CSS Exam system being overhauled: FPSC Chief
 

ISLAMABAD: The decades-old CSS competitive examination system is being overhauled to modernise the procedure for fresh induction into top civil services, declared outgoing Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Jamshed Gulzar.

Giving an overview of the FPSC’s performance during his three-year tenure at a press conference here on Wednesday, the chairman said that with the World Bank assistance, the commission had already finalised the terms of reference for the revamping of the CSS induction system.

The overhauling, he said, would include updating the syllabi for CSS examinations, the review of the subjects offered, the type of assessment and modernisation of the examinations (objective or subjective types) and the reexamination of the existing occupational groups and services vis-‡-vis the requirement of the government.

The chairman took the credit for streamlining the CSS examination system during his tenure. Contrary to the past where the CSS examination cycle used to be completed in a year’s time, he said now the whole process takes just five to six months. As a result of the CSS examination’s streamlining, he said, now the whole process would be completed in the same calendar year.

As against only five examination centres, one each in the provincial and federal capitals, he disclosed that the commission has increased the number of these centres to 13. The eight additional centres have been established in Abbottabad, DI Khan, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana. This initiative of the commission, he said, has facilitated a great number of competitors from farther areas.

Because of these measures, he disclosed, the enrolment of candidates has shown an increasing trend for the CSS examinations. This increase, he noted, has been almost 100 per cent for the last five years.

Referring to yet another hallmark the commission has achieved during his tenure as chairman, Gulzar said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan disabled candidates, including those physically handicapped, visually impaired, deaf and dumb, were allowed to appear for the CSS examinations on an open merit basis.

Besides the CSS appointments, the chairman said, the general recruitment system for non-CSS government posts is also being overhauled. The commission continues its business throughout the year for recruitment to general, technical and professional jobs, which include jobs for doctors, engineers, teachers, professors, researchers and officer administrators.

To revamp the general recruitment system, the term of reference (ToR) has already been finalized, he noted, adding that expressions of interest were advertised, and out of 13 firms which showed interest in the process, six were shortlisted for further competition.

The ToR for the overhauling of the general recruitment system include the revision of the outdated recruitment rules (not revised for the last 30 years) for the selection of right person for the right job, the description of job specification for all posts/cadres in the government, the grouping of posts in various ministries/divisions/departments demanding similar nature of jobs and the qualification/experience and computerisation of the whole recruitment process.

Though Gulzar was satisfied with the existing psychological assessment system, he said it is too being reviewed to make it the best and at par with international standards.

The retired general told the newsmen that the commission has also launched an e-government project that envisages an "online recruitment system for the FSPC". The key components of this project are: to restructure the establishment of the FPSC according to the contemporary and futuristic requirements; to install a facility for conducting online interviews by video- conferencing; to develop a system for scanning the application forms by computers, to develop a computer network for the FPSC headquarters branch officers for conducting the recruitment tests through the computer; to rationalise the recruitment system of the commission according to the international standards; and to provide information and out-reach career counselling at all universities and postgraduate colleges.

General Shahid new FPSC Chief
 

ISLAMABAD: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has approved the name of Lt-Gen (retd) Shahid Hameed as next chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) replacing Lt Gen (retd) Jamshed Gulzar.

Gen Gulzar is completing his three-year tenure today. He was appointed for a five-year tenure on March 31, 2003, but amid serious FPSC-government controversy his tenure was reduced to three years in last August through a presidential ordinance.

The Establishment Division is likely to notify the appointment of Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Hameed on Thursday. The new chairman is being appointed for a fixed tenure of three years. Like the outgoing chairman, the incoming top boss of the prestigious FPSC enjoys very good reputation. Hameed was retired from the military almost a year back and the last position he held was that of the Command National Defence College.

He has also been corps commander Quetta besides serving as commandant Pakistan Military Academy Kakool. Known for his decency and modesty, Hameed is generally referred in the military circles as a man of character. Hameed is taking over his new assignment at a crucial juncture where the FPSC top bosses had gone to the court of law against the president and the prime minister for victimizing them for their refusal to compromise on merit and rule of law.

Sources, however, expected that in view of his background the new chairman will continue with the revamped promotion system introduced by the outgoing chairman for senior bureaucracy.

Sources say that the appointment of new chairman would follow the induction of additional members in the FPSC, which currently has only five members against the sanctioned strength of eleven.

The post of chairman FPSC has been traditionally offered to retired military and civilian officers or ex-judges of the Supreme Court. Generally the appointment of retired generals as chairman was not appreciated by the bureaucracy for being outsider but the conduct of the outgoing chairman and his amazing success to streamline the promotion system for civil services has completely changed this perception.

A senior civil servant when contacted expected that the new chairman would show the same interest in the appointments and promotions as has been taken by Gulzar. He said the bureaucracy still wanted to see a civilian officer as chairman FPSC but in the present set-up it does not seem possible.

Thanx for sharing Goodoo.
 

~
[FONT="Fixedsys"]"koo ba koo, phail gayee baat shanaasaayee kee,
[I]Musharraf[/I] nay Khushboo kee tarah [I]Kiyani[/I] kee pazeeraayee kee....
kaisay kehdoon keh Pakistan Army nay ghair liya hai pooray mulk ko,
Baat to sach hai, per baat hai ruswaayee kee....."[/FONT]


[QUOTE]He has also been corps commander Quetta besides serving as commandant Pakistan Military Academy Kakool. Known for his decency and modesty, Hameed is generally referred in the military circles as [B]a man of character[/B].[/QUOTE]

I hope Gen. Hameed manages to continue his tenure being the same [B]man of character[/B] that he is today being called. Unlike Gen. Kiyani, who too was [B]a man of character[/B] till he didn't challenge the powerful Govt. of Musharraf ( check out: [url]http://www.cssforum.com.pk/showthread.php?t=2788[/url] ), however, once he managed to commit this sin, he became [B]characterless[/B] for our Govt. and [I]had[/I] to be pushed out of the FPSC.

An advisory note to Gen. Hameed:
[B]no matter what you see happening inside/outside the Govt., either keep blaming it on "invisible hands" or simply maintain "I didn't see anything, I don't know anything" even if you are asked[/B] (its hard to remain quiet when you are a man of character, but whats the point of losing all character by speaking up?) , so that you don't have to count your days as the FPSC Chairman.

[QUOTE]He said the bureaucracy still wanted to see a civilian officer as chairman FPSC but in the present set-up it does not seem possible.[/QUOTE]

Bureaucracy is the backbone of our country, the forceful intervention of the army in an institution which should be "civilian to the core" is still not a good idea. Once again, the appointment of a retired Army Gen. as the FPSC Chairman shows the high-handedness of the ruling coalition. There are, without any doubt, senior civilian officers available from outside the army who are more suitable for this prestigous post.

Nevertheless, we Pakistanis deserve a Fate which the army deems right for us, whether its headed by the US or someone else, we shouldn't be talking about it anymore. We should do what our Govt. wants us to do, just sit and watch the show. If Pakistan by any chance makes it big time, the whole nation should give the army a tap on the shoulder and a round of applause..... however, if Pakistan, like our amazing past, hits another sharp edge and bleeds to unconciousness, our people still won't say a word till this Govt. is toppled cuz it has by far made sure that who ever speaks up against the injustices being done to its own people has either ended up dead or has been caused to lose dignity.

Gen Kiyani, welcome to the list of those who atleast tried.


Best of luck to Pakistan and Pakistanis...


Regards,

[B][I]THE 1[/I][/B]

thankx for the updates
 

thankx guys for this update on fpsc underworld ! as i am abroad, this site is my only source to keep updated witht he latest happenings in the css world... the fpsc site is on sleep mode i guess !

Generals come and Generals go,
Oh Lord, save my country ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Perhaps pakistan is the only country in the world which is occupied by its own army(or rather i should say Generals)

Again a General?

Why are they retired from Army when they still have energy to serve the nation? Perhaps their best service to the nation is their work in Army as they are trained for combat and not for civil offices. If they are not needed in the Army --meaning incapacity to work-- then they should sit in their houses and relax and not start afresh with a new job.

salam to all,
Dear friends General is not an issue, the most important of all is MERIT, whether its General or not, merit should be taken care of.
Here is a link that can explain some of the inside stories of FPSC, an institution which recruits for top level management of the country.

[url]http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/mar2006-daily/31-03-2006/editorial/col1.htm[/url]

Thanks

Allah Hafiz

@yasirbajwa
 

hey, thanx for sharing the link... Mr. Haqqani's drawn a fair sketch of the situation, but the link that i posted above has complete details... u'd wanna read that too if u're least bit interested.

Nevertheless, i feel proud that Gen Kiyani served atleast 3 yrs as the Chairman of FPSC and did not backout even after his post was threatened. Kudos to Gen. Kiyani and his colleagues who stood up against the injustices of the Govt. and are still firm on it.

my salutations to Gen. Kiyani... and i pray for his success, though unfortunately our Supreme courts are sold out, but who knows what fruits true dedication might bear...


Regards,

[B][I]THE 1[/I][/B]

Thanks man.

So whats latest regarding syllabus changes if anyone knows so far?

Allah Hafiz

@yasirbajwa
 

bhai, according to my anticipation, there are no chances of any changes in the syllabus till atleast 07... just carry on with ur preparation. insha'ALLAH v'll all make it thru 2gether. :vic


Regards,

[B][I]THE 1[/I][/B] :king