ISLAMABAD: While educational institutions are still unsure of resuming classes after April 11, the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) is firmed to hold the exam of under-training officers of three service cadres from April 12.

According to the schedule for final passing-out examination 2021, under-training officers of Information Group, Postal Group and Police Service of Pakistan will commence on April 12 and conclude on April 23.

As many as 31 probationers of Information Group, Postal Group, and Police Service of Pakistan are required to clear 10 papers of different subjects related to their occupational cadre before deployment on their first regular posting/assignment.

But the under-training officers are worried about undergoing the written exam in ‘congested’ classrooms because of the rise in Covid-19 cases.

Last year, the officers were posted soon after they completed the training and the exams were held in September with the ease of Covid-19 crisis.

However, this year, FPSC did not postpone the exams. Interestingly, senior officers of the FPSC started work from home fearing exposure to the virus.

An official of the FPSC said those above 50 years of age had been given such relaxation.

He, however, said the postponement of the examination was not on the card.

It may be mentioned that following these three groups, exams of the officers of Foreign Service of Pakistan, Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service, Commerce and Trade Group, Office Management Group, Military Land and Cantonment Group and Office Management Group will be held from May 20 to June 4.

Later, exams for Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS), Pakistan Customs Service, Railways Group and Inland Revenue Service will be held from June 12 to July 16.

IHC confirms sealing of three courts

A spokesperson for Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday confirmed the sealing of three courts due to Covid-19.

“Three courts are sealed whose officers/officials have contracted Covid-19,” said a statement issued by the public relations officer (PRO) of the IHC.

The statement, however, dispelled the impression that the director general health services of the Municipal Corporation of Islamabad had sealed the premises of the district courts for 10 days.

It said standard operating procedures (SOPs) for prevention from Covid-19 were being followed in the district courts

and despite all odds the courts continued to perform their duty of dispensation of justice to the public.

Meanwhile, the IHC registrar office through a circular announced that in order to reduce possibility of the spread of Covid-19, the high court will only hear cases related to pre-arrest and post-arrest bails, habeas

corpus petitions or detention matters, urgent petitions seeking injunctions/stay orders involving imminent threat of irreparable loss and any matter of genuine urgency.

As per the circular, these measures will stay in force till April 11 or until further orders.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2021