LAHORE: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has been in a state of uncertainty for the past two months, leaving hundreds of candidates who cleared the PPSC examination in limbo.

The candidates have been anxiously awaiting their interview schedules since the retirement of PPSC Chairman Malik Zafar Iqbal on Feb 14.

The recruitment process through PPSC has come to a standstill after Mr. Iqbal’s retirement, causing distress among the candidates. The PPSC, which is responsible for conducting tests, examinations, and interviews for recruitment, and advising the government on matters relating to the terms and conditions of service of provincial service members, has been rendered non-functional due to the absence of a chairman.

This has led to administrative problems and has put the future of the candidates, including those on reserve and revised lists waiting for their appointment on different posts, in jeopardy. The candidates, who have put in significant effort to clear the provincial competitive examination, are now urging the government to expedite the process of appointing a new chairman.

They believe that the appointment of a new chairman will help in processing their interviews and conducting examinations for the advertised seats of different provincial departments. The delay in the appointment of a new chairman has not only affected the candidates but also the functioning of various provincial departments that are waiting for fresh recruits.

One of the candidates waiting for a revised list told Dawn that he had been continuously contacting the PPSC officials for his appointment as his name was on top of the revised list of a grade-17 post for the last two months.

He was informed by the PPSC officials that the process would not be completed until the appointment of the chairman.

Another candidate, who appeared in a written examination for a grade-17 post, said that he was waiting for the result. Every time he contacted the PPSC office, he was told that the recruitment process was halted until the appointment of a new chairman.

Under the Punjab Public Service Commission Ordinance, 1978, the Punjab governor is required to appoint the chairman and the members of the commission. No person can be appointed as chairman or member above or 65 years of age and the person should not be serving the government.

The candidates are demanding swift action from the government to resolve this issue and ensure the smooth functioning of the PPSC.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2024