LAHORE – Around 3,034 pharmacy students vying for placement in hospitals as pharmacists are disturbed at the inclusion of a written test in the new selection method introduced by the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC). The PPSC has introduced the written test criterion for the first time, while in the past, students only had to go through interviews. Students opposing the test said that PPSC did not mention the condition of a written test in its advertisement. Besides, it did not inform students in time about the written test of pharmacist/drug inspectors, after it decided to change the selection criterion.
Pharmacy students demanded that Punjab chief minister should take notice of the PPSC’s new selection method. A number of students complained that they have not yet received any official letter to appear in the test scheduled for March 13 at the Lawrence Road examination centre. The candidates complained that they were mentally stressed and PPSC’s officials were not even ready to guide them. Students are in a fix at the PPSC’s mismanagement and at the short time they have for the test’s preparation.
Pharmacy students have applied for 113 pharmacist/drug inspector’s seats available in all the government hospitals of the province. Students who were always found complaining about the shortage of seats were initially heartened when the government announced 113 seats. They had been waiting for the selection since the seats were announced on August 15, 2010 in local newspapers. However, the advertisement attracted a controversy because it did not mention seat allocations or quotas reserved for different sections and was subsequently challenged in court of law. After three months of closing date, the advertisement was revised and a new closing date was announced; February 7, 2011.
In February, interviews were scheduled from March 21 to 31, with the changes in the selection criterion. PPSC announced the schedule of the written test, giving only a week to the candidates to prepare for the test and appear in the exam.
Shakila, a pharmacy student, said that pharmacy students were confused as to why PPSC included a test when it was not mentioned in the schedule given in the advertisement. She said that the test was announced without any prior notice on March 5, 2011. The test will be held on March 13 and they are confused, she said. Many candidates have not received their letters when the test is just round the corner, she added.
PPSC Deputy Secretary Zahid Hussain said that it was for the PPSC to decide whether they will conduct interviews or tests. He said thousands of candidates applied for the posts and it was not possible to conduct interviews for all of them. He said that they properly informed the students about the test, which will be from the pharmacy courses.
