The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has allowed physically-challenged candidates to apply for all the 12 occupational groups of civil service to appear in the Central Superior Service (CSS) examinations from 2018 onwards, according to a local media outlet.
This decision was approved by the federal cabinet in 2017 against a formal request of the board and then was approved by FPSC’s governing body earlier this year.
Earlier, candidates with physical disabilities could only apply to four groups, which include postal services, information group, audit and accounts and trade and commerce.
The issue of candidates who are physically challenged and not allowed to opt for the department of their choice appeared in 2007 when a blind student stood fourth in the CSS final result but was denied entry into the Foreign Service of Pakistan. A request was later made to the premier to relax the rules in her favour, which was approved.
Two other physically challenged candidates who had passed the examination approached had approached the court and asked the FPSC to review the decision terming the Rule 9(2) discriminatory.
