Pakistan's federal government has tightened its grip on the question of dual nationality in the civil service. According to The Express Tribune, an Establishment Division notification dated October 21 directs all ministries and divisions to submit consolidated details of declarations made by officers under their control on foreign nationality, foreign travel documents and the nationality status of their dependants.
What the rules require
The notification cites the Civil Servants (Disclosure and Regulation of Foreign Nationality) Rules, 2026, under which every civil servant had to file a declaration on their own and their dependants' nationality within 90 days of the rules being published in the official gazette.
Under Rule 3(3), officers must state whether they hold another country's nationality, possess foreign travel documents or are married to a foreign national, and disclose the corresponding status of their dependants.
False declarations count as misconduct
The Establishment Division said that, under Rule 3(4), failing to file the declaration or giving false information will constitute misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020, opening the way to disciplinary action.
Who is covered
Ministries must report on officers under their administrative control, excluding members of the Pakistan Administrative Service, Police Service of Pakistan, Secretariat Group and Office Management Group. The prescribed format asks for each officer's name, designation and pay scale, confirmation that a declaration was filed, and details of any foreign nationality or travel documents held by the officer or their dependants.
Background
The paper notes that earlier this month the government decided to enforce the Foreign Citizenship Rules 2026, giving civil servants one week to declare any foreign citizenship held by themselves or their dependants, a directive that also covers officers with dual nationality.