Syed Fawad Ali Shah
The question of entrance into respectful professions, such as becoming a judge or a doctor, often hinges on rigorous academic and professional requirements. For instance, to ascend to the judiciary, one must typically navigate the demanding LLB examination, while the medical profession demands the successful completion of the MBBS degree, both serving as bastions of excellence and qualification. Yet, a unique situation arises when contemplating the civil bureaucracy of Pakistan, where the coveted CSS examination serves as the gateway for many aspiring individuals. This examination stands as a formidable challenge, attracting the nation’s finest talents, and only a fortunate few are able to surmount its rigorous hurdles to join the esteemed civil bureaucracy. However, a matter of concern emerges, casting a shadow over the integrity of this process. A practice persists, a clandestine passage, where annually, a small cohort of officers from the Pakistan Armed Forces gain entry into the civil bureaucracy without the necessity of passing the CSS examination. These officers find themselves swiftly integrated into prestigious cadres like the Pakistan Administrative Service PAS, Police Service of Pakistan PSP, and Foreign Service of Pakistan FSP, while other cadres like Postal, Income Tax, Accounts, OMG, Railways, Secretariat, or Customs Service are relegated to the periphery. The ramifications of this practice ripple through the bureaucracy, particularly affecting career officers who have diligently endeavored through the CSS examination. It beckons the query: can an officer who has surmounted the CSS examination be inducted into the Pakistan Armed Forces without traversing the crucible of the ISSB examination? The glaring incongruity warrants scrutiny. In the bureaucratic echelons, officers from marginalized cadres like Postal, Income Tax, Customs, Railways, Accounts, and OMG often languish, their aspirations confined to securing deputations to consequential posts or foreign assignments. Some officers persevere, attempting the CSS examination repeatedly, a testament to their commitment. They even steer their spouses and progeny towards coveted cadres such as PSP, Foreign Service, or PAS, creating a cycle of inequality. Moreover, civil service officers from the Pakistan Armed Forces face barriers in ascending to high-ranking positions within the bureaucracy, encountering resistance even when aspiring to reach the exalted grades of 21 or 22. The paucity of retired army officers appointed as IG Police or Chief Secretary in Pakistan is conspicuous, with many grappling against adversarial forces throughout their journey. This is an issue that demands contemplation and rectification. In summation, it is imperative to consider a permanent prohibition on such parachute entrants into the CSS cadre. In doing so, Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy can evolve towards a more equitable and meritocratic system, wherein all officers, regardless of their entry point, have equal opportunities to contribute to the nation’s progress. Write some shortest headlines of above message.