The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has officially abolished the son quota system for recruiting children of deceased or incapacitated government employees to promote merit-based recruitment, was announced through an official notification that amends the rules for recruitment, promotion, and transfers in the province.
The notification removes Clause 4 of Rule 10 entirely and partially abolishes Clause 2, which previously allowed the recruitment of children of employees who had passed away or were deemed unfit for work. Under the new policy, such recruitment will no longer be permitted, marking a significant shift in the province’s employment practices.
This decision follows a similar move by the Punjab government last year, which abolished Rule 17-A of the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974. The amendment, issued by the Secretary of Regulation Services and General Administration, stated that children of deceased Punjab government employees would no longer be entitled to jobs.
Read: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt Ends Quota System Job Appointments
The Punjab notification read, “In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 23 of the Punjab Civil Servants Act, 1974 (VIII of 1974), the Governor of Punjab is pleased to make the following amendment in the Punjab Civil Servants (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1974, with immediate effect.”
Abolishing the son quota system in both provinces reflects a broader effort to ensure transparency and meritocracy in government recruitment. By eliminating preferential treatment based on familial ties, the governments aim to create a fairer and more competitive hiring process.
While the new policy promotes fairness, it may also raise concerns among the families of deceased or incapacitated employees who previously relied on the quota system for employment opportunities. Governments must these concerns while maintaining their commitment to merit-based recruitment.
