AFNS (Armed Forces Nursing Service, deals with the female nursing staff of Pakistan Army.
The male nursing assistants are not “staff nurse” like female nursing staff, and come under regular Army Medical Corps badge and banner, instead of AFNS.
In this post, we’ll try to answer any query that people usually have about AFNS, how to join them, what is their service life like, perks and privileges, etc. If you have any more queries you can ask them in the comments section below.
When was Pakistan Army Armed Force Nursing Service started?
AFNS formally began on 10th May, 1951.
What is the duty of AFNS
AFNS serve as nurses in military hospital, just like normal nurses in any hospital.
They are not posted to any units or combat setups.
Do AFNS get a permanent job?
Yes. AFNS is a permanent job cadre of Pakistan Army. They get regular permanent job and pension after retirement at the end of service.
Are AFNS posted on station of choice only?
No. AFNS, like all other army personnel, do get posted to various stations.
Note that they are posted at the station of their choice primarily. However under some circumstances they might get posted to stations which are not their primary choice.
Are AFNS nurses Commissioned Officers?
Yes, AFNS is a commissioned service. The personnel in AFNS are commissioned officers.
Are Nurses Pakistan Commissioned Officers (PCOs)?
No. AFNS officers are not Pakistan Commissioned Officers (bps 17 and above, such as regular officers who passout from PMA).
Are AFNS authorised to use Officer’s perks & facilities?
No. AFNS nurses are not considered Pakistan Commissioned officers and thus they are not allowed to use any facility dedicated to regular military officers. This includes the following things which they can not use or be part of:
- Officer Mess (AFNS use their own AFNS mess)
- Officer’s BOQ or MOQ (AFNS get their houses in their own allocated quota of houses, not in the officers list)
- Officer’s gatherings
- Officer’s parades
- Officer’s study periods
- Officer’s courses
Is pay scale of AFNS same as Officers?
No. AFNS nurses have a lower pay scale than the officers (PCO). Even if a nurse is wearing ranks of Captain, she is not equal to BPS-17 (of regular army captain officer) and thus gets paid less than them.
Is the Uniform of AFNS same as Lady Officers?
No. The (PCO) lady officers wear the military Sarhi type uniform. While AFNS wear a shalwar kameez type uniform.
The uniform of Nurses was white coloured in the past. It was changed to brown military colour shalwar kameez in past years.
Are AFNS trained with Officer Cadets in same Academy?
No. AFNS are not trained with officer cadets. They are not trained in same academy too.
AFNS are trained in their own setup and have different training than that of officer cadets of Pakistan Army.
Can AFNS keep an unlicensed personal weapon like Officers?
No. Only regular commissioned officers (PCO) are allowed to keep 2 unlicensed pistols with them. Nurses are not considered regular commissioned officers and thus can’t have them.
Is Nursing Major Senior to Commissioned Captain Officer?
No. Seniority is based on BPS scale. As nurses do not start in officer scale (bps-17), they are junior to the officers of same rank.
Are Nurses considered Officer in Pakistan Army?
No. Nurses are not considered Pakistan Commissioned officers in Pakistan Army. They are considered Nursing officer, just like a subedar is considered a junior commissioned officer (JCO), or a havaldar is considered a non-commissioned officer (NCO). They are respected in their own profession and service they have, but they are not considered part of the proper officer cadre.
Why Nurses have officer ranks if they are not officers?
General Zia gave them the ranks equivalent to the officers in his tenure due to personal reasons. However they never got the same pay scale, perks, privileges, authorities, duties and respect as of officers.
In fact it created more of a confusion for both nurses and other military people dealing with them.
Are male nurses also given same ranks?
No, the male counterparts of AFNS get the rank of sepoy.
Eligibility Criteria for AFNS
Eligibility criteria for Pakistan Army Armed Forces Nursing Service is as follows.
AFNS General Nursing Eligibility Criteria
Note that these criteria are for General Nursing. Candidates who are trained nurses already have different criteria.
Gender: Female
Age: 17-25
Qualification:
- Matric (science): 60% marks (minimum)
- FSc (pre-medical): 50% marks (minimum)
Candidates having 50% marks in 1st year can apply with hope certificate, duly signed by the principal.
Marital Status:
- Unmarried
- Widowed
- Separated
- Divorced
Trained nurses can be both married or unmarried.
Nationality:
- Citizen of Pakistan
- Kashmir domicile holder
- Gilgit-baltistan domicile holder
People with dual nationality can apply. But they will have to surrender their nationality other than Pakistani upon successful selection.
Physical standards required
Height: 5 feet [5′ (152cm)]
Weight: As per BMI (body mass index)
Ineligibility conditions for joining AFNS
These conditions make the person in-eligible to apply for Pakistan Army AFNS.
- A person who has been rejected twice by the GHQ selection board in the past.
- A person who has been declared medically unfit by the medical appeal board in the past.
- Any person who’ve been withdrawn, resigned or discharged from any Armed Forces in the past (Army, Navy, Air force) from their training academies or institutions on the basis of any issue related to character, discipline, medical inefficiency, weak profile or otherwise declared unsuitable.
- Any person who’ve been removed or dismissed from any other government service is also ineligible to apply.
- Any person who’ve been convicted by the court of law for any moral turpitude related offence.
Note: the aim of this page is to provide information about the AFNS job. If you find any error or mistake in the content, please let us know with authentic reference & we will modify / correct it. Thank you
This is all the wrong information you had.
For your information,There is no male counterpart of Afns officers. A sepoy of AMC is sepoy nursing assistant. He is there to assist them not as counterpart.Areas where afns officers are not serving, their responsibility is shared by AMC officers and tasks that do not demand use of sixth sense or where the chance of patient harm is less, tasks are delegated to these sepoy. How a bps 4 person can be a counterpart to BPS-17 afns officer?For being a counterpart academic and professional demands should be equal.
AFNS does not start at bps-17. Please check your pay scale so that it can clear your doubts.
And Who said they are not earning same benefits as that of other officers. They are living in afns officers mess that are equipped with servants, furnished rooms with single/double accommodation for bachelor officers. Married officers can live in mess if they wished to in case of far station. These mess are same as for other officers. I think you had not visited any officer mess yet. There are MOQs, banglows, E type flats, Homes etc where afns officers are living with their neighbors who are officers from other cores. Some afns officers are living in own houses because their husbands may have facilities to drop in to their duty stations at time. It is exactly same as for other lady officers.They can live in and enjoy any officers mess other than afns officers mess for a short period as per rule of officers mess.
And another wrong info you had about courses, There are Specialization, core, senior lady officer courses etc. that afns officers have been doing and will continue to do it.
And then came to parade section. I don’t know of which parade you are talking about. Whether it is (Pak day parade) or unit march? Well afns officers are doing both of them.
They are using garrison officers libraries. They had facility to borrow books from libraries. And in afns cadet mess there are separate libraries, gym, sports periods,study periods.. Everything.. There are planned schedules of cadets in AFPGMI and other nursing colleges. Their training is as tough as of other officers.
There are gatherings, dinners, brunch and evening tea gatherings of Afns officers with other Lady officers and ladies of army officers. Being Islamic country and ethical principles afns officers can not get together with male officers only. Yes families had and will continue to do these type of gatherings.
There are many other things that are practiced among officers. But I mentioned only those that you pointed out.
Hope so your inaccurate old unverified info will be faded now…
Thanks for confirming and agreeing to my point that Nurses do not have the permission to use Officer Messes and facilities. As they are provided separate ones for their use.
Eligibility criteria is now totally changed.
You can visit pak army website or nums website.
Thanks for pointing out. Updated the page.
Hilarious
Gen Zia ul Haq did not give ranks for his personal reasons. Are you in your senses.
Without any authentic research you came up with this reason.Internationally Nurses were acknowledged as high collar professionals due to their ascending nursing education. Owing to this reason 17 well developed countries had already inducted nurses and had made army nurse corps. It was necessary for Pakistan army to meet international standards by upgrading its medical core. And this can only be accomplished if all international sops were completed. Gen Zia ul Haq then inquire about nursing education and professionalism of army nurses. He not only ordered ranks just like for other officers on same grounds but also amends a lot of changes like eligibility and professional diploma for nurses. And for this he also ordered to build schools for newly inducted cadets.
And till now thousands of changes had been made leading to professional degree. No one can steal ranks from afns officers just like other officers now..
Yes it is not a core because for a core there is a specific strength that is required and quantity of Afns officers is less.
That’s is the sole reason afns officers and mujahid battalion do not have core benefits. Owing to this fact they are subordinate to other core ‘officers. Officers of other core can not salute afns officers. But a junior ranked officer will pay a gesture of respect (greeting, standing,being alert) to senior ranked afns officer. But other ranks from sepoy to subedar major must have to salute them. Afns officers can charge punishment to other ranks for Disrespectful attitude or not paying salute. And for this you can study pak army act 1952.Book of Pakistan military law,subsidiary of govern laws and regulations by military authors.
Similarly this act or law and FPSC, Govt of Pakistan has given afns officers bps – 17,even civilian nurses having BSN degree had bps-17.Try to kill this insect that they are not 17 grade officers. They are!
When Zia gave them this favor, there were no qualified nurses equivalent to the international ones which you’re talking about. And no, no junior rank officer is supposed to consider a nurse of lower bps rank and authority to be superior to him professionally. Please don’t take it personal just coz you’re working as a nurse in army.
Please use your own name instead of fake names. It doesn’t give a good impression like this.
Also, please correct your spelling for “Corps” (not core).
And yes they are not getting training academy because of their separate curriculum just like AMC cadets. But after academic training they had Basic military training that is being provided in AFPGMI. It is the same institute where AMC lady officers after completing Mbbs went for BMT.
AMC lady officers also had training in AMC abbotabad,where they learn gun shooting and war tactics. Afns officers can learn combat training if they wished from army training centre. Many afns officers are serving land by participating in international gun shooting teams.
And yes just like all other lady officers they can not own a gun.. But they can have it if it is licensed one
Thanks for agreeing that nurses are not trained by PMA as officers.
Learning shooting is not a measure of officer training. Even a civilian can learn how to shoot.
And all commissioned officers are allowed to carry guns without a license. However, nurses are not allowed as they are not part of officers cadre.
Sir i want to know about the criteria of study for male applicants, because in 2016 my friend get this job and he is just matric pass, now he is on BPS-8 and his pay is 28,000 , so i want to know that this criteria is change or same??? He told me that now only BSC degree holder apply for this male nursing post
Only females can apply for AFNS (Armed Forces Nursing Service). Males join as Nursing Assistant (not nurse / nursing staff).
Soldier.pk wake up
Read the constitution, and start respecting people.
Most of the information given by you is inaccurate and approach is biased. Every profession is respectable.
Saluting by all ranks has been entitled by constitution.
Rank is to be saluted, not the profession.
It’s Pakistani societal grooming about such cast system/ professional discrimination/ racist thinking inherited from Indian society.
No doctor can work without a nurse
It’s a policy.
No medical collage can exist without collage of nursing.
A pilot of f16, a canine platoon commander, a pathologist, an infantry officer or any nursing officer all are professionals of comparative qualification.
As per ranks and grades will be equally respected by any educated and non biased person.
Last but not the least, assume if your mom were a nurse, would you still keep your words? ?
Please review your decency, integrity and rational if not knowledge.
Thankyou
Please inbox us on our facebook page and I will send you page number of military book on this topic which you can check from your unit. We haven’t shared the exact references here as it’s not relevant to civilians and anyone who is in military can easily check them (and in fact needs to read them when preparing for captain to major exam for real officers, except nurses)
I am happy to know if your mother is a nurse. Please note that I nowhere disrespected any nurse (or soldier or any other rank). The aim of this info was to share the details of AFNS “job”. In fact, if you respect nursing staff, then you should not feel bad about the detail of their job shared on this page.
But again, please let me know if you find any error / mistake in this page content, I will edit / remove it.
Thank you
And their salary is same as that of other officers with regard to ranks . But some core allowances are not being provided to afns and mjd bn.. That’s why they had a minute difference in total salary
Mujahid officers start at bps-17. Nurses start below that.
The way you presented afns officers is clear indication of your internal grudge. Even your answers are like pointing out mistakes of words.. Even though I intentionally used word Corp not core because there were army nurse corps at that time. Yes you are right nurses were not so qualified at time of general zia but I think you didn’t bother to understand or read whole point. And yes Mr whoever you are.. I am Murtaz a ishfaq.. I m student of Air University Islamabad.. I can meet you if you wished for.. But I am very enthusiastic to meet you.. I want to see who is this person who has so much hatred for nurses and their services in army that it urge him to make this page. And for your further info i am son of a retired afns officer.. My father is major in jag branch pindi.. my first cousin is in afns and her brother is in 4 BR as lieutenant and they both of them are children of a major who is in mjd bn. I was searching for eligibility criteria for one of my cousin and then I came upto this.. Your page must have to be reported to high authorities firstly because of wrong and discouraging info that can make morale of young ladies low secondly it will discourage new girls to get inducted in afns AS COMISSIONED OFFICERS.
DON’T USE YOUR INTERNAL GRUDGES FOR DESTROYING RAPPORT OF PRESTIGIOUS SERVICES. Only your page is so much discouraging. I had share your page on afns officers page… If there is any afns officer reading this please report this page as well do comment. I was shocked because as a son of an afns officer I am witnessed of all these benefits.. And yes I had a lot of mess bills of different mess other than afns officers mess. Yes my mother did not had licensed gun because she didn’t need it just like other ladies officers.. There is difference in male and females in army.. Whoever you are, I can say you are either jealous of them who wants to spread negative propagandas against them or you are just a piece of ignorant society.
Thank you for detailed reply Miss [****] (want to keep your real name hidden in email id hidden because you choose to use a fake male name for comments, so want to respect your privacy).
Please note that the purpose of this post was to help people understand and know what we know based on best of our knowledge. I apologize if you think any of the information provided on this page is incorrect. I am truly willing to edit it right away if you can provide me authentic information instead, especially regarding the bps scale and provision to use Officer Mess and facilities etc.
You can send us the information via our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/soldiers.pakistan/
I do believe and agree that every individual and department in the world has a special role and they are all respectable. Please don’t consider this post as anti-AFNS. It was just to help people know what we know currently.
Waiting for your valuable information so that we can help improve this article together and provide better information to everyone.
Stay blessed.
Oh yes if they are not at bps 17.. Please show it on black n white.. Because I can show it to you if you wished.. Send me your email address I will show you everything that I have.
And please the picture you displayed is not that of Afns officers.. It may be of any cadet College.
Mr Murtaza you are totally right. The admin of this page seems to be in personal grudge with our respectable AFNS officer of Pakistan army.I know AFNS officers they are living such a gorgeous officer life including their families enjoying all the perks and facilities.A newly commissioned AFNS officer with a rank of 2nd lieutenant have a bps 17 and get saluted by every junior rank officer ie subedar or havaldar. I’ll like to say as boys join pma after fsc girls join AFNS after fsc leading to a regular commission in armed forces. Many AFNS officers are even Brigadier having a staff car as well a brigadier house. And just leave this page no need to report this,he is devaluing his own page by such big lies.
Thank you for your comment. Please note that this page is built based on collective information provided by users. If you think there is anything wrong on this page, you can always send us the correct information with reference so that we can update it.
Please note that the admins of this page can see your ip address and email address. So Please don’t comment same thing using different names multiple times as it may result in banning of your ip or email address due to spamming.
An AFNS officer newly commissioned with a rank of 2nd lieutenant is a 17 scale officer and when they become major they become 18 scale officer and similarly at a rank of brigadier an AFNS officer is 20th scale officer.
Thank you for pointing out. As per our info, this is incorrect. I am happy and waiting to update this info on our page if you can provide any reference to this, so that our visitors can get the correct info if its incorrect currently.
Please note, do not use different names for commenting about same thing repeatedly, as your ip and email address are visible to our admins. You might get banned from this website for spamming.
Thank you. Waiting for your help to improve this page.
Stop blaming the admin of website, first learn how to convey your point, you are literally fighting with the admin.Have some manners,points can be conveyed in a mannerable way. Waisay salute hay admin par jo in baaton ka reply kar raha hay while being calm.YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT BUT YOUR WAY OF ARGUING SHOWS THAT YOU PEOPLE MIGHT BE NURSES.
Sir I have a short ear than other one,that my one ear length is short than other but I can hear clearly so tell me plz can I join afns?
It shouldn’t be a problem. If there is no loss of function then you can probably join. Please confirm from your nearest selection centre.
Information provided is totally wrong…it is requested to make amendments in it so that people r not distracted!!!
Please provide more details with reference so that we can correct those things.
on which date the call letters of afns 2019 will be issued. please tell me about letters.
You can get that information from the Army selection centre where you applied from.
I’d also request you to quote authentic references (working and traceable) in your write-up/ information.
I personally don’t like health care professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedics and so on), but still have been interacting with them occasionally.
Please take out some time to write about you as author and link your authentic identity on FB, IG , Email and your qualifications so that we honor your work.
Being anonymous without any details or reputation of the author or admin. This page is not authentic no matter how detailed.
Thanks
Please inbox us on our facebook page and I will send you page number of military book on this topic which you can check from your unit. We haven’t shared the exact references here as it’s not relevant to civilians and anyone who is in military can easily check them (and in fact needs to read them when preparing for captain to major exam for real officers, except nurses)
Please read pakistan military law and log book..
Please tell us which page of MPML do you want us to consult. Thank you.
This blog is written by a stereotypical person. There are always type of person that you are. This blog showes just your nature and jealous personality. I am a nursing officer and these things not exists.
Thank you for your response Sara. Please send us all the errors in this post with corrections so that we can ammend it.
Well you need to take this post down or amend it with the correct information. I mean one can clearly sense the hatred tone towards afns in this post. We are Alhamdolilah no less than an officer of other arm. We have a handsome salary package, perks of officers, plots banglows, permission to stay at messes guests houses, part of parades etc. Why dont you focus on what we get? Rather than what we cant get? That’s such a pessimistic approach to write. I hope you will take notice of this.
Thank you for posting Sana. Please send us the amendments and details to add to this post so that we can improve it. Please tell about:
1. wrong info in the post with corrections, so that we can edit it
2. what is the starting salary of AFNS as a cadet and after passing out?
3. What is the first starting BPS scale of AFNS and years of service required in each rank?
4. Are AFNS allowed to marry a gazetted officer in the Pakistan Army or not?
5. Can a captain AFNS nurse attest documents which require attestation by 17 scale officer?
Waiting for your response to make necessary updates in this post. Thank you.