AS I am set to graduate in a few months, I have been job-hunting for a little while. However, my quest for options has unfortunately laid bare the grim realities of public-sector recruitment.

I have found that appointments in the government sector are based more on monetary capacity to grease palms rather than the candidates’ skills. As soon as a job or a vacancy is announced in any department, the race to display financial muscle begins.

It is highly disappointing that government departments appear least bothered about the merit, intelligence and potential of a candidate, and only care about the amount of money one can dish out for the desired post.

Deep pockets, not deep knowledge, seem to be the order of the day. For instance, I came to know that the price for the post of a sub-divisional officer (SDO) is around Rs7 million. This practice must change.

The stakeholders should realise that such rampant corruption is both the source and cause of wide-spread frus-tration among our youth. The government needs to act, and act fast. Strict action should be taken against each and every dishonest official before this corruption drives the youth to despair.

Dawood Khan
Pishin

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2022