In what could be dubbed a praiseworthy move, the Supreme Court (SC) has provided relief to job aspirants on exorbitant fee paid to National Testing Service (NTS) for each job vacancy.
The SC strictly instructed all ministries/divisions to ensure payment of 50 per cent of the fee, payable to testing agencies, to ease the financial burden of unemployed students.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took notice of an university student’s application, stating that for each job vacancy, students have to pay a fee which is too heavy for an unemployed person.
The student pleaded in the petition that many individuals cannot afford to pay the finances on daily basis and have to forego applying for many positions.
On such notice, the government issued instructions to all ministries/divisions to make arrangements and ensure that 50 per cent of the fee payable to testing agencies be paid by the all ministries/divisions, authorities etc. out of their own budget to save the unemployed citizens from financial burden.
Further, it was instructed that while hiring services of testing agency, PPRA Rules should be strictly observed to ensure minimum rates of fee through open bidding. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has further been pleased to call a follow up report as to implementation and outcome of above directive from Secretary, Establishment Division and government within two months.
Similarly, he instructed all provincial’s governments to take required steps to provide maximum relief to job aspirants and to submit a detailed report within six weeks.
