LAHORE: The Civil Services Academy (CSA) has inaugurated the 54th Common Training Programme (CTP) with the introduction of a Pre-CTP virtual phase, marking a historic shift in civil service training.
The ceremony, held in a solemn atmosphere, began with the National Anthem followed by recitation from the Holy Quran, formally commencing pre-service training for Pakistan’s future civil servants.
For the first time since its establishment, the CSA has launched the Common Training Programme through a structured virtual phase, which will be followed by on-campus residential training at its Walton Campus in Lahore, reflecting the academy’s efforts to remain innovative and responsive to evolving governance needs.
In his welcome address, Director Common Training Programme Dr Syed Shabir Zaidi explained that the Pre-CTP virtual phase has been designed to develop a shared intellectual foundation among probationary officers, strengthen their understanding of the Constitution and prepare them for deeper experiential learning during the residential phase. He said effective public service required not only academic competence but also ethical judgment, empathy and a strong commitment to constitutional values.
The Director General of the Pakistan Civil Services Academy, Farhan Aziz Khawaja, warmly welcomed the probationary officers and described public service as a constitutional trust anchored in Articles 240 and 260 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He stressed that civil service was not merely a career choice but a lifelong responsibility towards the Constitution, state institutions and the people of Pakistan.
The Director General urged the probationary officers to cultivate a scholarly temperament and develop a lifelong habit of serious reading. He emphasised close engagement with the Constitution of Pakistan and seminal works such as Allama Iqbal’s Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam, while encouraging officers to read widely across history, political thought and human civilisation to gain depth, perspective and sound judgment in public leadership.
Highlighting the competitive global environment, Khawaja said Pakistan’s civil servants must be intellectually and professionally equipped to match the standards of their regional and international counterparts, particularly from neighbouring countries. He noted that the CSA’s benchmark was to prepare officers with the exposure, skills and mindset required to meet the challenges of public service over the next three decades.
He also announced an initiative under which the CSA leadership would visit the families of probationary officers at their places of residence to better understand family expectations and to convey the state’s expectations from future civil servants, thereby reinforcing the ethical and social foundations of public service.
Stressing character development, the Director General highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, self-discipline and restraint. He advised probationary officers to manage their social media presence responsibly, avoid excessive screen time and focus on intellectual growth, reflection and the creation of public value.
The inauguration of the 54th Common Training Programme marks another step in the CSA’s ongoing transformation towards a knowledge-driven, values-based and future-oriented civil service, aimed at strengthening governance, public trust and constitutional professionalism in Pakistan.
