The Cabinet on Wednesday rejected a summary, moved by the Establishment Division, seeking increase in upper age limit for taking Civil Superior Service (CSS) competitive examination. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who presided over the meeting, said that the government was not considering any proposal to increase the retirement age of civil servants from 60 to 63 years as such decision would severely hamper the promotion prospects of younger talented officers.
He said he could have outrightly rejected the proposal when it was submitted to him for increase in CSS examination age, but he asked the relevant ministry to bring it before the Cabinet for approval in order to promote the culture of taking Cabinet members along in the decision making process and promoting democratic practices in the country.
He said that Pakistan is blessed with a population of 70 percent youth and, to attract the talent of fresh graduates and select best-of-the-best among them, it was necessary to keep the age limit at the existing level.
The decision against extension in service on retirement might have not gone well with some people in top bureaucracy, looking for extension in their service after reaching retirement age.
It is critical for the government to evolve a clear-cut policy on this issue and not make any exceptions. A recent example shows that exceptions remain, notwithstanding the Prime Minister's statement: Secretary Privatisation Commission Jawad Ahmed, a close relative of PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain, was given extension in service on retirement.
The Cabinet gave go-ahead for negotiations on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations with Namibia. The Prime Minister observed that once the MoUs are signed, efforts should be made towards implementation. The Cabinet also granted permission in principle to a summary moved by the Ministry of Labour and Manpower to start negotiations with the Government of Italy for entering into an agreement to strengthen co-operation on migration matters.
The MoU will facilitate formalising arrangements with the Government of Italy on migration matters for job placement of Pakistani professionals and workers in Italy. The Prime Minister said Pakistan enjoys excellent relations with Italy and by signing the proposed MoU relations with Italy would be further strengthened.
The Cabinet was informed by the Minister for Water and Power about the water and power situation in the country. He said that though water in the dams was less than the required level, every effort would be made to ensure adequate water supply to farmers. The Prime Minister directed all Ministers to maintain close liaison with media and facilitate access to information so that policies of the government for socio-economic development of the people are properly projected.