With women invoking domestic pressures and delayed departures, a resolution adopted in the National Assembly aims to increase the age limit of the CSS to 35 and the number of attempts at five – some greeting it as a long -standing measure to level the rules of the game and other warning it can attract young people in a narrow career path while ignoring deeper reform problems.
While the government has expressed the desire to make reforms to the public service system, public opinion seems strongly divided.
Many on social networks have questioned the wisdom to extend the age limit, arguing that this could encourage aspiring to pass the primary of their lives to pursue a single examination rather than diversifying their efforts.
“It could mean losing precious years to prepare for an uncertain opportunity,” said an online official.
However, legislators have urged the government to implement the changes immediately so that young candidates can prepare under new rules.
PML-N MNA Syeda Noseen Iftikhar, who directs the forum of young parliamentarians, said that several aspirants had been disqualified this year due to the results of delayed exams, which meant that they exceeded the age limit before being able to apply again.
Addressing the BBC, Iftikhar noted that many of those who approached it were women who were to interrupt the preparation of the CSS because of marriage, maternity or domestic responsibilities.
“It was discouraging to hear their stories. Given the economic constraints in the country, we could not offer our young people the kind of opportunities they deserve,” she said.
Shaman Sandhu, a social media user, praised this decision that could lead to a fairer and transparent examination process.
However, others were more critical. A user wrote: “What we need is the reform of the CSS structure, not just resolutions. The basic problem is with the bureaucracy itself, the generalists should give way to specialists”.
