ISLAMABAD: The government has initiated selection process for appointing Pakistan’s new ambassador and permanent representative to the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The post fell vacant following the exit of Pakistan Administrative Services BS-21 officer Dr Tauqir Shah who tendered his resignation in June 2018. Since then, this important position to represent Pakistan at the Geneva-based WTO Secretariat has been lying vacant.

The post was created in 2002 to appoint a competent person to secure Pakistan’s interests in the Doha round negotiations. Earlier, Foreign Office ambassadors used to represent Pakistan at the WTO.

In the wake of approval of a selection process of ambassador for the slot, several officials are in the run for the post and are seeking contacts with the bigwigs in PTI government for appointment to the prestigious position. The posting on the coveted slot gained importance following the intervention of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to ensure merit based posting.

On Jan 28, 2019, the Prime Minister Secretariat approved a selection criterion for the fourth ambassador. This will be the first ever selection criterion for posting of an officer as ambassador to WTO.

Earlier, the two ambassadors were appointed by the prime ministers on summaries sent by the Ministry of Commerce. For appointment of a third ambassador to the WTO, the government had constituted a three-member committee chaired by former commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan.

However, the PTI government has now approved broader selection criteria. As per the parameters of selection of ambassador include serving officer of grade 21/22, the age on application should be less than 57 years, not retiring in next 04 years, not in promotion zone in next 02 years.

The experience of working for the officers will have to be 5 years during last 10 years in economic ministries, but in the case of Federal Board of Revenue only Customs.

The specific criterion for the post has attracted criticism from various services groups. It appears that criterion is designed ‘to fit the crown to already selected head’, one officer in the Establishment Division told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

The new selection criterion excludes all grade 20 officers, all Pakistani professionals working with WTO, UN, World Bank, FAO and other international organisations who can bring exceptional expertise and value addition.

According to another official, there is contradiction on the issue of age requirement. The policy says applicant age should be 57 years while on the other hand if not retiring in next four years then age must be less than 56 years. However, it excludes all grade 22 officers irrespective of occupational Groups (except one or two) who would be retiring before April 2023. All officers of Commerce and Trade of grade 21 would also fall in this. The same also applies to all grade 21 officers of other occupational Groups as well as Provincial Management Services, who are not in promotion zone in next 02 years.

All officers who are in grade 21 are eligible for promotion after completing 02 years. It means all grade 21 officers of Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) and Secretariat Group are excluded. This leaves only officers of Customs and IRS eligible as there are limited grade 22 positions in their own occupational group.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2019