1. Before you start eating, Recite "Bismillah Ar-Rahman al-Rahim" (In the name of Allah Who is most beneficial & merciful).
2. Don't look into others' plates while eating.
3. Do not chew loud enough for others to hear.
4. Chew with your mouth closed.
5. Always say "Al-Hamdu-lillah" (thanks be to God) after eating.
6. The fork is held in your left hand and the knife is held in your right when used at the same time.
7. You should hold your knife with the handle in your palm and your fork in the other hand with the tines (prongs) pointing downwards.
8. Food should be cut "one piece at a time" directly prior to eating, and then consumed. You may not "carve up" multiple pieces and then proceed to eat them.
9. If you’re eating a dessert, your fork (if you have one) should be held in the left hand and the spoon in the right.
10. When eating soup, you should hold your spoon in your right hand and tip the bowl away from you, scooping the soup in movements away from yourself. The soup spoon should never be put into the mouth, and soup should be sipped from the side of the spoon, not the end.
11. It is not acceptable to use your fingers to push food onto your fork, nor to handle most food items. Some foods such as fruit, bread, sandwiches or burgers may be eaten using fingers, and fingers are mandatory for eating some items, such as asparagus spears, which are traditionally served with sauce on the side for dipping.
12. If there are a number of knives or forks, start from the outside set working your way in as each course is served.
13. Drinks should always be to the right of the plate with the bread plate to the left.
14. When eating bread rolls, break off a piece before buttering. Use your knife only to butter the bread, not to cut it.
15. Do not start eating before the host does or instructs guests to do so. At meals with a very large number of people, it is acceptable to start eating once others have been served.
16. The napkin should never be crumpled. Nor should it be folded neatly as that would suggest that your host might plan to use it again without washing it—just leave it neatly but loosely on the table.
17. Never blow your nose on your napkin. Place it on your lap and use it to dab your mouth if you make a mess.
18. It is considered rude to answer the telephone at the table. If you need to take an urgent call, excuse yourself and go outside.
19. Always ask for permission from the host and excuse yourself if you need to leave the table. You should place your napkin on your seat until you return. It is considered common courtesy for all gentlemen at the table to stand when a lady arrives or leaves the table.
20. Never lean across somebody else’s plate. If you need something to be passed, ask the person closest to it. If you have to pass something, only pass it if you are closest to it and pass it directly to them if you can.
21. Salt and pepper shakers should be passed together.
22. Do not take food from a neighbour’s plate and don’t ask to do so.
23. You must not put your elbows on the table.
24. If pouring a drink for yourself, offer to pour a drink for your neighbours before serving yourself.
25. If extra food is on the table, ask others if they would like it before taking it yourself.
26. When chewing food, close your mouth and only talk after you have swallowed it.
27. Swallow all food before eating more or drinking.
28. Never pick food out of your teeth with your fingernails.
29. Try to eat all the food you are served.
30. Never transfer food to your mouth with your knife.
31. You should consider how much is on the serving dish and not take more than a proportional amount so that everyone may have some.
32. There should be no negative comments about the food or of the offerings available.
33. Chew with your mouth closed. Do not slurp, talk with food in your mouth, or make loud or unusual noises while eating.
34. Do not talk excessively loudly. Give others equal opportunities for conversation.
35. Burping, coughing, yawning, or sneezing at the table should be avoided. If you do so, say, "Excuse me."
36. Never slouch or tilt back while seated in your chair.
37. Do not "play with" your food or utensils. Never wave or point silverware.
38. Reading at the table is permitted only at breakfast.
39. Before asking for additional helpings, always finish the serving on your plate first.
40. At small intimate gatherings at a regular dining table conversation with persons on either side as well persons sitting across is appropriate. One may participate at such instances in conversations that may involve the whole table. At larger formal meals, when the distance between you and the person sitting across is large, conversation is appropriate only with persons sitting to either side of you.

Source: http://www.csa.edu.pk/document.htm


Regards

I think point#6 should be the other way around, fork in the right hand and knife in the left

__________________
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
-Gandhi

point 6 is CORRECT....fORK IS ALWAYS HELD IN THE LEFT HAND
SAMAN CHUGHTAI

__________________
AIM HIGH......

I know ideally it should be the left hand but I eat food with my right hand so I guess its just me. Well rules and bones are meant to be broken

__________________
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
-Gandhi

i agree.

i also have a technical problem regarding this,

i am a lefty and usually hold knife in left hand to cut food...i can't cut anything with right hand.

will it be a violation of rules at formal gatherings?will they consider me deviant?

__________________
Work until your idols become your rivals.

If its a violation, then let it be. Its not military so we can make necessary amendments

__________________
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
-Gandhi

hi dear abdullah can you tell me when will i be asked to appear for medical test as i have taken my interview

there are waiters and suprvisors to keep eye on you...and after serving you they always discssed you in front of other people which create a bad image....ii experinced these things in my department where CSP officers(on deputation) and Army officers are with us.when i was appointed in my current organization,we had given a book let and lectures for Mess Etiquettes some points are given below

Recommended Dos

A.Always be dressed in a shirt and a trouser,preferably closed collar when coming to the Ante/TV/dining room in the mess.Track suits are are not supposed to be worn at common places inside the mess.Chappals and peshawari chapplas are also forbidden

B.Shave before attending a formal dinner or when invited out for dinner

C.Observe the table manners

D.Brush your teeth before attending a formal dinner

E.say please and thank you when you need something or when some dish is passed on to you

F. Control your helping especially on formal occasions

G.Before turning on the TV,ask the senior member present,Whether he has any objection.He will seldom object but it is a little act of courtesy.

H.if the Tv is already tuned on a channel by an officer,before changing to a new channel he should be asked if he has if he has any objection

i. fold the newspaper neatly after you have gone through it and place it on the central table or whereever it is is supposed to be

j A lady must not be discussed in the mess

k when guests are present do not leave the mess untill they have gone

Recommended Dont's


a, Dont treat the mess staff as your personal servants.They are human beings and srve you day and night.they need to be handled softly and encouraged.you will feel the difference youself

b.Don't belch.this is height of bad manners.if you have to ,due to some upst,then do it silently without making uncouth noises.

c.Dont crew your nails at the table.

d.Dont play with your nose.if something is upsetting you then use a handkerchief discreetly.

e.never remove your shoes while in the ante-room or dinning room even if going for namaz in hurry.

f.never remove your shoes and climb onto a chair or sofa even if there is no one around.

Sitting at the Dining table

a.Dont sprawl in the chair

b.while rapproaching the dining chair,pull it back and sit from the left.while leaving,push back the chair gently and move out from the right.push the chair back into place after you have gotten up.this drill will facilitate all the members at the dining table.

c.dont sit too rigidly

d.dont sit with elbows sticking in the neighbour ribs.sit upright,relaxed,natural

e.avoid putting your elbows on the table.

f.hands remain in the lap when not in use.dont make gesture with the hand on table.whilst getting up use one hand for assistence and not both.

g.save all discussion of the cost of food for another time

h.dont mention details for illness.

i.A differnec of opinion,if kept at an amiable level,makes conversation spirited,but the table is not a place for quarrels,sulks,monologues,lectures etc

j.do not dunk toasts ,bread,biscuits etc in liquid while eating.

k. if any foreign matter is observed in food,do not announce it.discreetly stop eating if the meal is informal,,ask for a new serving.

l.Dont make noises when you are eating food.

m.dont talk with food in mouth.if a question has been put to you when you have food in mouth,then finish your food,sip water,if so desired and then talk.your neibour will undrestand and will wait for answer

o.dont strech for food,ask you neighbour to pass.

p.dont use the napkin in palce of your handkerchief

q.dont be glutton

s.during the meals,keep an eye on the others and if necessary speed up your eating to avpid holding up everone else.

__________________
Main ne Allah ko Apny irado ke tootany se pehchana":Hazrat Ali (RA)"

@Waseem Malik
Mine was before the interview, they can ask you once they start medical for your center and it goes on for about 2-3 days depending upon the number of people. They will contact you or keep checking on FPSC's website.

__________________
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
-Gandhi