The decades-old Central Superior Services (CSS) examination system is set to be replaced as the federal government’s Civil Service Reform Committee finalises its recommendations for a cluster-based examination system.

A senior official familiar with the matter told that the committee has completed deliberations on key issues, including the proposed shift from the existing generalised CSS framework to a cluster-based competitive examination. The proposal is expected to be presented to the federal cabinet soon.

The proposed reform, which is being described as a significant structural shift, will ensure that each service group has its own specific qualifications and competitive examination, aligning candidates’ academic and professional backgrounds with their assigned roles.

Currently, the CSS examination, conducted annually by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), follows a uniform assessment model. Under this system, successful candidates are allocated to various service groups regardless of their educational qualifications, often leading to mismatched postings. For instance, doctors have been placed in revenue services, law graduates in audit departments, and engineers in foreign service roles.

A senior bureaucrat on the reform body confirmed that the committee has endorsed the cluster-based system, and it will be a key part of the final report.

Push for reforms

The move to overhaul the CSS examination comes in response to longstanding concerns about the declining effectiveness of the civil service, despite recruiting highly capable individuals.

During a recent cabinet meeting, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the need for restructuring the civil service to improve governance and service delivery. Subsequently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed the high-level Civil Service Reform Committee, led by Iqbal, to develop a comprehensive reform package.

“The objective is to ensure that professionals enter technical services and specialised cadres based on their expertise, rather than a generalised approach that often places candidates in irrelevant fields,” an official privy to the discussions said.

The committee is also finalising recommendations related to compensation and pension schemes for civil servants. With only one meeting left, the committee is expected to submit its final report to the cabinet soon.

Impact on future recruitment

If approved, the reforms will bring a fundamental shift in how Pakistan’s civil servants are recruited and assigned roles. The cluster-based system will ensure that professionals with relevant educational backgrounds are inducted into specific technical and administrative services.

The proposed changes are expected to reshape the future of Pakistan’s civil service, moving away from the traditional one-size-fits-all examination system to a more targeted recruitment approach. However, the transition is likely to spark debate, particularly among aspirants preparing for the existing CSS framework.