Hiring process in GB

Recently, the government of Gilgit-Baltistan’s planning and development department announced vacancies against various posts on a contract basis. As there are no industries in the region and the sole employer in the region is the local government, a large number of unemployed youth applied for the jobs. Ideally a neutral, third party entity like the NTS should conduct the test, but the government department decided to take the test itself.

The first step to ensuring transparency is to allow all eligible candidates to appear for the test. This was already violated by allowing only handpicked candidates to appear for the test. Moreover, the department sought recommendations from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), citing preference would be given to candidates applying through the channel even when the last date for application was over. In hindsight, one can see what the potential outcome of such a skewed recruiting procedure would be. The authorities need to take notice of this.

Muhammad Ali

Skardu