ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The Central Superior Services (CSS), once the most sought after and privileged cadre among government services, is facing a shortage of suitable candidates to fill its vacant posts.

Because of unavailability of suitable candidates for the past three years, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has had to carry over vacant seats to the following year and almost all government departments are facing a shortage of qualified young officers.

In the past, several candidates used to compete for every CSS seat and the service attracted the country’s finest graduates.

Last year, the establishment division reported 299 vacancies to be filled on the basis of competitive examination in various occupational groups, but the commission could find only 189 appropriate candidates, leaving 110 seats vacant.

During the competitive examination of 2006, the FPSC had to leave 47 vacancies for the following year. In 2005, 25 seats were not filled.

According to the annual report for the competitive exam of 2006, 22 seats of urban Sindh remained vacant, 17 of rural Sindh, six of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and two of Balochistan. The commission got the required number of qualified candidates for the seats allotted to Punjab and NWFP.

Under the quota system, 50 per cent of seats go to Punjab and the Federal Capital Area, 19 per cent to Sindh, 11.5 per cent to the NWFP, six per cent to Balochistan, four per cent to the Northern Areas and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas and two per cent to Azad Kashmir. The percentage of positions allocated on open merit is 7.5.

A retired federal secretary, Khwaja Zaheer, alleged successive governments had taken extra-constitutional steps to destroy the civil services. “Inefficient officers got promotions, while hardworking and intelligent ones were victimised for their honesty and dedication,” he said.

A District Management Group (DMG) officer said the private sector offered far better perks and privileges to potential candidates, rendering the CSS unattractive for outstanding graduates. He said there was an urgent need for transformation of the civil services.

An assistant commissioner of income tax who is studying for an MBA degree as a part of his training termed the new examination system introduced by the FPSC a major hurdle in filling vacant seats. He said more candidates were failing after the commission changed the format of question papers a few years ago.