PM approves 16 press officers for international postings

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved summary for appointment of 16 press officers in important foreign capitals and diplomatic locations including New York, Washington, Ottawa, Paris, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Brussels and others.

According to the approved summary on Wednesday available with The News, the prime minister has seen and in the light of preferences and choices for stations obtained from candidates and merit in terms of written exams, PERs (Performance Evaluation Reports) and interviews marks as per weightages assigned in terms of the prescribed criteria contained in Establishment Division’s No 4(8) 2014-T-IV approved the postings of Press Minister in BS-20, Press Counselors in BS-19 and Press Attaches in BS-18. According to the approved summary, Imrana Wazir in BS-20 has been appointed as Press Minister in New Delhi. For Press Counselors in BS-19, the PM approved appointment of Dr Mariam Sheikh for New York, Hamid Raza Khan for Ottawa, Canada, Danyal Saleem Gilani for Paris, Mohammad Dawood Ehitsham for Brussels, Mrs Shazia Siraj for Dubai, Mohammad Faurkh Rafique for Tokyo, Syed Hamzah Saleem Gilani for Jeddah, Muhammad Saleem for Singapore, Ambreen Gul Shahid for Tehran and Fasiullah for Dhaka. Mohammad Aamir Raza was not appointed anywhere because all choices had exhausted.

Regarding Raza, the summary says that prime minister has further been pleased to observe that Muhamad Aamir Raza provided only 10 stations as his preferences and choices which did not include Kabul. Since he attained merit of No-11 amongst the candidates for press counsellors, all his 10 choices had exhausted above him in merit, so he has not been assigned posting station. However, he may be asked to submit his consent in writing for posting at Kabul, the same may be offered to the candidate (s) next in merit if they are willing to accept the offer.

For Press Attaches in BS-18, the summary goes on to say that the PM has approved appointment of Ms Maliha Shahid for Washington DC Syeda Saira Raza for Beijing, Mohammad Faisal Illyas for Cairo, Ms Kalsoom Qaiser for Colombo and Jamil Ahmed Khan for New Delhi.

Earlier, the premier had returned the summary with certain observations on filling of 17 posts of press attaches, press counselors and press ministers for important world capitals at different countries abroad. "Now all observations were removed and appointments were made on merit," said one top official. Earlier, there were complaints that certain blue-eyed candidates were given more numbers during the interviews for ensuring their appointments at important foreign capitals but now appointments were largely on merit after intervention of the PM Secretariat.