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What is BPS? BPS stands for Basic Pay Scale. It is the federal government’s salary structure for its employees, running from grade 1 to grade 22. Every federal government job carries a BPS number, and that number decides the minimum basic pay, the annual increment, and the maximum basic pay for the post.
A job advertisement that says “BPS-17” is telling you the grade, not the salary. This guide explains what the number means, how your pay grows inside a scale, which grades are officers, and why basic pay is not your take-home salary. The full 22-grade chart with every figure is in our pay scale chart 2026 guide.
BPS at a Glance#
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| BPS | Basic Pay Scale |
| Grades | BPS-1 to BPS-22 |
| Current scale | BPS-2026 (from 1 July 2026) |
| Gazetted officers | BPS-16 and above |
| Entry-level officer grade | BPS-17 |
| Basic pay | Not your take-home salary |
How a Pay Scale Works in Pakistan#
Each grade has three numbers: a minimum, an annual increment, and a maximum. The minimum is the basic pay a new entrant starts on (Stage 0). The annual increment is added every year on 1 December, after at least six months’ service at a stage. The maximum is the ceiling: the highest basic pay that grade can reach.
Running basic pay = minimum + (increment x stages completed). A BPS-17 officer starts at Rs 54,140, gains Rs 4,110 each year, and reaches a maximum of Rs 136,340 after 20 stages. A BPS-1 employee starts at Rs 16,280, gains Rs 520 each year, and reaches Rs 31,880 after 30 stages.
The number of stages depends on the grade. BPS-1 to BPS-16 have 30 stages, BPS-17 to BPS-19 have 20 stages, and BPS-20 to BPS-22 have 14 stages. If you reach the maximum, the increment is still allowed beyond the scale as personal pay.
The current scale is BPS-2026. The Finance Division notified it in O.M. No.F.1(2)IMP/2026 dated 21 July 2026, effective from 1 July 2026. It replaced BPS-2022 by merging the Ad-hoc Relief Allowances of 2022 (15%) and 2025 (10%) into basic pay. A fresh Ad-hoc Relief Allowance of 7% applies on the running basic pay. Employees could opt to remain on BPS-2022 within 30 days of the notification.
The Grade Groups#
BPS-1 to BPS-4 are field workers and labourers. Naib Qasid, Chowkidar, Sweeper and similar posts. BPS-1 starts at Rs 16,280.
BPS-5 to BPS-10 are field supervisors and lower-grade officers. Posts such as Constable, Junior Clerk and technician grades sit here.
BPS-11 to BPS-15 are junior officers and non-gazetted officers. Assistant, Stenographer, Sub-Inspector and similar posts. BPS-15 is the grade of an Assistant in many departments.
BPS-16 to BPS-22 are gazetted officers. Inspector, Superintendent, Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Section Officer, Deputy Secretary and Federal Secretary. BPS-16 starts at Rs 33,720 with an increment of Rs 2,720 and a maximum of Rs 115,320. BPS-22 starts at Rs 146,770 with an increment of Rs 10,470 and a maximum of Rs 293,350.
Which Grade Is an Officer in Pakistan?#
BPS-16 and above are gazetted officers. Gazetted means the officer’s appointment is published in the Gazette of Pakistan, and the officer can attest documents. BPS-16 is a junior officer or supervisor grade: Inspector, Superintendent, Assistant.
BPS-17 is the entry-level officer grade most people mean. Assistant Director, Accounts Officer, Section Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Medical Officer. CSS and PMS officers are allocated at BPS-17. Our BPS-17 salary guide works out what a BPS-17 officer actually takes home.
Higher grades are senior officers. BPS-18 is Section Officer, Deputy Secretary or Assistant Commissioner. BPS-19 and BPS-20 are Deputy Secretaries and Joint Secretaries. BPS-21 is Additional Secretary. BPS-22 is Federal Secretary or Director General of a top agency: the highest administrative post in the civil service.
Basic Pay Is Not Your Take-Home Salary#
Basic pay is only one part of the package. Allowances are added on top: house rent allowance, conveyance allowance, medical allowance, Disparity Reduction Allowance and Ad-hoc Relief Allowance. Then deductions are taken off: income tax, GP Fund and benevolent fund. What reaches your bank account is basic pay plus allowances minus deductions.
A BPS number does not reveal the take-home salary. The exact figure depends on your pay stage, your posting city, your department, and which allowances you are eligible for. Two people on the same BPS can take home different amounts. Always check the pay scale, the appointment terms and the admissible allowances together.
BPS-2026 is the federal scale. It applies to federal civil employees under the Finance Division. Provincial governments, autonomous bodies, public-sector companies and project offices may follow separate pay notifications or employment terms. Do not apply the federal figures to a provincial post automatically: check the notification adopted by the relevant employer. The Finance Division publishes the federal notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions#
What does BPS-16 mean?
BPS-16 is a junior officer or supervisor grade, and the first gazetted grade. Typical posts are Inspector, Superintendent and Assistant. Under BPS-2026, BPS-16 starts at Rs 33,720 basic pay, gains Rs 2,720 each year, and reaches a maximum of Rs 115,320 after 30 stages. Allowances are added on top of basic pay.
Which grade is an officer?
BPS-16 and above are gazetted officers. BPS-17 is the standard entry-level officer grade: Assistant Director, Accounts Officer, Section Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Medical Officer. CSS and PMS officers start at BPS-17. BPS-18 and above are senior officers, up to BPS-22, the Federal Secretary grade.
What is the difference between BPS and basic pay?
BPS is the grade: the number from 1 to 22 that ranks the post. Basic pay is the amount you earn within that grade: it starts at the grade’s minimum and grows by the annual increment up to the grade’s maximum. Two people on the same BPS can have different basic pay because they are at different stages.
Does BPS-2026 apply to provincial jobs?
BPS-2026 is the federal scale, notified by the Finance Division for federal civil employees. Provincial governments, autonomous bodies and public-sector companies may follow separate pay notifications. Check the notification adopted by the employer in the advertisement before applying the federal figures.
How often are pay scales revised?
Every few years, by the Finance Division, usually with the federal budget. BPS-2026 replaced BPS-2022 from 1 July 2026, merging the Ad-hoc Relief Allowances of 2022 and 2025 into basic pay and adding a fresh 7% Ad-hoc Relief Allowance on the running basic pay.
