SPSC claims 5,000 candidates recruited on merit in past year

The Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) has claimed that nearly 5,000 of the candidates who applied for various specialised service posts of the provincial government were recruited in the past year absolutely on merit, lawfully, fairly and transparently.

A press statement issued on Tuesday quoted the SPSC as saying that the recruitment of 5,000 candidates on merit was completed against the posts of lecturers, doctors, subject specialists, surgeons, range forest officers, nursing instructors, nursing staff, assistant accounts officers, etc.

The SPSC said that it recently announced the results of interviews of qualified candidates for the posts of municipal officer (BPS-17), local government department, vide its press release dated October 19, after complying with all the required formalities as prescribed under its statutes.

“However, the SPSC observes with deep regret that a malicious campaign of baseless allegations has been launched on social media in this regard by some undesirable elements for the reasons best known to them,” reads the statement. Moreover, it said, the allegations are not supported by any evidence.

“Merely posting pictures of a few people with political figures doesn’t substantiate any cause of action, as every citizen of Pakistan has a right of free movement and freedom of speech, provided it’s not contrary to the norms of civilised society and best social practices.”

The SPSC said that 105,748 candidates took the written test for recruitment against the posts of municipal officer (BPS-17), of whom 1,440 (1.36 per cent) passed. Of the 1,440 candidates who were called for interviews, only 418 (29 per cent) who secured maximum aggregate marks (test and interview) were declared successful.

The commission pointed out that 46 posts of municipal officer are vacant because suitable candidates were not found by the high-powered interview committee, so this speaks volumes about the transparent and fair mechanism in place at the SPSC.

The statement reads that the SPSC takes pride in informing the public that 82 candidates who have been recommended for the posts of municipal officer have also passed the written test for the posts of town officer.

Similarly, it adds, 72 successful candidates besides the above-mentioned 82 candidates have qualified for the IBA Sukkur’s written test for the posts of junior elementary schoolteacher and primary schoolteacher of the school education department.

The SPSC said that it strongly condemns baseless allegations in all forms and manifestations levelled by some individuals and social media groups to malign a constitutional institution for their vested interests.

It resolved that it would not concede to the negative and baseless propaganda, and would conduct written tests and interviews as per their mandate by ensuring fairness, transparency, merit and, above all, without any fear or favour.