PAKISTAN is at a critical juncture, facing an onslaught of negative and biased propaganda by its known enemies. The role of a few of our own expatriates has been very disappointing. This requires the involvement of the best of our seasoned and qualified diplomats familiar with such matters. Over a period of time, irrespective of who is at the helm in Islamabad, diplo- matic postings have been reduced to rehabilitate retired civil or uniformed officials, or cronies of political parties, as a reward for the services rendered to their godfathers.
Pakistan was not created to be a fiefdom of a few so that they may promote mediocrity from among their own. It is the taxpayers’ money that funds diplomatic missions with the aim of serving the collective interest of the nation. They are not there to provide protocol to the ruling elite of the time, or to promote their own business and family interests.
They are there to counter any negative propaganda against the state. They are there not to firefight tough situations, but to prevent such adversities. Foreign postings must be based strictly on merit. Pakistan has suffered enough, and enough is enough.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025
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