Pakistan Bans Hiring of Indian, Israeli-Origin Staff At Overseas Missions

Pakistan has announced a new policy mandating stricter eligibility requirements for locally hired employees at overseas trade and investment missions. Candidates of Indian or Israeli origin will be ineligible for recruitment. Security screening will be mandatory for candidates and their spouses, while Trade and Investment Officers must seek prior approval from the Ministry of Commerce before initiating any recruitment process.

The Ministry has provided detailed guidelines directing officers to prioritize Pakistani citizens and Pakistani-origin individuals with valid work permits may be considered for local positions.

Locally hired employees may only fill officially approved positions, with salaries and benefits adhering to standardized pay scales issued by the Diplomatic Wing. Exceptional cases may see compensation determined through a market survey, provided proper justification is provided. Applicants must hold a graduate degree from a recognized university, with preference given to those with relevant experience in trade-related fields.

A selection committee will be established by the responsible Trade and Investment Officer, after receiving approval from the Ministry of Commerce.

Employment contracts will be limited to a maximum of three years, with an initial one-year term and a 90-day probation period. Contracts may be renewed annually, contingent on satisfactory performance. Quarterly performance evaluations will be mandatory, with requests for contract extensions needing to be submitted three months prior to the contract's expiration.

Once an employee reaches the maximum three-year tenure, a fresh recruitment must be conducted. Unauthorized hiring and contract extensions without prior approval will be considered irregular expenditure, with the Trade and Investment Officer accountable for any audit objections, disputes, or legal proceedings arising from such actions.