RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel Tuesday called for amendments in rules of Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) as well as its procedure of examinations and postings, besides inviting proposals from the departments concerned within three days.

The Senate Special Committee formed to examine annul report of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) 2015 met here in the chair of Senator Syed Muzffar Hussain Shah and issued directives to Establishment Division, FPSC and other departments concerned for bringing amendments in procedure of the FPSC examinations, rules and postings.

The committee also asked the departments concerned to submit their proposals in written within three days, as the panel would finalize its recommendations based on the proposals in its next meeting on Friday.

Briefing the committee, Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua pointed out that there are weaknesses in the examinations of Pakistan Administrative Service and Civil Service that need to be addressed.

She said that there is no requirement of any specific skill for qualifying the competitive examinations of Foreign Service, adding that there is a dire need that candidates should focus on understanding foreign languages, knowledge of international trade and international organizations.

Janjua said that lectures are conducted for the candidates appointed in Foreign Service at the international relations departments of the country's universities. She said that there are senior and experienced officers in the Foreign Service but it is still facing a shortage.

The committee expressed displeasure when it came to know that 14 Pakistani chairs abroad are lying vacant and no concrete steps have been taken to fill these positions.

The secretary Establishment Division informed the committee that a draft containing the recommendations of the panel would be presented before the committee within 15 days for its final approval.

The committee was further informed that majority of the candidates in the competition examinations got failed in English subject.

The committee chairman also suggested that irrelevant and unnecessary subjects should be excluded from the competition exams and new subjects should be included. He said that the matter should be addressed at the earliest so that the candidates are able to be equipped with modern day requirements.