Foreign Service of Pakistan

Foreign Service of Pakistan (Urdu: ملازمتِ خارجہ پاکستان‎) was formally created in October 1952, after having been an improvised organization since the creation and independence of Pakistan in 1947. Its old name was Foreign Service of India working within the Indian Civil Service (British India) before 1947. After 1947, its recruitment and hiring of employees is done through the larger organization Civil Service of Pakistan.[1]

Foreign Service of Pakistan

Foreign Service of Pakistan
Service Overview
Establishment 1948
Country Pakistan
Training Ground Foreign Service Academy (FSA) Islamabad
Controlling Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)
Cadre Size Posts
Colour White and Green
  
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood
Website Official Site

History

Foreign Service of Pakistan was constituted on an ad hoc basis immediately on the birth of Pakistan. The Service was first given an executive fiat in a decision of the Federal Cabinet in July 1948. A formal resolution constituting the service was announced in October 1952. It envisaged diplomatic posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the Diplomatic and consular missions of Pakistan abroad. The resolution provided for the posts of (a) Secretary (1), (b) Joint Secretaries (2), (c) Deputy Secretaries (8), and (d) Under Secretaries (16). Posts for Pakistan Diplomatic Missions abroad provided for Ambassadors (17), High Commissioners (5), Ministers (4), Commissioners (1), Deputy High Commissioners (2), Counselors (15), First Secretaries (10), Second Secretaries (19), Third Secretaries (31), Consul General (3), Consul (4), and Vice Consul (7).

Between 1952 and 1960, the cadre strength was constantly kept under review and was enlarged by executive orders in view of the expanding requirements. However, shortage of personnel continued to plague the service. The total strength of the officers gradually increased both at the Headquarters and the Missions. In 1972, the total strength of the officers at the Headquarters and the Missions grew to 323. At present there are 403 officers both at the Headquarters and in our Missions.

The entry into the former Foreign Service of Pakistan through examination began in 1948. The Recruitment to the Officers cadre (Foreign Service of Pakistan) is through the competitive examination conducted annually by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) of Pakistan. Foreign Service of Pakistan is among the top three groups along with Pakistan Administrative Service and Police Service of Pakistan.[1] The Establishment Division in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces annually the number of vacancies of officers in the Foreign Affairs Group, which vary from year to year. Officers of the Foreign Service of Pakistan undergo common training at the Civil Services Academy, Lahore and later are given six months specialized training at the Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad. The officers also undergo language learning trainings at various prestigious universities/institutions abroad to learn different languages including Arabic, French, German, Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese etc. Fully funded Language scholarships offered by other countries are also availed. The Ministry thus has a rich reservoir of officers who are well versed in different languages. Foreign Service of Pakistan is a cadre that runs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan) as well as Pakistan's Embassies/High Commissions/Consulates in other countries of the world.[2]

RANKS

After the initial training period, junior officers join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad and serve as Assistant Directors in the political, administrative or protocol wings. Junior officers begin their diplomatic careers abroad as either Third Secretary or Vice Consuls. They continue to grow in their ranks at the headquarters as well as at Missions abroad as follows: Headquarters: Assistant Director (BPS-17) ➡️ Deputy Director (BPS-18) ➡️ Director (BPS-19) ➡️ Director General (BPS-20) ➡️ Additional Secretary (BPS-21) ➡️ Special Secretary (BPS-22) ➡️ Foreign Secretary (BPS-22) - head of the Foreign Service of Pakistan. Missions Abroad (Embassies/High Commissions/Consulates General): Third Secretary/Vice Consul (BPS-17) ➡️ Second Secretary/Consul (BPS-18) ➡️ First Secretary/Consul (Senior BPS-18) ➡️ Counsellor/Deputy Consul General (BPS-19) ➡️ Ambassador/High Commissioner (In smaller Embassies/High Commissions)/Consul General (BPS-20) ➡️ Ambassador (BPS-21) ➡️ Ambassador (in bigger, important Embassies/High Commissions (BPS-22)

Progress of women as diplomats

As a result of Administrative Reforms of 1972 under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto regime, Foreign Service of Pakistan was opened even much more to women in Pakistan after 1973.[3]

Here are some of the distinguished women diplomats:

See also

References
  1. A guide to the Civil Service of Pakistan: Want to change Pakistan? Try joining the government as an honest bureaucrat The Express Tribune (newspaper), Published 25 April 2011, Retrieved 15 November 2017
  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan), Published 12 April 2017, Retrieved 17 November 2017
  3. Women in diplomacy Pakistan Today (newspaper), Published 8 March 2012, Retrieved 17 November 2017
  4. Profile of Rana Liaquat Ali Khan on apwapakistan.com website Retrieved 17 November 2017
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