It defies logic how certain government policies are formulated, especially when considering the Sindh government’s recent decision to cap the recruitment age at 28, ending the upper age limit relaxation of 15 years for government jobs. This abrupt change has sparked outrage among the province’s unemployed youth, who now face even greater hurdles in an already challenging job market. While other provinces, like Punjab and K-P, have maintained the age relaxation policy, Sindh stands alone in enacting such restrictive measures.
According to PIDE, over 31% of Pakistan’s youth are unemployed, and limiting the recruitment age to just 28 deepens the problem. On average, a student spends 24 years of their life attaining a basic graduation, and even longer in pursuit of a master’s degree. With rampant corruption and a sluggish recruitment process, it is unrealistic to expect graduates to secure jobs within the remaining four years of eligibility. Sindh’s recruitment system, through agencies like the Sindh Public Service Commission and other testing services like the NTS and STS, has been notorious for delays, corruption and inefficiency. Many deserving candidates have been denied opportunities, while influential individuals manipulate the system to secure positions for their connections. This has resulted in a culture where merit is consistently sacrificed, and recruitment processes take time to complete. Given these conditions, is it justifiable to impose an age limit that restricts the chances of the already marginalised and unemployed youth of Sindh? In a country with such high unemployment rates, policies like these only add to the despair of the youth, pushing them further into hopelessness.
The Sindh government must urgently reconsider its policy to ensure that deserving candidates are given the chance to serve in provincial departments. Without this reform, Sindh risks alienating an entire generation of talented youth, depriving them of the opportunity to contribute to the province’s development.
Zain ul Abdin Jessar
Larkana
