Govt unveils new merit-based policy for trade mission appointments abroad

ISLAMABAD: The government has introduced a new merit-based policy for appointments to trade missions abroad, making written exams, skill tests, and interviews mandatory for government employees, ARY News reported.

Under the new policy, appointments will cover commercial assistants, drivers, and security guards.

Commercial Assistants 

For commercial assistants, the selection process allocates 60 percent of the total score to the written and skill tests, 30 percent to the interview, and 10 percent to overall job performance.

Candidates scoring below 50 percent will be declared unqualified. All candidates must take the tests at the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) in Islamabad.

Before deployment to a foreign mission, selected candidates will undergo four months of mandatory training.

Drivers, Messenger-cum-Drivers 

Meanwhile, drivers and messenger-cum-drivers will be appointed on the basis of seniority and qualifications.

Candidates applying for driver positions must hold a valid driving license that is at least five years old. During their practical driving test, their ability to navigate using GPS and Google Maps will also be evaluated.

To qualify for appointment as a commercial assistant, candidates must have at least five years of service with the trade ministry.

Officers returning from a foreign posting will only be eligible for another appointment after a two-year hiatus.

Tenure for the appointment abroad 

The standard tenure for appointments to foreign trade missions is set at three years. Employees who have already served two postings abroad—or a total of six continuous years in a single trade mission—will not be eligible for a third posting.

Additionally, employees subject to departmental actions, major penalties, or poor performance evaluations are disqualified from appointment.

Security clearance and medical fitness certificates—for both the employee and all accompanying family members—are mandatory prior to deployment abroad.