ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Tuesday directed the Establishment Division to provide the results of all Central Superior Services (CSS) exams and seat allocations since 2008.

Committee Chairman Senator Talha Mehmood said he had come to know that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) rules had been forged which is why the CSS results were deteriorating.

He said the rules regarding CSS marking were changed in 2012 due to which only 2pc or 3pc of the candidates clear the exams compared to 15pc before 2012.

FPSC rules forged so more candidates from Punjab clear exam, only few from other provinces pass, senator claims

“Because of the decision, most of the successful candidates are from Punjab and just a few candidates from the other provinces clear the exam. On the other hand, an impression has been made that candidates from the smaller provinces are not competent enough,” he said.

“I have learned that though it was claimed that the marking criteria was changed on the prime minister’s directions, they were actually changed by forging documents. I direct the Establishment Division to submit all records and in case forgery is discovered, the committee will involve the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA),” he said.

Senator Mehmood said a large number of seats were vacant in different provinces while unemployment was also continuously increasing across the country.

“Unfortunately, a large number of candidates fail to clear CSS exams. There is need to improve the system as the services of deputation officers are required in various departments currently when [regular appointments have not been made]. The committee has taken up a case in the past of when a doctor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences was sent to FIA on deputation,” he said.

However, Establishment Division Secretary Ijaz Munir said FPSC rules are amended every year and that that these are approved by the prime minister.

Minister In-Charge Cabinet Division Ali Mohammad Khan said there is no need to hide the record.

Senator Mohammad Akram said that according to media reports, 17,270 posts are vacant in Balochistan.

However, the Establishment Division secretary said the quota from Balochistan was raised in 2007 from 3.5pc to 6pc due to which 13,118 new posts were created. He said 9,023 of these were filled and 4,095 are vacant.

PPP Senator Rubina Khalid said she had learned that an ordinance will soon be passed after which residents of the smaller provinces will not be able to get federal government jobs.

However, the Establishment Division secretary said this was not correct and that the ordinance will protect the appointments made in the past. He said many appointments had been made with the prime minister’s approval and that later the Supreme Court said the federal cabinet should give the approval and not the premier.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2018