Pakistan has introduced tougher recruitment rules for locally hired staff at its trade and investment missions abroad, making security clearance mandatory and tightening eligibility, selection and contract requirements.
The Ministry of Commerce has issued new guidelines to all Trade and Investment Officers (TIOs), requiring them to obtain prior approval before hiring employees.
Under the policy, people of Indian or Israeli origin cannot be hired under any circumstances. Security checks will be compulsory for both applicants and their spouses.
The ministry has also directed overseas missions to give preference to citizens of their host countries. Pakistani-origin candidates with valid work permits can also apply for local positions.
Commerce Ministry Tightens Hiring Criteria
All appointments must be made against officially sanctioned posts. Salaries and benefits will follow pay scales set by the ministry’s Diplomatic Wing. In exceptional cases, compensation may be fixed through a market survey, provided the mission submits proper justification.
Applicants must have at least a graduate degree from a recognised university. Candidates with relevant experience in trade-related fields will receive preference.
The concerned TIO will form a selection committee after securing the ministry’s approval. The committee will conduct written tests and interviews before sending a shortlist of three successful candidates to the Ministry of Commerce.
Contracts Capped at Three Years
New employees will initially receive one-year contracts, including a 90-day probation period. Contracts may be renewed annually based on satisfactory performance, but total employment cannot exceed three years.
The policy also requires quarterly performance reviews. Missions must submit extension requests at least three months before an employee’s contract expires.
Once an employee completes three years, the position must be advertised and filled through a fresh recruitment process.
TIOs to Face Accountability for Unauthorized Hiring
The ministry has barred missions from seeking retrospective approval for appointments or contract extensions.
Any hiring or extension made without prior approval, as well as salary payments that violate the guidelines, will be treated as irregular expenditure.
The concerned TIO will be personally responsible for audit objections resulting from unauthorized recruitment or contract extensions. They will also be held accountable for disputes and legal proceedings involving locally hired employees.
The ministry has clarified that it will not take administrative or financial responsibility for such cases.
The new guidelines replace all previous instructions on hiring and managing locally recruited staff at Pakistan’s overseas trade and investment missions.
