- Government to end CSS exams.
- Move aims at promoting specialists over generalists.
- Each service group to have its own specific qualifications.
Pakistan’s civil service examination system is likely to undergo a big overhaul as the government moves towards a more specialised recruitment process.
According to reports, the Civil Service Reforms Committee has finalised recommendations to replace the current Central Superior Services (CSS) exam with a cluster-based system.
Relevant technical fields
The proposed changes aim to ensure that professionals are assigned to relevant technical fields instead of the existing general allocation method.
A senior official maintained that the final report will soon be presented to the federal cabinet for approval.
The committee has already completed discussions on key issues, including revisions to compensation and pension structures.
Proposed changes
In the proposed system, every service group will have distinct qualification requirements and a separate competitive exam to ensure candidates are placed in roles that match their expertise.
This marks a shift from the current model, where candidates are placed in various departments regardless of their educational background.
The reform efforts gained momentum after Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal highlighted governance inefficiencies.
Following his recommendations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tasked the committee with developing a modern civil service framework aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.
Present structure
Currently, the CSS exam, conducted annually by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), assesses candidates through a uniform set of tests, with successful applicants allocated to different service groups regardless of their academic background.
This means a doctor can be posted in revenue services, a law graduate in the audit department, or an engineer in foreign service assignments that often lack relevance to their education.
