GP fund contribution and profit remain yours as per the rules, whatever your length of service.
What documents should I collect after resigning?
Collect your relieving letter, your service certificate and your no-demand certificate. Settle your GP fund, your leave encashment for unused earned leave, and any gratuity or provident fund. If you are joining another government department, also get an NOC from your previous department. Keep a stamped copy of your resignation letter for your record.
