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Serving our people
We all love to criticize the government and the performance of various government departments. Well that’s so easy, but have you ever thought about streamlining the practices and correcting the system yourself. You know here lies the real challenge. And this challenge can be met by being part of the government.
And to be part of the administrative machinery of the government you need to become a civil servant. A civil servant is responsible for managing all the major affairs of the government. Be it the collection of taxes, issuances of licenses, conducting board examinations, construction and maintenance of roads, assurance of water supply, electric supply and provision of various necessities and luxuries.
Have you ever thought about the pressures that civil servants face and the responsibilities they have on their shoulders? Well, all in all they manage the affairs of a country within the boundaries of law. Certainly working for the masses is very different from becoming part of a privately owned organization. And let me mtell you, being a civil servant is not just challenging but very exciting as well. Politicians just make the laws but civil servants are the ones who actually implement these laws. So if you dare to organize the country’s mechanisms then join the club and face the challenges that come your way!
These civil servants, normally labelled bureaucrats, are the permanent administrators on board. They assist and even sometimes guide federal ministers in policy making. These bureaucrats are part of the executive organ of a country that is permanent while the legislature keeps on rotating among different parties of the country.
Occupational groups
Civil Servants are divided into ten occupational groups: foreign service, income tax, custom, police, accounts, district management, trade and commerce, information group, postal service and railways (commercial and transport). And like the employees of private sector organizations, civil servants are also divided into different cadres or grades. The employees above grade-17 enjoy the power of decision-making.
Central Superior Services (CSS) Examination
The only way to enjoy this commanding position in the government is to pass the examination of CSS — Central Superior Services. This examination is basically to check your aptitude or competency and is similar to the admission tests that universities take. But the standard is very high and not at all a piece of cake which you will realize after knowing the details.
Group allotment
Generally, Foreign Service is considered the most prestigious department but to enter it you need to score pretty well in your CSS exam. Taxation, custom, trade and commerce and police also require a good score in the examination.
Eligibility
The educational qualification to sit in CSS examination is graduation in any subject. But a degree in public administration, political science, and international relations is a very relevant qualification. Only people belonging to a certain age group (21-28 years) can compete in CSS exam; i.e. at the time of taking the exam the incumbent should be between 21-28 years.
The multi-dimensional CSS examination
The civil service examination is a combination of written papers, psychological test, medical and viva voce.
The written examination is the toughest hurdle to become a civil servant. For this the candidate is required to take 12 papers. The six compulsory papers include essay writing, English (composition and comprehension), general knowledge which includes current affairs, Pakistan affairs and everyday science and Islamiat. (All 100 marks)
There is a wide range of options available to cover the remaining 600 marks. You could select from subjects like accounting, business administration, public administration, economics, sociology, mass communication or languages like Urdu, English, Pushto, Balochi, etc.
All in all a candidate must complete 1200 marks (600 compulsory and 600 optional) and has to score at least 50 per cent marks in order to clear the paper. Almost 90 per cent of the candidates are dropped from the first stage. Like in the CSS 2005 examination around 3,500 candidates appeared of which only nine per cent got through. It is noticed that in the essay section 80 per cent candidates fail and Islamiat is the second lowest scoring subject in the compulsory subjects. One reason for this is that most of the candidates take this subject for granted and feel that they know all about it and end up in a mess.
Optional papers consist of subjective questions and objectives — It is said that 80 per cent of the marks are covered by subjective questions. The candidates have a choice to select subjects of 200 marks and 100 marks. Like political science exam is of 200 marks while mass communication, business administration is of 100 marks. Languages and science subjects are high scoring optional subjects.
Next comes a psychological test in which a candidate has to go through a variety of exercises in the presence of psychiatrists who check the candidate’s level of team building, leadership, interpersonal skills, stress management, etc.
Then a candidate has to clear a medical exam in which his height, weight, eye-sight, etc. is checked. The main purpose of the medical test is to check the physical fitness of the candidate. After clearing these two tests the candidate has to pass a Viva examination which is of 300 marks and the second toughest session after the written examination. It is taken by a board in the presence of Chairman FPSC.
Training — the most thrilling part
Training in the Civil Service Academy is the most thrilling part in the life of a civil servant. All selected candidates join the Civil Service Academy (CSA) of Lahore. PCS candidates go to Peshawar. First a general training is provided to all of them and then a specialized training according to their group is imparted. For example, the candidates who are selected for income tax group will be taught subjects like tax administration, etc during this second phase.
All candidates have to spend some time (approximately a month) with the military. The male candidates are even taken to Siachin as part of the training. The candidates are roamed all across Pakistan and the purpose of this tour plus military attachment is to provide an insight into government working and what’s happening, so that the young civil servants familiarize themselves with all shades of circumstances and challenges.
On the whole this training period is of two years. Nine months in CSA, one month military attachment and eight to ten months of department training. And then finally comes the posting. It’s only because of this high profile training that in case the incumbent does not wish to continue with civil service he is taken by private sector with high regards.
Provincial Civil Services
If you aspire to be a Civil Servant then you have two options — either go into the Civil Service through CSS examination or in Provincial Service by giving PCS Examination. PCS Exams are comparatively easier and have less competition as compared to the CSS Examination. But naturally Federal Civil Servants are more powerful than Provincial Civil Servants.
Useful websites and reading materials
General knowledge and current affairs hold an important place in civil service. So if you plan to appear in CSS in the near future start familiarizing yourself with the history and the general political and social issues of Pakistan and the world. You should also have a strong command on current affairs.
Also do study Stanley Wolpert’s Quaid-i-Azam, I.H. Qureshi’s History of Pakistan, K.B. Saeed’s Pakistan, A Formative phase, Qudratullah Shahab’s Shahabnama. In addition, also familiarize yourself with the writings of world class writers such as Alvin Toffler, Edward Said, Samuel P. Huntington and Naom Chomsky, etc.
Websites like www.fpsc.com.pk ,
www.css.com.pk ,
www.nationmaster.com ,
www.encarta.com could be a great help in this regard. Good luck!i
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