The Sindh government has announced a significant extension of the maximum age limit for candidates applying for provincial government positions in response to delays in recruitment and a high volume of applications.

The previous age limit of 28 years has been raised to 33 years. The relaxation would apply to all government departments, with the exception of the police force and positions filled through the combined competitive examination administered by the Sindh Public Service Commission.

“This relaxation will remain in effect for an initial period of two years, starting from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026,” the provincial government said in a statement on Saturday.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presided over the cabinet meeting in Karachi.

The Sindh Cabinet approved the Sindh Civil Servants, Relaxation of Upper Age Limit, Rules and directed the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department (SGA&CD) to notify the new rules, which grant significant upper age relaxations for candidates applying for government jobs.

The general upper-age relaxation applies to various categories of candidates. Government servants with two years of continuous service would be eligible for up to five years of relaxation, to be granted by the respective Administrative Department.

“General Candidates will be entitled to up to two years of relaxation by the Administrative Department and up to five years by the SGA&CD,” it said, “widows or children of deceased civil servants means those whose parents died during service will also be eligible for up to five years of relaxation, granted by the Administrative Department.”

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Moreover, persons with disabilities, divorced women, and widows would also be entitled to up to five years of relaxation, granted by the department.

Widows and divorced women are required to present relevant certificates, such as a death certificate (for widows) or a divorce certificate (for divorced women), at the time of applying for age relaxation.

“Under Rule-5, upper age relaxation for general candidates will be granted based on compelling reasons and sound justifications. These reasons may include medical issues, the death of parents or a spouse, natural calamities, delays in appointments, recruitment bans, and other significant circumstances. To assess these cases, special committees will be constituted,” it said.