ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Commerce has introduced a new merit-based policy for selection and posting of Pakistan-based staff in commercial sections of trade missions abroad, prescribing competitive examinations, interviews, performance evaluation, eligibility conditions and strict restrictions on foreign postings.
The policy, approved by Secretary Commerce and issued on November 6, 2026, aims to ensure transparency and merit in the selection of staff for Pakistan’s trade missions abroad, which serve as key interfaces for international economic engagement, trade expansion, foreign direct investment and bilateral cooperation.
Under the policy, three categories of Pakistan-based staff will be eligible for posting in commercial sections abroad, comprising Commercial Assistants, Drivers/Messenger-cum-Drivers and Security Guards.
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Commercial Assistants will include Assistant Private Secretaries, Assistants, Stenotypists and Data Entry Operators, while Drivers/Messenger-cum-Drivers will cover drivers, dispatch riders, qasids, naibqasids, daftaris, farashes and chowkidars. Security Guards will also be selected from designated support staff categories.
The policy provides that vacant posts, including those expected to become available within the next one year, will be advertised along with prescribed eligibility criteria to invite applications from eligible officials.
For Commercial Assistants, the Ministry has introduced a competitive selection mechanism comprising a written test, skill test, interview and performance evaluation reports (PERs).
The selection process will carry 60 percent weightage for the written test, 30 percent for interview and 10 percent for PERs.
The written examination will cover Secretariat instructions relating to office procedures and file work, budgeting and accounting in missions abroad, including FMMA and EMDF, English language proficiency, communication skills and basic understanding of international trade.
Candidates will also be assessed on their knowledge of MS Word, PowerPoint, email, internet usage, computer proficiency, Excel, internet browsing and data mining.
The written examination and skill test will carry a total of 100 marks, with 70 marks allocated to the written examination and 30 marks to the skill test. Candidates obtaining less than 50 percent marks will be declared unsuccessful.
The examination will be conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD), Islamabad, while interviews will be held by a Departmental Selection Committee (DSC) only for candidates qualifying the written and skill tests.
The selection committee for Commercial Assistants will be headed by the Joint Secretary (HRM), with Joint Secretary (A&F) and Joint Secretary (FT Wing) as members and Deputy Secretary (Trade Offices) as member/secretary.
Selected Commercial Assistants will undergo four weeks of training at PITAD before their posting abroad.
The policy has also prescribed a separate selection mechanism for Drivers, Messenger-cum-Drivers and Security Guards.
Drivers and Messenger-cum-Drivers will be selected on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness and must possess a valid driving licence at least five years old.
Their fitness will be assessed through a driving test conducted by ICT Traffic Police, including understanding and use of GPS/Google Maps. Interviews will be conducted only for candidates successfully clearing both components of the driving test.
Basic working proficiency in English will carry five additional marks in the interview.
Security Guards will be selected on the basis of seniority-cum-fitness, with suitability determined by the Departmental Selection Committee.
Selected Drivers, Messenger-cum-Drivers and Security Guards will undergo three weeks of training at PITAD, ICT Traffic Police or National Highways and Motorway Police training centres.
The policy stipulates that officials must have five years of continuous service in the Ministry of Commerce at the time of application to qualify for foreign posting.
Fresh appointees and officials absorbed into the Ministry will be eligible after completing five years of continuous service from their date of joining or absorption.
Officials returning from foreign missions will be eligible after completing two years of continuous service at headquarters following completion of their previous tenure.
Officials promoted to higher posts on time scale will become eligible only after their substantive or regular promotion and completion of probation in the new post.
Officials falling within the promotion zone may apply subject to submission of a notarised undertaking that they will not demand promotion, actualisation of promotion or upgradation of their posts during their foreign posting. Their promotion cases will be considered upon return.
Contractual employees, including beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Assistance Package, will be eligible only after completing five years of service from the date of regularisation.
Officials returning from deputation, attachment or extraordinary leave will also have to complete two years of continuous service in the Ministry before becoming eligible for foreign posting.
Preference will be given to officials who have not previously availed themselves of foreign postings at Pakistan’s missions abroad.
The policy has outlined an extensive list of disqualifications, barring officials awarded major penalties, those facing disciplinary proceedings, officials serving minor penalties until completion of the penalty period, and beneficiaries of plea bargain or the National Reconciliation Ordinance.
Officials who have not completed their PERs for the last five years, have average PERs for three years during service, or were recalled from missions on account of poor performance or disciplinary grounds will also be ineligible.
Similarly, officials who have already completed two foreign postings or served continuously for six years or more in a mission will not be considered.
Officials having less than four years of service before attaining superannuation, those with unsatisfactory intelligence clearance and officials attempting to manipulate the selection process will also be disqualified.
The policy has fixed the normal tenure of foreign posting at three years, with no extension except in unavoidable circumstances.
In case a replacement is not appointed, an official may continue working at the station until the new incumbent joins, subject to recommendations of the Head of Mission and approval of Secretary Commerce.
The HRM Wing will be responsible for ensuring timely initiation and completion of the selection process.
The policy also provides that tenure may preferably be linked with the academic year of the host country.
After relinquishing charge, officials will return to the Ministry of Commerce headquarters, and no transfer between commercial sections abroad will be allowed after completion of the normal tenure. Mutual transfer or swapping of posting stations will also be prohibited.
In exceptional cases involving pregnancy, illness of a family member or similar circumstances, officials may be allowed to remain at the station for a maximum of one month after relinquishing charge, at their own expense and with Ministry approval.
Officials repatriated at their own request or on medical grounds will be eligible to reapply for foreign posting after three years.
The policy further requires selected officials and accompanying family members to obtain medical fitness certificates from an authorised civil surgeon.
No official will be posted abroad without security clearance.
Selected officials will also be required to furnish undertakings on stamp or judicial paper, pledging not to seek leave of any kind after completion of their tenure and not to apply for nationality, permanent settlement or asylum in the host country, particularly the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
The policy warns that unauthorised absence or disappearance of an official or family member may lead to summary proceedings and major penalties under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules, besides cancellation of official passports or a request to the host government for repatriation.
Violation of the undertaking will permanently bar an official from future foreign postings.
The final list of qualifying candidates, recommended by the Departmental Selection Committee in order of merit along with proposed posting stations, will be submitted to Secretary Commerce for approval.
The DSC will also function as an appellate committee to review and decide appeals and grievances relating to the selection process and eligibility.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026