The Federal Public Service Commission has rejected media reports claiming a sharp decline in the number of CSS candidates and waning interest among young Pakistanis in joining the civil service, saying the conclusions were based on incomplete and inaccurate statistics.
In a statement, the FPSC said recent reports had suggested that the number of candidates taking the Central Superior Services examination fell by about 45% between 2022 and 2025.
The commission said the comparison did not accurately present the 2022 figures and excluded thousands of candidates who participated in the compulsory preliminary screening test, known as the MPT.
According to the FPSC, 64,081 candidates registered for the MPT in 2025, of whom 44,445 appeared in the test and 31,265 qualified.
Of those who passed the screening test, 18,139 applied for the written CSS examination and 12,792 appeared.
Official results show that 355 candidates passed the written examination, 342 qualified after the psychological assessment and viva voce, and 170 were recommended for appointment to various occupational groups and services.
The commission said the participation of tens of thousands of candidates in the screening process demonstrated that joining the civil service remained a major aspiration among Pakistani youth.
The FPSC also said some reports had overlooked the results of the Special CSS Examination 2023, which was held under a federal government initiative to fill vacancies reserved for underrepresented regions and groups.
Through the special examination, 141 candidates, including women, minorities and applicants from less-developed areas, were allocated to different services, the commission said. It added that the special recruitment exercise also affected candidate and allocation statistics in subsequent years.
The clarification followed reports comparing only written-examination applications, which showed registrations falling from 35,059 in 2022 to 18,139 in 2025.
The FPSC maintained that relying solely on written-examination registrations without including MPT participation did not provide a complete picture of public interest in the civil service examination.
It urged media organisations to obtain complete figures and verify facts before publishing reports on important recruitment and examination matters.
The commission said it remained available to provide authentic data and other assistance needed for accurate and responsible reporting.