Call to delay PPSC tests

LAHORE
The candidates for the upcoming Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) tests and interviews for the various posts of Assistant Professor and others have appealed to PPSC to postpone the tests and interviews until the flood situation in the province improves.
Punjab Public Service Commission intends to conduct written tests/exams for various posts of Assistant Professor (Male) and (Female), Tehsil/Town Municipal Officer, Chief Officer/Council Officer, Tehsil/Town Officer (Finance), District Officer Civil Defence, Assistant Superintendent Jail and other posts on 1st August, 2nd August, 8th August, 9th August, 15th & 16th August, 2015 at Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur simultaneously.
The commission had planned this scrutiny through written exams and interview for the aforementioned recruitment in the first week of August. Sources said that due to heavy rains of monsoon and the consequent floods that have hit various parts of the province, the commission was concerned about the ability of the candidates to make it to the written exam centres and/or interview destination considering the flood situation and the consequent commuting challenges.
Several meetings were held by PPSC to discuss the situation and it was agreed before Eidul Fitr that to give the candidates a tentative ballpark idea of the probable dates that the tests might be held so that they could prepare. An advance notice was published on the website on 22nd July in this regard. However, heavy rains that lashed throughout the province have caused massive flooding in areas of central to Southern Punjab which have virtually crippled the roadways and means to travel.
My house has been damaged by the floods and my family and I are in a state of recovering from the damage, said Khalid, a candidate aspiring for the advertised posts by PPSC. I am from a very humble family and I’ve worked so hard to get a chance to join public service, but right now I don’t know if all of that will be wasted because I’ve not been able to prepare, not am I in a position to make to the tests nor in mental state to appear in a scrutiny with 100 percent efficiency, he added. Sana from Lahore said it was increasingly difficult to psychologically prepare one’s self for such an important test with such a tentative schedule. It is customary for all such exams to be notified at least a month before time so that the candidates can be at mental peace to schedule themselves for the preparation. It is also important to conduct these tests and interviews for different parts of the province without too much gap, so that no candidate feels that they were given less time than others, she said.
A number of candidates called The News office requesting the correspondent to urge PPSC to postpone the exams at least after 20th August until next month so that the flood, weather and their associated problems could be avoided. Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz in a statement Monday said that according to latest Meteorological & hydrological conditions analysed by this office, an active monsoon weather system is affecting upper catchment of River Indus.
This, he said, may cause medium to high flood in River Indus at Tarbela (upstream) ranging between 490,000 to 550,000 cusecs during next 24 hours, precautionary measures may kindly be taken. Tarbela being upstream of Punjab the likelihood of further flooding in the province is likely, which makes even more sense to postpone the tests and interviews for these posts.
Literary sitting at UHS: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) organised a literary sitting on Monday with Syed Ilyas Ahmed, a humorist who amused the audience with his wits, jokes and poetical recitals that reflected the chaotic, tumultuous and turbulent situation of the country and particularly the city of Karachi where he now serves as chief operating officer at a private cardiac institute. According to a press release issued here, Syed Ilyas Ahmed is not a poet but has literary genes and more insight than many poets into the tribulations of life as he finds humour the best weapon to help people smile at the situation that pains them the most. With his command on the Urdu language coupled with his God-gifted delivery style, Ilyas Ahmed amused the audience for more than an hour. His humorous anecdotes and jokes also reflected the current situation in Pakistan. On the sober note, Syed Ilyas Ahmed presented many popular poems of famous poets such as Majid Amjad, Josh Malihabadi, Amjad Islam Amjad, Gulzar, Ibn-e-Insha and Ahmed Faraz. A number of principals of affiliated medical colleges, faculty members and students attended the event. UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Aslam was present.