Islamabad:
The federal government has begun a process to improve the performance of the Pakistani missions abroad, since Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assigned the task to the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, ISHAQ Dar.
The first meeting of the special subcommittee formed by DAR was held on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The subcommittee of eight members, chaired by the convening and member of the National Assembly Bilal Azhar Kayani.
Senior officials of the Interior Ministries, Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information and Radiodice, Pakistanis abroad and the Cell of Institutional Reforms of the Cabinet Division participated in the meeting.
The subcommittee reviewed the existing structure of the Pakistani embassies. The relevant ministries informed the Committee on the number of officials and personnel in Pakistani embassies and their respective responsibilities.
The subcommittee decided to start reviewing each Pakistani mission from next week. It will also seek recommendations from the respective Pakistani ambassadors. Pakistani ambassadors will participate in meetings through virtual link.
Future meetings will focus on the problems faced by Pakistani embassies, including the budget, workforce and responsibilities.
The Subcommittee will compile comprehensive recommendations and will present them to the Central Committee, “rationalizing Pakistan’s missions abroad”, directed by Ishaq Dar.
