The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has officially abolished the son quota system for public sector employment, ending the long-standing practice of hiring children of deceased or incapacitated employees. This decision, reported by ARY News on Tuesday, marks a significant shift in the province’s hiring policies and aims to promote merit-based recruitment in government institutions.
According to an official notification, amendments have been introduced to the rules governing recruitment, promotions, and transfers. Clause 4 of Rule 10, which previously facilitated appointments under special circumstances, has been completely removed, while Clause 2 has been partially revoked. These provisions had allowed the children of government employees who passed away or became medically unfit to secure jobs without going through the regular competitive process. By eliminating these clauses, the government intends to create a more transparent and competitive employment system that prioritizes qualifications and merit over inherited job entitlements.
With the revised policy in place, no special job reservations will be available for the children of government workers who die in service or are declared unfit for duty. This move is expected to bring uniformity to the hiring process and ensure equal opportunities for all applicants. While the decision may be met with concern from families who previously benefited from the policy, officials argue that it will enhance fairness in recruitment and encourage a more skilled and capable workforce.
This reform follows a similar initiative taken by the Punjab government last year when it abolished Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974. That amendment removed the provision that granted automatic employment to the children of deceased civil servants, reinforcing the shift toward a more competitive hiring framework across different provinces. The KP government’s decision aligns with broader efforts to modernize public sector employment policies and ensure that government positions are awarded based on merit rather than familial connections.
