PROJECT OFFICER (MARKET COMPETITIVE)

The Project Officer (BS-17) serves as a key professional officer within the Management Wing or Project Management Unit, responsible for assisting the Project Director in the end-to-end management of Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) schemes. The role entails ensuring that development projects are conceived, approved, executed, and closed in strict compliance with the Planning Commission's guidelines, PC-I/PC-II proformas, and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. The incumbent acts as the primary technical and administrative link between the sponsoring ministry, executing agencies, consultants, and contractors to achieve project objectives within approved cost, time, and quality parameters.

Daily workflows involve reviewing and updating project implementation schedules using MS Project or Primavera, scrutinizing contractor invoices against Measurement Books (MBs) and BOQs, and processing payments through the SAP/IFMIS system under the New Accounting Model. The officer prepares quarterly progress reports (PC-III), completion reports (PC-IV), and working papers for Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) or Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meetings. Routine tasks include conducting site visits to verify physical progress, coordinating with the Finance Division for fund releases (re-appropriation/surrender), and maintaining the Project Management Information System (PMIS) dashboard for real-time monitoring.

Selection follows the Category A (Written Screening Examination Cadre) pathway. Candidates appear in a 100-mark MCQ-based written screening test covering General Knowledge, Pakistan Affairs, English, Mathematics, Computer Literacy, and Professional Subject (Project Management, Public Financial Management, PPRA Rules, Planning Commission Manual). Candidates securing the qualifying merit are shortlisted for document verification of academic degrees (Master's/BS-16 in relevant discipline) and experience certificates. The final merit is determined by the Departmental Selection Committee interview assessing technical competence, administrative acumen, and suitability for BS-17 entry.

• ✓Prepare and process project proposals (PC-I/PC-II) ensuring alignment with sectoral priorities and Planning Commission proforma requirements
• ✓Monitor physical and financial progress of assigned development schemes against approved timelines, budgets, and key performance indicators
• ✓Coordinate with executing agencies, consultants, and contractors to resolve implementation bottlenecks and ensure contractual compliance
• ✓Compile and submit periodic progress reports (PC-III), utilization reports, and briefs for DDWP/CDWP and Steering Committee meetings
• ✓Facilitate procurement planning, bid evaluation, and contract administration strictly adhering to PPRA Rules 2004 and standard bidding documents
• ✓Contain field inspections to verify on-ground execution quality, validate measurements in Measurement Books, and certify contractor claims

• 💡Project Cycle Management (PCM) and Logical Framework Approach (LFA) for development project design and appraisal
• 💡Expertise in PSDP/ADP guidelines, PC-I/PC-II/PC-III/PC-IV formats, and Planning Commission Manual of Development Projects
• 💡Public financial management including budget preparation, fund release procedures, re-appropriation, and New Accounting Model (NAM) compliance
• 💡Procurement planning and contract management under PPRA Rules 2004, including NCB/ICB procedures and bid evaluation techniques
• 💡Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework design, data analysis using MS Excel/SPSS, and dashboard reporting via PMIS
• 💡Official correspondence, drafting of summaries for senior management, and inter-departmental coordination under Secretariat Instructions