Director General Civil Services Academy Farhan Aziz Khawaja has said that the Central Superior Services (CSS) programme in Pakistan is a competitive assessment mechanism through which young students participate and, upon success, become part of the country’s top government services.

In an interview with Radio Pakistan correspondent Qasim Bukhari, he stated that officers undergoing the Common Training Programme (CTP) are provided comprehensive training to meet academic and professional standards, while also fostering a strong commitment to public service.

He informed that the total number of probationers in the 53rd Common Training Programme is 136. Highlighting a distinctive feature of the 53rd CTP, he said that it includes 73 female officers, making it the largest batch of women officers in the history of the Civil Services Academy. He said that the probationers of the 53rd CTP are graduating and will proceed for their military attachment.

The Director General said that the highest number of probationers in the 53rd CTP belongs to the Balochistan unit of the federation.

Providing details, he said that 53 probationers are from Balochistan, 42 from Sindh, 26 officers from the merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 10 from Punjab.

He said that the 53rd CTP represents a beautiful bouquet of Pakistan’s national unity, comprising all federating units, with special representation of minorities, and can aptly be described as a reflection of the country’s diversity.

Responding to a question, the DG Civil Services Academy said that the Government of Pakistan, through its national policies, has allocated a special quota for women in  services, which has significantly increased opportunities for their inclusion.

He said that women officers who are unable to join services due to maternity are facilitated through a special deferment clause without any loss of seniority.

He said that over the past two years, the government has taken notable steps to enhance women’s participation by providing facilities not only for women officers but also for their families.