The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) late Thursday released the final results for the Competitive Combined Examination (CSS) 2025, confirming a grueling 1.9% success rate that underscores the narrowing gate to Pakistan’s elite bureaucracy. Out of the 20,200 candidates who initially appeared for the written examinations, only 380 individuals 215 men and 165 women cleared the final hurdles of psychological assessment and viva voce.
The commission has recommended these candidates for appointment to BS-17 posts across 12 federal government service groups. The Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) remains the most sought-after categories, absorbing the top 50 merit-list holders.
The results highlight a persistent gap between the number of applicants and those capable of meeting the commission’s rigorous standards. While thousands apply, the sub-2% passing rate has once again raised questions regarding the declining standard of higher education and the specific analytical skills required for the civil service.
“The merit was exceptionally tight this year,” an FPSC official said shortly after the list was posted on the commission’s website. He noted that while the number of female candidates qualifying for the Foreign Service of Pakistan (FSP) has seen a marginal uptick, the overall passing percentage remains “historically consistent” with previous years.
The allocation of groups followed the government’s strict quota policy, balancing merit with provincial representations from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan. Several seats reserved for minorities and specific regional quotas remained unfilled due to candidates failing to meet the minimum aggregate marks in the interview stage.
For the successful 380, the next step is a mandatory residency at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore for their specialized training program. For the thousands who failed to see their roll numbers on the final list, the window for the 2026 preliminary screening test opens in less than eight weeks.
The commission is expected to issue the detailed marks sheets for unsuccessful candidates within the next fortnight.
