The Federal Minister of Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar, has announced that changes in Central Superior Services (CSS) exam system are expected next year as the government is moving towards educational and administrative reforms.
In a speech during a Senate session on Tuesday, Tarar highlighted the growing number of students in Pakistan who chose the Cambridge education system, including O and A levels, and said the government is aiming to secure a straight game field for all CSS candidates.
“It is our responsibility to implement a fair and standardized exam system across the country,” he said.
He revealed that a high-level committee, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, has worked to revise the CSS exam structure. The committee has already completed most of its review and its final recommendations are expected to shape the upcoming reforms.
CSS exam, a very competitive recruitment process for Pakistan’s civil services, has long been criticized for being inaccessible to candidates from different educational backgrounds.
Many have claimed that the current format favors certain education systems while placing others for a disadvantage. The government’s initiative aims to create a more level rules of play by tackling these concerns.
Tarar confirmed that the committee has thoroughly assessed the existing structure of the exam, criteria for selection criteria and evaluation process.
“The goal is to introduce a system that meets all students fairly, regardless of their academic background,” he said.
The Senate Session, chairman of President Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, also saw debates on various government issues. A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to discussions of parliamentary privileges and procedural disputes. Opposition legislators raised concerns about legislative processes, especially with regard to voting procedures on a bill.
Senator Mohsin Aziz expressed frustration over the handling of parliamentary affairs, while the law minister defended the government’s approach and said that all procedures were followed under constitutional guidelines. Despite tensions, Gilani assured legislators that parliamentary protocols would be maintained and dealt with any concern for regulatory transparency.
While the government has not yet announced specific details of the upcoming CSS exam changes, officials are proposing that reforms will be completed in the coming months.
The proposed changes are expected to modernize the investigation process, ensuring that it reflects modern education standards and promotes inclusive in Pakistan’s bureaucratic recruitment system.
With the final report from Ahsan Iqbal’s committee pending, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant government agencies will be heard before completing the new framework. If it is approved, the revised CSS exam structure could come into force as early as 2026.
