5 years service is necessary for promotion to grade 18. Howver, in FMG, PSP, Accounts etc., acting charge promotion is made to grade 18 without completion of 5 years of service, subject to vacant posts.

On completion of 5 years, the promotion is automatically regularized. Sinilary, acting charge promotion can be made to grade 19 too, and is made for FSP, DMG, PSP , PA&AS etc.

Simply, regular promotion cannot be made before stipulated time.

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Chaudhry Nauman Zafar
Whatever human mind can believe or conceive, it can achieve.