ISLAMABAD: In a male-dominated society, there are women who win laurels and make their parents and families proud.

Zoha Malik Sher proved that girls are a blessing not a curse as she made her family proud by passing the Central Superior Service (CSS) written exam, following in the footsteps of her four sisters who had already passed the competitive exam and are currently holding important positions in the bureaucracy.

The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) on Thursday announced the results of the written part of the CSS exam.

According to the FPSC, 23,403 candidates applied for the exam out of whom 14,521 appeared and only 372 could clear it with the passing percentage of 2.56.

Rawalpindi-based Zoha was among those who passed the written examination.

Ms Zoha, daughter of a retired Wapda employee, told Dawn: “I am feeling blessed.” She said her father showed that having daughters was not a weakness but strength.

She said since they had no brother, people were very sympathic to her family when she was born.

“But my father never felt bad, rather he converted his weakness (having five girls) into his strength by providing us the best training and education,” she said.

“There should be no discrimination on the basis of gender, colour, caste and creed. These things should not be considered the basis of strength and weakness,” she said, adding that girls could do wonders provided they were given the confidence by their parents.

“We are an example for other girls,” Ms Zoha said.

To a query, she said after passing the second phase (interview) she wants to join the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) to serve the country.

Ms Zoha’s sisters Laila passed the CSS exam in 2008, Shireen in 2010, Sassi and Marvi in 2017.

All the five sisters attended primary school at the Presentation Convent High School in Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2019