ISLAMABAD, March 8: The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) on Tuesday announced that candidates having any form of disability except mental illness could now appear in the Central Superior Services (CSS) competitive examination scheduled to be held in August.

According to an official announcement, the decision of the commission is in conformity with a Federal Cabinet's decision taken in August last year. The decision allowed the visually- impaired or other persons with any disability to take the CSS examination on experimental basis against four occupational groups - Pakistan audit and accounts service, commerce and trade group, information group and postal group.

The commission, the announcement stated, had always advocated that persons with any form of disability, except mental illness, should be allowed to participate in the competitive examinations, and subject to their position, be given jobs in occupational groups/services.

The visually-impaired persons would be provided a writer/helper to write down their answers. Besides, computer, audio recorder or Braille can also be provided to them for the purpose.

An extra 15 minutes per hour would be given to the visually- impaired in view of the extra timing they could consume in compiling their answers. Separate seating arrangements would be made for the special persons.

The commission is also examining the possibility of considering all other occupational groups/services for special persons, except those involving outdoor activities like police services, district management group (DMG), customs and excise.

The announcement said the representatives of the ministries /divisions /departments concerned had also held a meeting with the commission officials and assured them that they would facilitate the induction of special persons and provide them initial and in-service training.