The age factor

This refers to the news story ‘Sindh govt allows relaxation in upper age limit for SPSC’ (Mar 15). The Sindh government’s decision is laced with so many irregularities that should be pointed out to explain the problems being faced by the people. The examinations that should be held every year are now being held after a gap of five years. Consider this example: A person who was 28 years old five years ago would have been eligible to sit in the exam, had the exams were held. After five years, when he is 33 years old, he doesn’t meet the eligibility criteria for the exams. This is unfair to candidates who couldn’t appear in the examinations due to the incompetence of the SPSC.

Other institutions, including the PPSC, conduct examinations on an annual basis. It is only the SPSC that has delayed the process. The unemployment rate in the country is already rising. These exams provide candidates an opportunity to apply for a government job. However, many candidates are now being deprived of this opportunity due to unfair policies of the Sindh government. If the authorities concerned raised the age limit to 35 years, large numbers of people would benefit from the decision.

Humair Ahmed

Hyderabad