ISLAMABAD: A government committee, headed by Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan, has shortlisted three names to fill in the post of Pakistan’s ambassador and permanent representative to World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Fazal Abbas Maken, Additional Secretary of Commerce; S.I.M. Nayer, a Pakistani working at the WTO Secretariat and Qasim Niaz, Secretary, Ministry of States and Frontier Region have been shortlisted for the post. The final decision will be taken by the prime minister.

A source told Dawn that rules of business were violated in shortlisting of the three candidates.

The source said that Mr Niaz retired on Oct 28, 2014. He has served in Brussels as trade minister for around six years. Nayer, a former government employee, was dismissed in 2013 as he took a job at WTO without proper leave.

According to the source, Nayer’s dismissal was converted into resignation later by the PML-N government. His absence from office without proper leave for four years was also condoned. The post of WTO envoy fell vacant at the expiry of the term Shahid Bashir in August 2014.

He had already served one year on extension. The post of ambassador to WTO was created in 2002. Earlier, ambassador to Switzerland used to represent Pakistan at the WTO.

Published in Dawn, October 30th , 2014