ISLAMABAD: January 18 marked a landmark moment in Balochistan’s administrative history — one that may reshape how government recruitment is carried out across Pakistan.
In a province long plagued by inefficiency and patronage, a four-hour experiment demonstrated how artificial intelligence could eliminate human bias from public hiring. For the first time, the recruitment of over 100 sub-accountants in the provincial finance department was conducted entirely through an AI-driven system — from question generation to assessment, shortlisting, and even issuing appointment letters. The process culminated when Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti personally handed appointment letters to the successful candidates, whose selection had been finalised by an algorithm, not a selection board.
Over 111 positions for sub-accountants had remained vacant for years, reportedly due to nepotism and corruption. Determined to correct this, Imran Zarkoon — the current principal secretary to the chief minister and formerly secretary finance — proposed leveraging AI to overhaul the process. With an academic background in AI governance and human resource management, Zarkoon designed a framework that promised transparency, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. CM Bugti approved it without hesitation.
The AI system was programmed to manage every aspect of the recruitment. It generated a question bank of 30,000 items based on the defined syllabus. The marking scheme stressed subject knowledge (50pc), critical thinking (20pc), logical reasoning (20pc), and English proficiency (10pc). Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in business administration or commerce were invited to apply.
On January 18, candidates assembled in a large examination hall equipped with smart tablets. Each contestant entered a roll number, triggering the AI to generate a unique set of multiple-choice questions — ensuring no two candidates received the same paper. As soon as an examinee finished the test, the system instantly calculated and displayed the score on a main screen visible to all, alongside the candidate’s name and district.
Once all assessments were complete, the AI automatically compiled the merit list, applying divisional and minority quotas in line with provincial policy. Within 30 minutes, appointment orders were printed and distributed by CM Bugti himself.
Encouraged by the success of this pilot, the Balochistan government now plans to expand AI-based recruitment to other departments and eventually to the Balochistan Public Service Commission. If executed effectively, this initiative could set a precedent for technology-driven transparency in Pakistan’s public sector — and potentially inspire other provinces to follow Balochistan’s lead.
