Punjab considers online interviews for job aspirants

Successful candidates may be spared the hassles of travelling to Lahore


Our Correspondent March 25, 2017
Successful candidates may be spared the hassles of travelling to Lahore. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: In a massive favour for government job aspirants, the Punjab government has decided to interview the successful candidates via video link or even Skype to spare them from travelling hassles.

Once the candidates have passed the written public service examinations, they are called for interviews to Lahore from all over Punjab. Apart from the time and money required to travel to the provincial capital, the candidates from other cities also have to make lodging arrangements for a day or two.

On Friday, the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) was advised by the government to make arrangements for organising online interviews to save the candidates from travelling long distances.

The commission has been directed to establish regional offices in all nine divisions of Punjab as well as all major cities of the province for the purpose.

These decisions were taken during a performance review meeting of the PPSC presided over by Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

PPSC Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Sajjad Akram presented the performance report of the commission for the year 2016 to the CM.

The chief minister, while applauding the entire team, said substantial steps should be taken for strengthening and continual improvement of the commission to comply with the latest trends.

He directed the officials to bring the whole system online and facilitate candidates by conducting their interviews via video links or Skype.

The chief minister also formed a high-powered committee tasked with formulating a comprehensive report regarding the implementation of the aforesaid suggestions.

The committee will also work on furnishing a report regarding improvement in service rules and pre-services training.

PPSC Chairman Sajjad said the PPSC had established regional offices in seven divisions of Punjab while the online complaint system had bore good results. Use of technology and ensuring merit has reassured public trust in the PPSC system, he added.

“Merit, transparency and integrity are distinguished features of our institution, which has won the confidence of the public,” Sajjad claimed.

He said that many candidates from southern Punjab had qualified for interviews for different occupations and in contrast, the ratio was less for central Punjab.

Shehbaz said to improve performance of any department, it was important to have a proper check and balance system. “The government has promoted a culture of merit and transparency to ensure the prosperous future of the nation,” he said, adding that recruitments in all departments were based on merit.

He ordered increasing the number of members of the PPSC and hiring a renowned consultant for improving its performance.

The office of PPSC will also be shifted to LDA Plaza on Edgerton Road.

Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, Ayesha Ghuas Pasha, Adviser Umar Saif and the chief secretary, additional chief secretary, senior Board of Revenue member and secretaries also participated in the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2017.

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