PM considering appointment of 41 trade officers

ISLAMABAD: After seeking clarifications on certain observations from authorities concerned on appointment of 41 trade officers abroad, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is considering approving a summary for selection of officers to boost dwindling exports.

“Earlier, the PM Secretariat has sent back summary with certain observations and sought clarifications on inclusion of a few officers into the list of those who passed examinations as well as interviews but those were called back from their foreign posts without completing their tenures and inquiries against them were underway,” official sources confirmed to ‘The News’ in background interviews here on Friday.

There are officers in the list of passed candidates who were sent back from Sweden and China without completing their tenure of foreign postings. Inquiries against them are underway so how the ministry has inserted their names into the fresh list, vying for foreign posting again, the PM Secretariat questioned.

Now Ministry of Commerce has again forwarded a summary to PM Secretariat after incorporating its viewpoint on observations by explaining the process that the renowned institution, LUMS took written test from candidates and finally Special Selection Board (SSB) conducted interviews for finalising list of potential candidates. However, the competent authority will take the final decision, said the sources.

This scribe made attempts to contact Secretary Commerce Muhammad Shahzad Arbab and sent him SMS on his mobile to get his viewpoint on foreign posting of trade officers but got no reply from him.

However, according to the sources, the new policy devised for appointment of trade officers at different foreign countries under which the written examination was given wheitage of 80 percent and interviews having weightage of 20 percent for selection of suitable officers for this assignment.

The process is underway for selection of 41 trade officers stationed abroad with 9 posts in grade-18, 26 posts in grade-19 and 6 posts in grade-20.

For public sector candidates, officers working in BS-18, BS-19 and BS-20 having served for 3-5 years on relevant positions in the following divisions and departments of the federal government: commerce and its attached departments; finance; economic affairs; revenue; privatisation, planning, development & reform; textile industry; industries & production; board of investment; or in the following departments of provincial governments: commerce; planning and development; finance; and industries, were eligible to apply.

For private sector candidates, the minimum qualification required was Master’s degree (16 years of education) or its equivalent from a recognised Pakistani or foreign university in Business Administration, Economics, Commerce, Trade Law, International Law, Economic Development, Banking, Finance, Public Administration and having 5 years of relevant experience for posts in BS-18, 10 years for BS-19 and 15 years for BS-20 (with 5 years at a senior position) in the field of International Marketing and International Trade, Sales, Finance, Economics, Export/Import and trade related sectors in banking.

For Posts in BS-18 upper age limit was 40 years, for posts in BS-19 upper age limit is 48 years and for posts in BS-20, upper age limit was 55 years.

The role of a Pakistani Trade Officer stationed abroad is to increase the foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan through promoting and facilitating the expansion of Pakistan’s exports.

The principal responsibilities are enhancement of Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable trading partner, promoting favourable commercial relations between trading enterprises in Pakistan and his post territory, ensuring that relevant governmental bodies, commercial organisations and the Pakistani export community have up to date knowledge of trading conditions and export prospects and opportunities in his place of posting.

In addition, the trade officer is supposed to attract foreign investment into Pakistan, encourage Pakistan’s participation in major projects abroad; and stimulate tourist interest in Pakistan.