After a delay of more than two years, the commerce ministry has selected 44 trade officers for postings in foreign missions in 36 countries.

Trade officers are required to help increase foreign exchange earnings and promote foreign direct investment.

The selection of trade officers follows an announcement in the three-year strategic trade policy framework 2012-15 to overhaul trade offices while providing both financial and improved human resource. This was to be preceded by a performance analysis of the existing arrangement. However, nothing of the kind has happened. The actual selection process has been, on the other hand, criticised for marked irregularities.

The trade officers are expected to identify opportunities for Pakistani exportable goods and services and to ensure that exporters in Pakistan are quickly informed of the potential. The performance of the trade officers has, however, left much to be desired.

Similarly, it was also observed that in some cases officers who upgraded their education or gained specialisation in some areas never returned to Pakistan. There are instances, where such officers used all state resources to get posted in international organisations.

The postings of 44 trade officers have surprised the concerned quarters in bureaucracy, who point out that the choicest postings in the western, particularly, English speaking countries have gone to officers from the district management group (DMG) while those having experience and training in the field have been posted at missions in developing countries. DMG officers have been posted in Washington, Moscow, Sydney, Chicago, The Hague and Jeddah.

Officers from the audit and accounts and income tax groups are second and third in the row as they have secured postings in Hong Kong, Seoul, Rome, Paris, Riyadh and Berlin. Now these officers are stated to be lacking know-how related to their jobs. The selection mostly depends on the recommendation of higher- ups.

The official Summary about these postings shows that trade ministers/counsellors of BS-20 have been posted in seven countries. Of these five slots were given to the officials from the DMG and one each to audit and account, and commerce and trade group.

The 21 officials posted as commercial counsellors of BS-19 in 20 countries include six from the commerce and trade group, four from DMG, three from customs, three from audit, two from secretariat and three from income tax group. Of the 14 commercial secretaries, six are from the customs group, four from the commerce and trade group, two from the income tax group and one each from audit group and the private sector.

The irregularities surfaced when the list of the officers approved by Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for postings revealed the names of those officers who had been recommended by the leading politicians, including federal ministers and opposition members.

The prime minister himself recommended 12 officers for appointment. Commerce ministry sent the Summary to the premier on February 6, 2013 for approval. Commerce Minister Amin Fahim was a little ahead of the premier by recommending names of 13 officers.

Officials belonging to Punjab have the highest share, over 58 per cent, in the foreign postings while lowest ratio of 4.5 per cent is of the Balochistan domiciled officers. Those from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa figure with 22.7 per cent and 15.9 per cent, respectively.

This representation of the provinces in the postings may accord with their population, but certainly denies the officers from the less populated regions international exposure.

About 12 officials awaiting postings will remain on the panel for future postings. Of these, nine officers belong to Punjab and three from Sindh. No officers from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa figure on the waiting list.— Mubarak Zeb Khan