RECENTLY, I applied for the post of an emergency medical technician in 1122 rescue services. The screening process was carried out by NTS.

Overall, the process was fair. After written test candidates went through a rigorous physical test. They were made to run 1.6km in just eight minutes in addition to 25 sit-ups and 25 push-ups in just two minutes each.

However, the required unexpanded chest size of 33 inches was alien to international practices, which should be 80cm – 32 inches. This standard is also followed by the armed forces.

Many candidates were screened out just because of this unfair chest size requirement. Among the rejected, several had applied for the technical posts which do not require much physical labour.

The 1122 authorities should relax this unreasonable requirement to 32 inches to address the potential candidates’ grievances.

Muqeem Ilyas

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2017