Pakistan civil service and CSS examination reforms

The Pakistani government has moved through different stages of civil service and Central Superior Services (CSS) examination reform. Initially, the Establishment Division rejected proposals to increase the maximum age limit from 30 to 35 and to raise the number of permitted attempts from three to five, labeling such changes as “impractical” due to potential administrative pressure and concerns regarding the career longevity of older recruits.

However, the federal government later finalized a broader package of civil service reforms. While maintaining the exam, the new measures include allowing candidates to use either English or Urdu for compulsory papers, digitizing the process, and shortening the recruitment cycle to six months. The reforms also propose increasing the passing threshold from 33% to 40%, removing negative marking, and potentially incorporating GRE- or SAT-style analytical questions. To address unfilled quotas for women, minorities, and specific provinces, the plan allows for additional attempts under certain circumstances. Further structural changes include the creation of a National Executive Service for high-level federal positions and the establishment of a National University of Public Administration.