Karachi: Young Christian woman passes test for new Pakistani diplomats
Arosa Azam, 26, an electronic engineering graduate, is inspired by diplomat Samuel Martin Burke. Success after four attempts and seven years of study. Her story has been celebrated by the Archdiocese of Karachi as a symbol of hope for young people from minority groups, reaffirming the importance of representation in government institutions.
Karachi (AsiaNews) - A journey inspired by the life of Samuel Martin Burke (1906-2010), a Christian diplomat dedicated to Pakistan's foreign policy, has led Aroosa Azam, a 26-year-old from Karachi, to pass the Central Superior Services (CSS) exam on her fourth attempt, thus becoming a federal government official, the only Christian girl to do so.
Yesterday, during an event organised by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and the Catholic Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (CCIDE) of the Archdiocese of Karachi, her professional achievement was celebrated.
The CSS is known as a highly competitive exam conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) for recruitment into state bodies. In her test session, there were 104 vacancies available, of which five were reserved for a minority quota.
She was the only Christian girl to pass the federal exam. This is a gateway to prestigious government positions, with a rigorous selection process designed to assess the intellectual abilities, leadership qualities and knowledge of the candidates.
Aroosa Azam said she had devoted seven years of her life to studying to get to this point. Although there were many challenges, her faith in God and the support of her family and friends motivated her to pursue her dream.
During her speech, the young woman said that after the announcement of the successful candidates, she saw her name on the list and chose to serve in the Foreign Ministry, in Pakistan's diplomatic service.
The young woman, who holds a degree in electronic engineering from NED University in Karachi, also said that she studied at Catholic schools and colleges, which allowed her to develop her personality and instilled in her a dedication to serving humanity.
The desire to take this exam came primarily from herself, but the support of her family was fundamental, especially her father, Azam Mairaj, who has written several books on the struggles of minority heroes to protect and serve Pakistan. ‘So I will be the architect of the same struggle and the same spirit of serving my country, Pakistan,’ said Aroosa Azam.
Fr Shahzad Arshad, director of the CCJP, expressed his pride in Aroosa Azam's achievements, hoping that many other Christian boys and girls will take this exam to become people truly dedicated to service and sacrifice for their country.
Prof. Asghar Dashti, a Muslim scholar, also congratulated the entire Christian community on the 26-year-old's success and emphasised how she is carrying on the same spirit as her father, Azam Mairaj, who made the voices of Christian heroes who were hidden and unknown heard by writing their success stories and making them public.
A group of religious leaders, lawyers, doctors, teachers, nuns and young people were also invited to the event to hear her testimony of success and draw personal and community motivation from it.
Among them, Herschele Christopher emphasised the need for the Christian community to actively pursue careers in government institutions, particularly through competitive examinations such as the CSS. He stressed that meaningful representation can only be achieved when young people break through traditional roles and enter political and administrative positions in Pakistan.
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