The Sher sisters are exemplary instances of women empowerment in Pakistan. Zoha Malik Sher, youngest one of five sisters, has set a unique record of clearing the CSS Examination and become part of bureaucracy. She successfully cleared the examination and is allocated to the Office Management Group (OMG).

Her other sisters are currently serving at different positions in the bureaucracy. Leila Sher Malik is the eldest sister who passed the CSS exam back in 2008 and presently serves in the Board of Revenue, Karachi as Deputy Commissioner.

Clearing her exams at the age of 21, she became the youngest CSP officer in Pakistani history. The second sister, Shireen Malik is presently posted as Director of National Highway Authority in Islamabad; she cleared her CSS exams in 2010.

Similarly, Marvi Malik and Sassi Malik appeared for the exam and cleared it. Following which they took the CEO training in Lahore. As of now, Sassi is the Deputy Executive CEO Chaklala Cantonment and Marvi is designated as Assistant Commissioner Abbotabad.

#BREAKING: A very proud moment for the parents as all their five daughters
are now CSP officer. The youngest one Zoha Malik Sher creates a #record as all five Sher sisters – Laila, Shireen, @SassiMalikSher, @MarviMalikSher & now Zoha are bureacrats. #WomenInBureacracy pic.twitter.com/XdCFqB5gLG

— Kapil Dev (@KDSindhi) June 17, 2020

It is important to note that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has announced the CSS final examination result 2019 for BS-17 posts recruitments under FPSC.

This is the kind of uplifting news that we wanted to hear in difficult times like the present. It is refreshing and motivating to see Pakistan women winning laurels and making our county proud. The sisters got their early education from a convent school in Rawalpindi and belong to Haripur, KP.

I saw a name of Zoha Malik Sher , Congratulations. I thought you all sisters got a formula to pass a CSS. Tell me please 😊 @SassiMalikSher @MarviMalikSher pic.twitter.com/pVF4Qe8bnS

— Rais Rehmatullah Palal (@Raispalal) June 17, 2020

This indeed is a proud moment for any parent. Father Malik Rafiq Awan expressed gratitude and joy over Zoha’s passing. He said he never regretted having five daughters. He even told the media how the relatives expressed sorrow over the birth of his fifth daughter, Zoha. However, he always encouraged her daughters to join civil services since they were young. What a great father indeed!

Several congratulatory messages were received from relatives and acquaintances for Zoha and her family.

This the reason why it is critical to send every child to school, specially a female child; So that they can become part of the administration and bring about significant changes from the top.

It is pertinent to note that with a rate of 2.56% this year, the passing mark touched a record low in comparison to previous year’s 4.79%, and a 3.3% passing rate in 2017. The consistently low passing score in CSS examinations raises concerns regarding the strict evaluation system of the FPSC and education system of Pakistan.

Is the deteriorating education system of our country to blame? Or is the rigid passing criteria post 2014 one of the reasons? One of the other reasons, as most people agree is the nominal pay in the beginning. This is one of the main reasons why promising candidates stay away from civil services of Pakistan and decide to go for popular and high paying professions like medicine, engineering, marketing, law etc.

This is the kind of feminism and empowerment is what this country needs. Way to go, Zoha!