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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > PAKISTAN

Most public varsity students come up short in CSS


SHARE TWEET

Most public varsity students come


up short in CSS
By Riazul Haq
Published: December 21, 2016
0SHARES
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ISLAMABAD: While a fact-finding body is probing the causes of


the disappointing results of the Federal Public Service
Commission (FPSC) exams in 2016, the documents the FPSC
submitted in parliament reveal that most failing candidates
were graduates of Punjab University, Peshawar University and
Karachi University.

The results stirred a national debate about the nature of tests,


techniques and reasons behind a perpetual decline in scores.
Recently a parliamentary committee sought a report from the
FPSC about the appalling results and reasons behind the poor
showing.

According to the results released in October, as many as 9,643


candidates sat the CSS written test. However, only 202, or
2.09% of the candidates, qualified. This is the lowest
percentage of successful students since 2011. A detailed
report about over 150 universities nationwide paints a dismal
picture.

Record drop in CSS pass rate sparks concern


The highest number of candidates [1,466] was from Punjab
University. But 1,444 students of the university failed the test
and only 22 were declared pass. Around 462 students of
Peshawar University appeared in the exams but only five of
them made the grade.
Similarly, only four candidates out of 379 graduates of Karachi
University were able to pass the test while three students out
of 329 graduates of Bahauddin Zakariya University were
declared passed.

Given the performance of the candidates, Nust stood out as


the most successful. About 19 graduates of Nust were
successful in passing the written test which is the second
highest number after Punjab University. As many as 157 Nust
graduates failed the written test but their aggregate is better
in terms of pass-fail ratio of over 150 varsities.

Only four universities were able to reach the double digits in


terms of successful candidates. These include Punjab
University (22), Nust (19), Lahore University of Management
Sciences (16), University of Engineering and Technology
Lahore (11).

At the provincial level Punjab had the highest share of 146


successful candidates followed by 18, 29 and 4 from the K-P,
Sindh, Balochistan respectively. Only one candidate passed the
test from Gilgit-Baltistan and Federally Administered Tribal
Areas and four from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The traditional gender disparity is also apparent in the test
results as about 116 male and 86 female candidates passed
the written test. Lahore had the highest number of successful
candidates where 91 candidates out of 2,730 cleared the
written test, followed by 39 from Islamabad, 18 from
Rawalpindi and less than 10 from the rest of the major cities in
the country.

Declining CSS results leave top recruiter scratching its head


An initial report from the FPSC submitted before parliament
states: For various reasons, the pass percentage remained
significantly low, which is a matter of great concernthis
indicates deteriorating standard of education in universities,
colleges.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet


Secretariat in October sought a complete report from the FPSC
about the reasons for the significant decline in the number of
passing candidates. The number of vacant seats is also
increasing every year, and at present 431 posts are lying
vacant.

Examiners reports

The examiners subject-wise reports uploaded on the FPSC


website present a gloomy picture of the approach and
understanding of the candidates. One of the examiners noted
that some candidates were not serious.

Several examiners suggested a screening or pre-examination


or screening test for the candidates before the actual written
test. Interestingly, the suggestion has been awaiting approval
of the federal cabinet since 2013.

As per the FPSC report about 92% (8,894) candidates failed


English prcis and composition while 81% (7,841) students
failed the English Essay exam. Similarly, about 50%, 43% and
36% failed the general knowledge I, II and III, respectively.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2016.
Read more: CSS , FPSC
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Reader Comments (12)
ALL COMMENTS
READER'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Bunny Rabbit
Dec 21, 2016 - 12:13PM
Reply

If every one passes then whats the exclusivity ?Recommend


Zaighum
Dec 21, 2016 - 8:33PM
Reply

Lums has the highest passing rate among all universities, 16 cleared the written while 70 failed

the test. Nust stands the second: 19 candidates passed the test while 157 failed. Recommend
Atia Nusrat
Dec 21, 2016 - 11:07PM
Reply

As an educationist myself,I would question Gov.officials what exactly they are targeting at

national level? Do they want a confused lot of public who are not able to think for themselves?

Societies grow on justified logical standards.The main outcome of an education system must

be graduates who are able to approach an issue and resolve it intelligently. The highest level of

education system is an individual who is able to create..I am sorry to say our higher ups are

taught to keep masses confused, So that they are not able to ask..All I observe in the policies

is to push students for getting higher grades. I am sorry to say, higher grades might be the

target of fools..Every mind is gifted with unique abilities and we are here to polish them as

individuals and not robots or machines who are giving answers mechanically.Robots can give

you accuracy and As but the question is are they able to translate knowledge into creation? A

thorough study of FPSCs own objectives must also be done? What are there own goals? Do

they want to hunt intelligence via CSS examination or do they judge the very basic level of

education..KNOWLEDGEI think it must go up to comprehension and creation

levels.Recommend
Naveed
Dec 22, 2016 - 9:38AM
Reply

Actually IBA Sukker has the second highest pass percentage at 14% (5/35). Recommend
anonymous
Dec 22, 2016 - 9:50AM
Reply
So the assumption is education system in the whole world has deteriorated, except FPSC!

People who have studied from UK, especially Cambridge University, have also failed!!!

Recommend
Maha
Dec 22, 2016 - 3:45PM
Reply

The thing is I dont only blame the education system. I would blame the entire css system

these people submitting reports and making discussions in the parliament are not aware the

ground realities. System of education is not good ok fine, candidates are not serious fine, but

what aboutserious candidates from good educational backgrounds why do they fail its the

system of css, not students. What do they want and what they test for. Poor system of

examination. University graduates study in a different manner and are asked again to be

illogical and do ratta like they did in matric. System of css is pathetic. Plus mostly people want

to be in beuracrcy to enjoy the benefits. Even my friends from foreign universities have failed

not because they were not up to the mark rather because of this irrational system. Recommend
Ammar
Dec 22, 2016 - 7:53PM
Reply

Agreed with Atia and Maha.FPSC will not blame its system.There should be an Audit of FPSC

exam system by an independent body.OK there will be many non-serious candidates but

serious one also facing the same problem. Is it possible to believe that intelligence and

educational level has dropped suddenly FPSC will not admit its mistake. Senate committee

should probe the whole matter from 360 degree angle.Problems in the selection system should

be removed.And FPSC should be asked to bring reliability and validity in the exam

system.Recommend
Ammar
Dec 22, 2016 - 7:58PM
Reply

Agreed with Maha and Atia.FPSC exam system should be audited by an independent body.

Senate committee should probe the whole matter from 360 degree angle. Recommend
Secular Pathan
Dec 22, 2016 - 9:06PM
Reply

Lies Lies Lies. Then why do toppers of CSS fail in next exams? Serving CSPs fail it, graduates of

world class universities also fail it? Brilliant people fail it whereas mediocre pass it? How can

49% people pass English Essay of CSS in 2014? How come they target Essay one year and

then another paper another year? Its all lies.Recommend


Uzair
Dec 23, 2016 - 11:28AM
Reply

The problem lies within the CSS system. The evidence is the kind of people becoming Civil

Servants today. Lets just say that they are sub-par, at best. Recommend
Rukhsana zia
Dec 23, 2016 - 11:51AM
Reply

Before I made any comments as obvious as stated above, I would also like to review the

assessment process of FPSC. Some others have stated it as well.

Is the testing valid for stated objectives of civil service? I would question the objectives as well

but perhaps not the issue here

The process of assessment? How credible it really is?

Profile of the individual taking the test can also be indicative of the quality. Is it possible that

the best students are NOT interested in civil service?

And many more .

Liberal arts education should actually be more effective in producing well rounded individuals if

we are serious about civil service. Pure focus on communication skills If that is the Case is

not enough

Recommend
ashar
Dec 23, 2016 - 4:26PM
Reply

This is another state of feudalismRecommend


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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE

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Friday, 23 Dec 2016

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > PAKISTAN

This is what nuclear bombs would do to Islamabad, Lahore and New Delhi
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This is what nuclear bombs would


do to Islamabad, Lahore and New
Delhi
By News Desk
Published: December 22, 2016

175SHARES
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Indian and Pakistani politicians frequently raise the spectre of


a nuclear war whenever tension between the two arch-rivals
escalates.

Needless to say, very little thought is given to the great


damage nuclear warheads are capable of wreaking when such
statements are aired. The impact of such an exchange not just
entails great loss of life but also disastrous consequences for
the environment.
Data Newsroom, an online interactive newsroom, has used
eight nuclear bombs from the US, the USSR, North Korea, India
and Pakistan and detonated them in two Indian and Pakistani
cities each to gauge their impact.

India pulls out of key regional conference in Pakistan


This is what they found:

ISLAMABAD

Type of bomb: Davy Crockett tiniest US bomb produced


(20t)

Estimated fatalities: 1,410


Type of bomb: Crude nuclear terrorist weapon (100t)

Estimated fatalities: 2,230


Type of bomb: North Korean weapon tested in 2006 (500t)

Estimated fatalities: 6,310


Type of bomb: Little Boy Hiroshima Bomb (15kt)

Estimated fatalities: 60,350


Type of bomb: Fat Man Nagasaki Bomb (20kt)

Estimated fatalities: 65,750


Type of bomb: Largest Indian weapon tested (60 kt)

Estimated fatalities: 107,260


Type of bomb: Castle Bravo largest US bomb tested (15 Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 970,910


Type of bomb: Tsar Bomba largest USSR bomb tested (50
Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 2,55,6690


LAHORE

Type of bomb: Davy Crockett tiniest US Bomb produced (20t)

Estimated fatalities: 7,520


Type of bomb: Crude Nuclear Terrorist Weapon (100t)

Estimated fatalities: 10,930


Type of bomb: North Korean Weapon tested in 2006 (500t)

Estimated fatalities: 27,360


Type of bomb: Little Boy Hiroshima Bomb (15kt)

Estimated fatalities: 214,330


Type of bomb: Fat Man Nagasaki Bomb (20kt)

Estimated fatalities: 234,550


Type of bomb: Largest Indian weapon tested (60 kt)

Estimated fatalities: 440,210


Type of bomb: Castle Bravo largest US bomb tested (15 Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 5,312,110


Type of bomb: Tsar Bomba largest USSR bomb tested (50 Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 7,735,140


NEW DELHI

Type of bomb: Davy Crockett tiniest US bomb produced


(20t)

Estimated fatalities: 1,410


Type of bomb: Crude nuclear terrorist weapon (100t)

Estimated fatalities: 6,350


Type of bomb: North Korean weapon tested in 2006 (500t)

Estimated fatalities: 21,200


Type of bomb: Little Boy Hiroshima Bomb (15kt)

Estimated fatalities: 1,97,280


Type of bomb: Fat Man Nagasaki Bomb (20kt)

Estimated fatalities: 215,910


Type of bomb: Largest Pakistani weapon tested (60 kt)

Estimated fatalities: 367,900


Type of bomb: Castle Bravo largest US bomb tested (15 Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 69,72,300


Type of bomb: Tsar Bomba largest USSR bomb tested (50
Mt)

Estimated fatalities: 13,989,210


Colours used for determining effect

Radiation radius (500 rem) Green

Fireball radius- Dark yellow

Air blast radius (20 psi) Pink


Air blast radius (5 psi) Grey

Thermal radiation radius (3rd degree burns) Light yellow

This article originally appeared on Data Newsroom.


Read more: Nuclear bomb , Pak-India ties
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Reader Comments (6)
ALL COMMENTS
READER'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Bunny Rabbit
Dec 22, 2016 - 6:39PM
Reply

Awwww well .. anyways it has to all end one day some how . so why not this way .. now

Recommend3
KalaSach
10 hours ago
Reply

At least someone is bringing up the topic. Pakistan need to get out of this AQ Khan-esque

exaggerated propaganda that they can safely nuclear strike. Such strikes will be met with

strikes in response. People in a country which cannot manage to deal with floods and

earthquakes need to understand how will they deal with radioactive fallout with poisoned

water and cultivable land.

Time to cease nuclear blackmail and build a society based in realism. Recommend11
bharat
8 hours ago
Reply

Good analysis.Recommend
JKhan
8 hours ago
Reply

You forgot to mention Bombay , Madras and Calcutta!Recommend6


fahim
7 hours ago
Reply

May Allah safe all of us.Recommend1


Peanut
6 hours ago
Reply

We should try it one evening.Recommend


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Pervez Hoodbhoy goes solar for his household energy needs

ZOFEEN T. EBRAHIM UPDATED a day ago


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Perched atop Pervez Hoodbhoys rooftop are 10 solar


photovoltaic panels with an installed capacity of 2.8 KW that
supply his home with enough energy in the daytime to run
an air conditioner in the summer, light bulbs, a refrigerator
and a few other household appliances. He also has a solar
geyser that gives him hot water even in the coldest of
Islamabad nights.

The nuclear physicist believes properly designed homes can save


huge amounts of energy. His house is well ventilated and properly
insulated so it stays fairly cool in summers and reasonably warm
during winters.

In an informal chat with thethirdpole.net, Hoodbhoy discussed the


lifestyle changes that he had made on a personal level to reduce his
carbon footprint, as well as the concerns he has for Pakistans
energy security.

Zofeen T. Ebrahim (ZTE): Does your home, and all electrical


appliances in it, run entirely on solar energy?
ADVERTISEMENT

Pervez Hoodbhoy (PH): No, solar does not fulfil all our needs, but
it takes care of about 60% of our electricity needs, and 90% of our
hot water needs.

ZTE: What other fuel sources do you supplement solar


power with? Are there many cloudy days?

PH: We buy one gas cylinder every month for cooking, and grid
electricity is used at night. Solar electricity and heating are in good
supply for about 310 days of the year.
ZTE: How much does your monthly electricity bill come to?

PH: Far too much! I think I have a faulty meter connection and I
dont have the patience to go and argue it out with the Islamabad
Electric Supply Company. The solar electricity generated is probably
more than the amount we consume daily. However, most of it goes
waste because I am not allowed to return this excess amount to the
grid.

ZTE: That sounds bad. Is there a solution?

PH: Of course there is! In Europe, America and China excess solar
electricity can be pumped back into the grid and the consumer is
only charged for the net amount of electricity consumed. This is
called reverse metering. If more energy is produced than is
consumed, he is paid in cash.

In Pakistan, I hear that reverse metering has been approved by


parliament and a few people are already taking advantage of it. But
it is not widely available for lack of the special meters needed
these meters need to measure both the energy coming from the
grid as well as going back into the grid.

ZTE: Has anyone tried to run their home on solar as well


after seeing yours?

PH: Several people made inquiries and I know that a couple bought
similar systems. The solar geysers are very cheap and I see quite a
few on rooftops. I really cant understand why people use gas
geysers which are more costly to operate when such a cheap,
environmentally friendly option is easily available.

ZTE: Do the solar cells, batteries etc. require a lot of


maintenance?

PH: Four years after installation, all that was needed was washing of
the rooftop panels to remove dust and blowing air through the
control panel. The solar geyser has an electric rod for
supplementary heating on cold days and it burned out once but was
easily replaced at a minimal cost. The batteries have lasted four
years and are going strong but will probably require replacement in
1-2 years. They are used at night or whenever the grid electricity
goes off which happens frequently.

ZTE: Do you think it makes more sense to harness energy


from solar than nuclear fission?

PH: The reasons are pretty obvious solar is safer than nuclear and
it is now cheaper than oil or gas. Nuclear energy has not turned out
to be so cheap if one adds up all the real costs. The fact that solar
energy is available only during daytime means that better energy
storage is needed, and this is coming fast in the form of high
capacity batteries as well as techniques more suitable for large
generating stations.

ZTE: You are aware that Pakistans fourth nuclear power


plant began operating last month. Why is Pakistan
continuing with investing in nuclear reactors if this is an
expensive alternative?

PH: Lets be happy about this and that we have not had a major
accident so far. After all we do need electricity. At the same time,
one hopes that truth about radioactive incidents will not be kept
from us. More nuclear plants dont make economic sense to me. We
are going for nuclear electricity because the Chinese badly want to
sell their reactors to Pakistan we are Chinas only customer for
nuclear power plants. China has loaned Pakistan 80% of the amount
needed for the Karachi Nuclear Power Plants (KANUPP).

ZTE: You have never openly objected to the Chashma plant


but have been quite vocal about the two nuclear reactors
that are being built near Karachi? Why?

PH: After the tsunami initiated disaster at the plants in Fukushima, it


became clear that having nuclear plants near any city was a bad
idea. If something ever goes wrong with KANUPP, what will happen
to Karachi defies the imagination. Fukushima was a small town of
80,000 disciplined people. Karachi has 22 million people most of
whom feel no twinge when going through a red light. Evacuating
them in any disciplined manner would be impossible. And evacuate
to where? A catastrophic disaster doesnt have to be caused by a
tsunami an act of terrorism, sabotage, earthquakes, or operator
error (as happened at Chernobyl in 1986) could all take us down that
path.

ZTE: But with technological improvements and better safety


mechanisms, would you say Pakistan should explore nuclear
options?

PH: The global nuclear industry obviously aims to make safer


reactors. But the problem is that no one can foresee all the ways in
which things could go wrong. The fuel contained in a typical reactor
core has more than a thousand atom bombs worth of fissile
material. And, even though a reactor cannot blow up in the same
way as a bomb, it can release thousands of times more radioactivity
than was released by the bomb explosions over Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. As far as our options go, Pakistan does not make nuclear
power reactors. These are beyond our technological capability.
Making bombs is far easier and obviously we are making lots of
them.

ZTE: Clean, cheap nuclear energy is often touted as a means


to battle climate change. But how close are we to having
nuclear plants that fit the clean, green bill?

PH: Climate change can be better fought by concentrating on solar


and wind power, making more efficient electricity grids, and by
cutting down on wastage. Also, if one looks into the carbon cost of
making nuclear plants, the savings due to cheap nuclear fuel are
much less.
ZTE: How about if we use thorium fission reactors, or is this
still an academic discussion?

PH: India has been planning on doing this for 40 years. Theres still
no electricity being produced by thorium fuelled reactors. In any
case, its not an option for Pakistan because we dont have thorium
deposits and do not have the capacity to make our own nuclear
power plants.

This article originally appeared on The Third Pole and has been
reproduced with permission.

a man amongst you may do (good deeds till there is only a cubit between him and Paradise and
then what has been written for him decides his behavior and he starts doing (evil) deeds
characteristic of the people of the (Hell) Fire. And similarly a man amongst you may do (evil) deeds
till there is only a cubit between him and the (Hell) Fire, and then what has been written for him
decides his behavior, and he starts doing deeds characteristic of the people of Paradise." Sahih al-
Bukhari 3208

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE > PAKISTAN

World Bank rules against Pakistan in


Reko Diq case
By News Desk

Published: March 22, 2017

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An arbitration tribunal of the World Banks International Center


for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on Monday ruled
against Pakistan in relation to the unlawful denial of a mining
lease for the Reko Diq project in 2011.

The International Center for Settlement of Investment


Disputes (ICSID) verdict came after Tethyan Copper Company
Limited (TCC), a joint venture between Antofagasta and
Barrick, filed an arbitration claim against Pakistan for
unlawfully denying a mining lease for the Reko Diq project.

The decision by the ICSID tribunal rejected Pakistans final


defense against liability, and confirmed that Pakistan had
violated several provisions of its bilateral investment treaty
with Australia, where TCC is incorporated, Chilean mining
company Antofagasta announced. However, the claims could
not be independently verified.

World bank report: Pakistan among top 10 economies

The damages phase of the proceedings will begin on March 22,


during which the tribunal will consider submissions from the
parties to determine the amount that Pakistan must pay TCC. A
ruling on the quantum of damages is expected in 2018.

In January, 2013, the Supreme Court had declared invalid the


Reko Diq agreement a lease for one of the worlds richest
deposits of gold and copper in Balochistan held by the TCC
observing that the agreement ran counter to the countrys
mineral development act and mining concession rules.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice


Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, declared not valid the Chagai
Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement (CHEJVA), the initial
1993 exploration agreement between the Balochistan
government and Australian mining group BHP.

Indus waters treaty: World Bank president calls Dar

Tethyan Copper Company


Reko Diq is one of the worlds richest deposits of gold and
copper held by a Canadian-Chilean consortium that includes
Vancouver-based giant Barrick Gold.

Barrick, the worlds largest gold producer, and Chiles


Antofagasta Minerals, each own a 37.5% share, as the Tethyan
Copper Company, in the largest Foreign Direct Investment
mining project in Pakistan.

Their plan was to build and operate a copper and gold open-pit
mine at Reko Diq in the Chagai district of Balochistan

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