BAHAWALPUR: The first Centre for Competitive Examinations in south Punjab is set to start functioning at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) on Monday (today).

The facility has been set up under the auspices of South Punjab’s Higher Education Department (HED) for those aspiring to a career in the Civil Services of Pakistan in a special academic block on IUB’s Baghdadul Jadeed campus.

South Punjab Higher Education Department Secretary Dr Ehtesham Anwar Mahar told Dawn that the first batch of the participants had been selected through a rigorous process entailing holding of orientation sessions and entrance tests on university’s main campus as well as sub-campuses in Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.

He said the centre was meant to provide advisory services as well as preparatory sessions not only to the enrolled students of the university but also those from other institutions. He described it as a unique initiative; the Karachi University is the only other government varsity offering such preparatory classes.

He expressed the hope that the centre would contribute towards enhancing the share of south Punjab, in general, and Bahawalpur, in particular, in civil services and other decision-making forums of the country which would in turn lead to the greater development of the region. He added that the centre would also provide services for the preparation of the Provincial Management Service (PMS) and other competitive examinations being held by provincial and federal Public Service Commissions, as well as aptitude tests such as SAT and GRE.

IUB Vice-Chancellor Dr Athar Mahboob told the audience at the opening that the faculty at the centre would comprise not only the instructors from the university but also civil servants working in and around Bahawalpur. He further announced that a well-equipped library was also being established at the centre.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2022