Govt forms committee to rationalise Pakistan missions abroad

ISLAMABAD: The federal government, on the instructions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has formed a 13-member committee to curtail the expenditure as well as the number of Pakistani missions abroad.

According to the cabinet division notification, the Prime Minister has been pleased to constitute a 13-member committee on rationalising Pakistan missions abroad with immediate effect to review the functions and performance of Pakistan missions abroad.

The deputy PM, as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Ishaq Dar, will chair the meetings of the committee. The other members of the committee included the Minister for Petroleum, Minister for EAD, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Minister for Commerce, Special Assistant to PM Syed Tariq Fatmi, Member National Assembly Bilal Kiyani, Minister for State of Finance, Secretary Commerce, Secretary EAD, Secretary Foreign Affairs, Dr Farukh Saleem, and Secretary Cabinet.

According to ToRs, the committee will analyse the size and number of Pakistani missions abroad in juxtaposition to the required scope of work and the sociopolitical and economic benefits of the country and recommend a plan for rationalising the mission.

It will also examine the functioning of the mission with regard to the purpose and futuristic role of these setups aligned with the national interest of the country.

The committee was also tasked with suggesting measures to improve the efficiency of the mission, including the internal structure of the mission and station-specific performance targets.

The Committee will submit a report to the Prime Minister within 30 days.

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