A reform 77 years in waiting?: Govt's CSS move sparks debate

With women citing domestic pressures and delayed starts, a resolution passed in the National Assembly aims to raise the CSS age limit to 35 and the number of attempts to five – with some hailing it as a long-overdue measure to level the playing field and others warning it may entrench youth in a narrow career path while ignoring deeper issues of reform.

While the government has expressed a desire to bring reforms to the civil service system, public opinion appears sharply split.

Many on social media have questioned the wisdom of extending the age limit, arguing that it may prompt aspirants to spend the prime of their lives chasing a single exam rather than diversifying their efforts.

"This could mean wasting precious years preparing for one uncertain opportunity," one civil servant commented online.

However, lawmakers urged the government to implement the changes immediately so that young candidates can prepare under the new rules.

PML-N MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, who heads the Young Parliamentarians Forum, said several aspirants were disqualified this year due to delayed exam results, which meant they exceeded the age limit before being able to apply again.

Speaking to the BBC, Iftikhar noted that many of those who approached her were women who had to discontinue CSS preparation due to marriage, motherhood, or domestic responsibilities.

"It was disheartening to hear their stories. Given the economic constraints in the country, we haven't been able to offer our youth the kind of opportunities they deserve," she said.

Chaman Sandhu, a social media user, praised the move as one that could lead to a fairer and transparent examination process.

However, others were more critical. One user wrote, "What we need is reform in the CSS structure, not just resolutions. The core problem is with the bureaucracy itself, generalists should give way to specialists".