Response to media question regarding review of the performance of officers of all departments posted in Missions abroad

(2013-12-10)

Responding to a media question, the Spokesman said that as directed by the Prime Minister, a Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization to review the performance of different officers posted in Pakistan’s Missions abroad.

Subsequently, a Sub-Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Syed Tariq Fatemi, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs to examine in depth and analyze the performance of officers from various Ministries/Divisions in the light of Terms of Reference (TORs) of the Committee. Secretary Finance, Secretary Establishment and Additional Secretary Cabinet Division were also nominated Members of the Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee held several meetings to analyze the efficiency of our Missions and to suggest measures to rationalize their expenses. The Sub-Committee also invited views of all concerned Ministries/Departments in the light of TORs. The final recommendations prepared by the Sub-Committee were submitted to the main Committee after consensus amongst all concerned departments.

The Spokesperson added that this exercise was not directed against any Ministry/Department but was carried out to rationalize unusual expansion in our presence abroad in the last decade.

This is part of the efforts of the Government to exercise austerity and cost-cutting in all departments of the Government including diplomatic Missions abroad. The objective is to reduce burden on national exchequer. The savings thus generated will then become available for development and other economic projects pursued by the Government.

Islamabad

December 10, 2013.

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