Lahore High Court stalls decision to hold 2018 CSS exams in Urdu

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

The Lahore High Court on Wednesday stalled its earlier decision to hold the 2018 Central Superior Services (CSS) exams in Urdu after an appeal was filed by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) in this regard.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Shujaat Ali Khan heard the petition filed by the Federal Public Service Commission.

Earlier in February, the LHC had directed the FPSC to conduct CSS examination in the Urdu language next year.

The Supreme Court had already passed a similar judgement in 2015.

Deputy Attorney General Mian Tariq Ahmed took the stance that it would be very difficult to conduct the exams in Urdu next year as thousands of applicants from all across the country attempt the paper and they would face hardships due to the decision handed over by the single-member LHC bench.

"The single-member bench took the decision without considering the ground realities of the situation," he added.

"There are 51 subjects in the CSS exams, and we still need time to translate the complete paper (which is in English) to Urdu. The Federal Public Service Commission has been in contact with the federal and provincial governments regarding the matter."

"There is no syllabus to set the papers in Urdu nor are there any examiners who can perform the task," the Deputy Attorney General noted.

The official proceeded to request the court to suspend the ruling to hold the 2018 CSS exams in Urdu and provide ample time for the preparations required to set the exam in Urdu.

Giving final remarks in the case, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said the decision of the courts will still hold power, but that the decision made by the Supreme Court was intended to further enhance the acceptance and usage of Urdu language.

He went on to mention that even the Constitution tells us to enhance the Urdu language through necessary actions.

The court, headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, had decided to block the decision to hold the CSS exams in Urdu and set the next hearing on the matter for April 20.

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M. Emad

Mar 29, 2017 04:06pm

Pakistan's all major regional languages must be made National Languages.

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Faisal

Mar 29, 2017 04:08pm

clearly a wrong decision

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 29, 2017 04:20pm

It means that URDU will be replacing English internationally? Will Urdu be spoken amongst all TOP officials in offices? Will Urdu enhance our character/honesty/personality.

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Yawar abdul rehman

Mar 29, 2017 04:26pm

i wonder why they are tweaking a stable system! how far will we go by changing the CSS language to URDU!

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 04:26pm

"thousands of applicants from all across the country attempt the paper and they would face hardships" The aspirants for the highest jobs in the country, cannot face the "hardship" to attempt paper in the language of that same country. They may also be relived from the "hardship" of attempting any papers altogether. Poor guys.

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 29, 2017 04:30pm

to pass a CSS exam, one needs to have a Masters/Bachelors degree in Urdu

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shayan khan

Mar 29, 2017 04:27pm

Instead of adopting Urdu as a medium of exam, replacing one existing subject with Urdu would be a moderate and widely acceptable choice i think.

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Zealot

Mar 29, 2017 04:37pm

Seriously!!! I m not interested in this Exam anymore,the way they make allocations and LEAVE PASS CANDIDATES TOO....

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rao abid

Mar 29, 2017 04:40pm

good decision

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fazal

Mar 29, 2017 04:42pm

My native language is Sindhi. I am not expert in Urdu. For me it is easy to write in English or Sindhi then in Urdu. CSS or other such exams should not be forced in Urdu on non Urdu native language students.

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asif Ali

Mar 29, 2017 04:45pm

Not beautiful.

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Zealot

Mar 29, 2017 04:46pm

Officers engage with Foreigners in English,IF WE STARTED TAKING EXAM IN URDU THEN NO COUNTRY IS GONNA SENDING HER OFFICERS TO LEARN URDU TO TALK TO US,ESPECIALLY.....

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Zealot

Mar 29, 2017 04:43pm

@asif Ali FOOL CAN YOU TAKE THIS EXAM IN URDU????

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Ray

Mar 29, 2017 04:55pm

@asif Ali, why is Urdu our national language? No native has urdu as their mother language. National language should be either English which worldwide spoken or Punjabi which is the language of majority of Pakistani.

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Zealot

Mar 29, 2017 04:52pm

LHC should Force FPSC to ALLOCATE ALL PASSED CANDIDATES and END QOUTA SYSTEM ......PLEASE!!!!

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 05:03pm

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) "It means that URDU will be replacing English internationally? " It is not about exam for International Superior Services but only for Pakistan CSS. The court is not changing exam language in UK, NZ, US, Australia etc.

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Nasir

Mar 29, 2017 05:23pm

All public offices must use Urdu as primary language. They are representing us and sitting in offices to hear our voices. Once urdu followed in all the govt offices then it will be equal opportunity for everyone which isn't the case with English.

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M. Siddique

Mar 29, 2017 05:27pm

Good decision. The CSS exam should be in English. If higher level officials cannot speak English, the foreign contacts will reduce and will result in self isolation.

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M. Siddique

Mar 29, 2017 05:29pm

@M. Emad, National language is Urdu.

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KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK)

Mar 29, 2017 05:32pm

@BAXAR very true, what a level of thinking of our system to damage our youngsters. I love my youth but there is no point propagating and enforcing URDU in CSS exams

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MUHAMMAD

Mar 29, 2017 05:44pm

@Ray , Urdu is the national lang because it is extensively used as the language of communication between the ppl of difference provinces. Punjabi along with other regional languages are limited to their own provinces and not spoken by ppl outside their respective province hence cant be the sole national lang of the country. 2nd Punjabi is not the majority language (it is the mother tongue of 44% as per the last census). Urdu is the 5th largest in the country as per mother tongue (more then balochi, hindko, chitrali, brahui etc) so u can't consider it as a non native language anymore. Regional languages should be made official in their respective dists/provinces while Urdu should be used as national lang but shouldnt supersede English as official lang as the latter is a global language. No need to create hatred for Urdu, by ur definition only eng should be the official lang of india & not hindi as south india has clearly refused it & 60% of Indians dont speak it as their first lang.

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Omar

Mar 29, 2017 05:47pm

Please don't ruin the one good thing we have which is English; it keeps us connected to the world and competitive internationally. Urdu in the other hand teaches Pakistanis how to stay south Asian and speak with Hindi speakers only who incidentally have nothing but disdain for us.

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MUHAMMAD

Mar 29, 2017 05:50pm

@M. Emad, natonal language means the lang which binds all the ppl together. Pakistan has various beautiful regional langs but they are limited to only their provinces and no one out side that province speaks that lang. While Urdu is the lingua franca of the country and is used as the means of communication by different ethnicities when they interact with each other. Urdu should remain national lang; English should remain official while regional languages should be made languages in their respective provinces. By the way even u guys have multiple languages like Chakma, Garo, Manipuri, santhali, Urdu, oriya, assaamese etc in your country, why don't u guys make these languages as national languages as well along with Bengali?! all these languages need Bangaldeshi govt support or they will die long before Pakistani languages perish

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Punjabi

Mar 29, 2017 06:05pm

And the verdict came in English...........All official communication is done in english. How a bureaucrat will then be able to communicate if he/she can't read, write or talk in English. The people of KPK, Balochistan and Sindh can't communicate easily in Urdu but in English.

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Riaz Ahmad

Mar 29, 2017 06:14pm

Realistic decision it is but it should not be prolonged as excuse.no doubt Urdu will offer a great deal of opportunities for the lower classes by bringing them into the corridors of power.

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MUHAMMAD

Mar 29, 2017 06:19pm

@Punjabi "The people of KPK, Balochistan and Sindh can't communicate easily in Urdu but in English" I don't think so. fewer ppl know English in the country then Urdu. esp in rural areas where ppl can atleast understand and speak some basic Urdu while hardly anyone knows english

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 06:19pm

@M. Siddique "If higher level officials cannot speak English, the foreign contacts will reduce and will result in self isolation." This why we get more foreign contacts than Korea, China, Japan, Israel, France, Italy, Germany etc, to name few.

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Qadeer

Mar 29, 2017 06:26pm

I think FPSC should consider Urdu language for Pak studies,Affairs etc.We should learn english because as we know the level of our Prime Minister when he stuck in front of foreigners.

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 06:28pm

@Ray "Punjabi which is the language of majority of Pakistani." Then make Punjabi the national language of Pakistan for all purpose, no objection at all. I'll prefer Punjabi over English all the way. The Punjabi elite won't like it, though. Otherwise the poor of Punjab will take over.

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Rehana Agha

Mar 29, 2017 06:34pm

Urdu is a beautiful language. I taught it to diplomats, missionaries, doctors, engineers and marines in American Consulate (In Karachi) for many years. But it is far from the point where a national language should be. Most language teachers hide behind Urdu being a "Lushkari language," and do nothing to find words for the foreign languages, especially technical and more abstract words. BESIDES, try writing a few English words in Urdu and see how ridiculous it sounds and looks. Finally, Urdu is a beautiful language and is meant to enjoy what it offers, not what you want.

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 06:33pm

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) " there is no point propagating and enforcing URDU in CSS exams" Then what is the point enforcing English? No non English nation enforced that on their youth. Israel revived Hebrew after thousand year and enforced upon their youth. Their whole system is in Hebrew, although no one was speaking it as mother tongue 80 years ago.

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MUHAMMAD

Mar 29, 2017 06:42pm

@BAXAR , Pakistan is not limited to Punjab, the other three provinces don't speak Punjabi nor understand it hence Punjabi cant become the national language plus Punjabis account for 44% of pak's pop (census 1998) what about the remaining 56%? if Punjabi becomes the national lang the same will be seen as a sign of Punjabi dominance (something for which Punjab has always been blamed) and can even fan the fires of separatism in smaller provinces. the best solution is to implement all the regional lang in their home provinces or dists (eg Punjabi and seriki in punjab, Pashto, hindko, seraiki, kohistani & chitrali in KPK etc) while eng should be the official lang and Urdu should be the link language (lingua france) hence a 3 language system.

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javed

Mar 29, 2017 06:46pm

The obvious result of this decision will be the need for English translators in any interaction with foreign counterparts, especially at foreign missions.

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 07:01pm

@Zealot " NO COUNTRY IS GONNA SENDING HER OFFICERS TO LEARN URDU TO TALK TO US,ESPECIALLY" They will when they need it, don't worry about them. Even Punjabi or Pashto, depending on their need. Just work hard enough so that they need you.

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Junaid

Mar 29, 2017 07:12pm

This is NOT how you make such a change anyway. There always has to be a transition period or a buffer period when the tests are held both in English and Urdu. This will give both the students and the examiners enough time and experience to analyse any issues faced in the Urdu exams and how to deal with them. Personally I think the tests should be held in both languages where the students have the option of opting for either language.

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Ahsan memon

Mar 29, 2017 07:16pm

There should be option either to attempt in Urdu or English. Because from many years aspirant are preparing English skills so for them it will be difficult to give exam in Urdu.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Mar 29, 2017 07:22pm

As long as the national language is ignored, no country can progress effectively in a result-oriented fashion. Look at China, Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Norway or the U.S. - all these countries become developed only because they struck to their national language in all sectors and areas of their country, from top to bottom. It is highly unfortunate that even after decades of being independent and sovereign, some countries are still unable to come out of the shell of "colonization" where the language of their colonial masters is still considered "superior, modern and better" than their own national language.

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Mian M Amin(Old Ravian)

Mar 29, 2017 07:22pm

Correct decision .The reasons given are cogent .This urdu issue has already shattered our national unity.

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Adnan aziz

Mar 29, 2017 07:26pm

A sensible decision. Good sense has finally prevailed.

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Zunaira Abbbas

Mar 29, 2017 07:32pm

if they want us to give exams in Urdu language then they should first make in mandatory to teach Urdu as a medium of language from primary level and this will take decades.

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Muhammad junaid

Mar 29, 2017 07:35pm

Discrimination with pashtoon

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Secular Pathan

Mar 29, 2017 07:46pm

Good decision, English is a powerful and international language, we should not go backwards, it is also a neutral language in Pakistan

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Secular Pathan

Mar 29, 2017 07:44pm

Sir Jee, first make the CSS exam transparent. Lots of problems and complaints, the whole process is not reliable, accurate or valid in every instance of the exam. Toppers fail and many top class foreign graduates fail too?

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Justice

Mar 29, 2017 07:49pm

There's only one national language in Pakistan and that is Urdu only, no if or but.

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Arshad, Canada

Mar 29, 2017 07:59pm

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK), Do all Chines, German, Russian, French, Japanese, Brazilian, Korean, Duch, Danish and other developed countries have English as their official language? In Pakistan, we can have an advantage of using either English, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi , Baluchi, so why not use them as a situation required? Must we be sarcastic on every issue? I did my 10th in an Urdu medium school and the English was my biggest drawback. If I had a choice to appear in "Urdu" CSS exam, I could have been an excellent civil service Officer. I could have learned English at my own pace.

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Rev, eldrick lal

Mar 29, 2017 08:19pm

I disagree with this decision.

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The end is near

Mar 29, 2017 08:20pm

Urdu is our national identity. It should be made compulsory for CSS exams. Many country's have Made progress and development in their own national langauges including Germany, Japan and China.

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Saif

Mar 29, 2017 08:17pm

Good decision. I have never understood, why it has to be an either/or situation. We can't we demand from our future masters to learn both and even more. Given the choice, the mainstream of Pakistanis will refuse to learn any other language than English. If an average european can learn 3 languages, why are we so lazy to refuse to learn Urdu or English or even German for that matter.

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Zealot

Mar 29, 2017 08:21pm

@BAXAR thanks for advice,YOU SHOULD COME OUT OF DAY DREAMING AS WELL

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M.Saeed

Mar 29, 2017 08:29pm

Good to conduct CSS exams in Urdu. It was a pity that most of the candidates from Urdu medium institutions failed to meet the challenges of the English medium candidates. In result, we have the Jean Burgar lot running the bureaucratic show, who fail to count even upto 40 in Urdu.

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M.Saeed

Mar 29, 2017 08:34pm

@M. Emad: And follow the Bangladesh example who refused to agree on the same point.

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Ayesha

Mar 29, 2017 08:37pm

Students prepare for the exam from books/material written in English, and you want them to take the exam in Urdu???

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Ayesha

Mar 29, 2017 08:33pm

@Faisal Students prepare for the exam from books/material written in English, and you want them to take the exam in Urdu???

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Ifti

Mar 29, 2017 08:46pm

A good decision. Urdu is not an international language. Globally, it has a very limited influence. There is hardly any scientific reference available in Urdu. For research, this is going to be a big impediment. The courts should permanently deny this option.

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BAXAR

Mar 29, 2017 08:51pm

@Zealot "YOU SHOULD COME OUT OF DAY DREAMING AS WELL" I am already out of the day dream that my command in English will lead me to glory, China and Japan woke me up long ago. Cheers.

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Alba

Mar 29, 2017 09:36pm

They must give exams in both languages. This is not a zero sum game. No one has to lose. That kind of legislation is an attempt to get more Urdu speakers into school. We understand the logic but exams should be in both languages. English speakers have the advantage. Still the students with the best entrance examination scores should be admitted first.

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Alfamaverick

Mar 29, 2017 09:45pm

I have travelled Pakistan extensively, and I observed that every high school or more educated Pakistani can read, write and speak Urdu BATTER THAN English. Secondly, the medium of education and examination in all Non-English speaking European countries is in their local language, but economically they are doing better than Pakistan, and their educated people, and their diplomats can speak English. Therefore, switching CSS examination to Urdu will not bring Pakistan to any disadvantage, rather it will open the doors for less privileged natives of our country.

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hopeful

Mar 29, 2017 10:50pm

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) No

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hopeful

Mar 29, 2017 10:52pm

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) What about minorities?

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hopeful

Mar 29, 2017 10:53pm

Are we progressing forwards or backward? The world is moving on.

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Zak

Mar 29, 2017 11:23pm

Leave CSS in English. This is the international language. However, CSS candidate should be able to give exam in either. But English is a must. All services need English. It connects us to the world. Judges should solve cases and stop delving in administration and governance.

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Sindh

Mar 30, 2017 12:57am

Urdu is our national language . It is not mother tongue of millions of sindhis. They schooling medium is Sindhi from primary to matric and even to intermediate level. Implementing Urdu in css means depriving Sindhis to appear in css exaim.

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Gullu Badsha

Mar 30, 2017 03:36am

@KHALID YOUSAFZAI (UK) show me a developed country which has progressed using a foreign language. Japan, China, Germany, Korea, France ...........

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asif Ali

Mar 30, 2017 09:38am

@Ray , I am agree with you, Urdu is also an Indian language, best is English.

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Rehana Agha

Mar 30, 2017 08:44pm

@BAXAR Let's not compare our country with Isreal. It is already a highly developed country. Our country is still very low in developing countries. Forcing a national language would slow down the progress. Let's get more rational. Do not go from Karachi to Lahore on a bicycle, get a car or go by plane.

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