ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly was told on Monday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led regime has appointed 10 retired Major Generals, one retired Vice Admiral and one retired Air Marshal as Pakistan’s Ambassadors in different Countries.
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the House that of them, Major General (retd) Sajid Iqbal, Major General (retd) Waqar Ahmad Kingravi, Major General (retd) Zahid Mubashir Sheikh, Major General (retd) Muhammad Khalid Rao, Major General (retd) Abdul Aziz Tariq, Vice Admiral (retd) Waseem Akram, and Air Marshal (retd) Rashid Kamal along with former diplomat Munir Akram and Dr Saeed Khan Mohmand have been appointed as Ambassadors on contract.
Apprising the House about the policy and procedure for appointment of an Ambassador, High Commissioner, Council General and other foreign postings in Pakistan Missions abroad, the foreign minister told that the Ambassadors/High Commissioners/Consuls General are posted to different Missions with the approval of the Prime Minister.
The minister told that the merit based policy is followed in postings/transfers of Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the Missions abroad. In this regard, a number of aspects such as functional requirements, skill set of a particular officer, language proficiency and expertise in specific field or region are taken into account.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi told that after approval of the Prime Minister, Agrément from the receiving government is sought by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once the Agrément is accorded, credentials of the Ambassador-designate are prepared. Afterwards, he/she calls upon the leadership of the country and proceeds to his/her place of posting. He told that the entire process may take one month to four months because of Agrément process which depends upon different timelines followed by different Countries.
About the quota for postings of non-career diplomats and officers for posting abroad, Qureshi told that non-career Ambassadors/High Commissioners are appointed by the Prime Minister from various walks of life against 20% quota fixed for this purpose. He told that experienced and eminent personalities are selected for such assignments.
