Office Management Group (OMG)

Office Management & Secretariat Group

The Office Management Group (OMG) is responsible for managing administrative functions within government offices, including personnel management, budgeting, procurement, and resource allocation.

Introduction

The OMG was established to create a professional cadre within the bureaucracy, dedicated to managing the administrative functions of government offices. This was part of broader civil service reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency and professionalism in the public sector.

Office Management Group (OMG) is tasked to mandate, structure, and monitor the performance of the Federal Government.

The officers of the OMG function in the Federal Secretariat at the level of Section Officers (BPS-17 & 18) and are also posted on deputation or under Section 10 of Civil Servant Act, 1973 to provincial governments, attached/subordinate departments, authorities/corporations, District Governments etc. upto the level of BPS-18. The cadre of OMG in BPS-19 is elevated/merged into the Secretariat Group (SG), a specialized group consisting of officers of all occupational groups according to an allocated share. They are then posted at senior levels in the federal and provincial secretariats and elsewhere in any government organization/body as part of All Pakistan Unified Grades (APUG).

Key Resbonsibilities

Secretariat Management:

OMG officers serve in the Federal Secretariat and provincial secretariats, handling office administration and ensuring efficient workflow.

Policy Implementation:

They assist in implementing government policies by managing records, drafting official correspondence, and coordinating between departments.

File & Record Management:

Maintaining official documents, files, and records in various ministries and divisions.
Ensuring timely processing of government matters.

Human Resource & Personnel Management:

Managing promotions, postings, and transfers of federal government employees.
Supervising disciplinary actions and service matters.

Budgeting & Financial Management:

Assisting in the preparation of budgets for different government offices.
Monitoring expenditures and financial records.

Coordination with Other Government Departments:

Liaising between different ministries and autonomous bodies.
Facilitating communication between federal and provincial departments.

Training

OMG Probationary Officers went through their Special Training Program at Secretariat Training Institute, Islamabad. The STP is designed to fulfill following purposes:

To provide orientation about mandate, structure, and performance of the Federal Government
To provide professional knowledge about the constitution of Pakistan and its subordinate legal framework
To provide applied knowledge of professional Rules and Regulations relating to conduct of business in the Federal Government
To provide orientation on personality development thought discipline
To build communication skills

Following are the subjects taught at STP

1.	Constitution of Pakistan, 1973
2.	Rules of Business, 1973
3.	Secretariat Instructions & Office Procedures (Paper-I)
4.	Secretariat Instructions & Office Procedures (Paper-II)
5.	Noting and Drafting
6.	Government & Administration
7.	Service Laws & Rules (Paper-I)
8.	Service Laws & Rules (Paper-II)
9.	Financial Rules (Paper-I)
10.	Financial Rules (Paper-II)

Initial Posting

Usually posted as Section Officers (BS-17) in Federal Secretariat, Establishment Division, or Provincial Secretariats.

Why Choose Office Management Group (OMG)?

✅ Fast promotions (compared to some other groups like Pakistan Administrative Service).
✅ Better work-life balance (less fieldwork, more office-based responsibilities).
✅ Opportunity to work in key ministries and divisions of the federal government.
✅ Diverse career paths with chances to move to autonomous bodies, regulatory authorities, and international organizations.
✅ Influence on government policy implementation through administrative roles.

Challenges

Workload and Stress: High-pressure environments with tight deadlines and substantial workloads.
Bureaucratic Hurdles: Navigating bureaucratic procedures and dealing with red tape.
Political Influence: Balancing professional duties with political considerations and influences.

Posts

The career progression involves postings in various federal ministries and divisions, with opportunities for diverse experiences in different administrative capacities.

BPS-17: Section Officer

Fresh OMG officers start their careers as Section Officers in various federal ministries/divisions.
Responsible for file work, noting, and drafting.

BPS-18: Senior Section Officer