Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry has introduced mandatory written exams, skill tests and interviews to ensure transparent, merit-based selection of employees for overseas trade mission postings
Webdesk-Shiza Iqbal
The federal government has introduced a new merit-based selection policy for appointments at Pakistan’s overseas trade missions, making written examinations, skill assessments and interviews mandatory for government employees seeking foreign postings.
The Ministry of Commerce has issued the new policy, which covers Commercial Assistants, Drivers, Messenger-cum-Drivers and Security Guards. It establishes eligibility criteria based on merit, seniority, professional qualifications and previous job performance.
Under the revised selection process, written examinations will carry 60 percent weightage for Commercial Assistants, while interviews will account for 30 percent and past performance for the remaining 10 percent.
The examination will comprise 70 marks, while the skill assessment will carry 30 marks. Candidates securing less than 50 percent will be declared ineligible. Applicants will be required to appear for the assessments at the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) in Islamabad.
Successful candidates must also complete four weeks of mandatory training before departing for their overseas assignments.
For Drivers and Messenger-cum-Drivers, selection will be based on seniority and eligibility requirements. Applicants must possess a valid driving licence issued at least five years earlier and pass practical driving assessments. The tests will also evaluate their ability to use navigation tools, including GPS and Google Maps.
The policy requires all applicants to have completed at least five years of continuous service in the Ministry of Commerce to qualify for overseas appointments.
The standard tenure for an overseas trade mission posting has been fixed at three years. Employees returning from foreign assignments will have to wait at least two years before becoming eligible for another posting.
Additionally, employees who have already completed two overseas assignments will be barred from further postings. Those who have served continuously for six years at the same trade mission will also be ineligible to apply for another assignment.
The policy further excludes employees facing departmental proceedings, major penalties or those with records of poor performance.
Security clearance and medical fitness certificates will be mandatory for selected employees. Family members accompanying them abroad will also be required to submit medical fitness certificates.
The Ministry of Commerce said the new framework aims to improve transparency, strengthen merit-based recruitment and ensure more efficient appointments across Pakistan’s overseas trade missions.
