LAHORE: The 53rd Common Training Program (CTP) has officially commenced at the Civil Services Academy (CSA) in Lahore, marking the beginning of professional training for a specially constituted batch, which includes an unprecedented number of women hailing from remote and conflict-affected areas.
The cohort comprises 137 probationers inducted into various Central Superior Services (CSS) groups, including the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP), and the Office Management Group (OMG). Among them, 70 are women officers—many of whom originate from districts with historically limited access to basic education and state infrastructure. Specifically, the batch includes 18 officers from Balochistan, 5 from ex-FATA, 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 37 from urban and rural Sindh. By contrast, only 11 officers in this batch are from Punjab, illustrating a significant rebalancing of regional representation.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Civil Services Academy Director General Farhan Aziz Khawaja described the occasion a “historic milestone,” asserting that the government of Pakistan has fulfilled its constitutional promise to offer equal opportunities to all citizens, irrespective of geography or background. “The Constitution of 1973 is your moral compass and legal guide—it is your Bible,” he told the officers. “You are not merely administrators-in-training; you are custodians of the constitutional promise to uphold justice, equity, and good governance across the federation.”
DG Khawaja emphasized the sacred responsibility of implementing constitutional directives without prejudice or discrimination. “This batch represents not only administrative reform but the renewal of our social contract with marginalized populations,” he noted, urging the new entrants to immerse themselves in the study of the Constitution and internalize its spirit of inclusion and service.
The training launch was also marked by poignant reflections from several newly-inducted officers, offering insight into the barriers they have overcome and the responsibilities they now shoulder.
Zarlishta Fatima, a probationer from Balochistan selected into the Foreign Service of Pakistan, called the program a “turning point for institutional inclusion.” She stressed the importance of local engagement initiatives such as higher education expansion and exchange programs tailored to the province’s unique socio-political context. “The future of Pakistan is luminous if it listens to its youth. For Balochistan, that begins with being heard,” she stated.
Toba Musa, also from Balochistan and selected into the PSP, highlighted the persistent trust deficit between state institutions and Baloch youth. “Many young people in Balochistan are unaware of their constitutional rights simply because they have never been given access to legal or civic education,” she said. Musa advocated for curriculum reform, targeted literacy campaigns, and the launch of outreach programs designed to bridge the communication gap between law enforcement agencies and local communities. “We must show that state institutions exist to serve and protect—not to marginalize or intimidate,” she asserted.
From the tribal districts of ex-FATA, Sana Rehman, selected into the Office Management Group, underscored the critical need for infrastructural development and sustained federal investment. She commended the 21st Constitutional Amendment as a “bold and necessary move” that has fundamentally altered the region’s demographic and administrative realities. “FATA’s youth are at a crossroads—while some are politically awakened and seek dialogue, many remain cut off from opportunity. Without education, they are vulnerable to exploitation by extremist and foreign influences,” she warned.
The launch of this unique batch aligns with the government’s broader agenda of administrative inclusivity, regional parity, and national cohesion. For decades, Pakistan’s civil services have drawn disproportionate representation from more developed provinces, often at the expense of equitable participation from peripheral regions. This year’s CTP aims to correct that imbalance, offering a glimpse into what a truly federated and representative civil structure could look like.
Analysts view the batch not only as an expansion of federal inclusivity but as an essential trust-building measure. By ensuring that the state is represented by individuals who intimately understand the struggles of their communities, the government hopes to deepen institutional legitimacy and enhance policy responsiveness.
As these young officers begin their rigorous foundational training, expectations are high that they will emerge as capable stewards of change, ones who understand both the law and the lived realities of the people they are bound to serve. With their entry into the system, Pakistan may well be on the cusp of a new administrative ethos, one where merit, diversity, and constitutional fidelity converge to shape the future of governance.
