Pakistan's ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Shahid Bashir, is reportedly making all out efforts to get an extension in service and contract, well informed sources told Business Recorder. Commerce Ministry appointed Shahid Bashir as Pakistan envoy to WTO at Geneva in January 2010 for two years which expired in January this year.
He has served in the Commerce Ministry as Joint Secretary Foreign Trade (FT) and was the key architect of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and China.
Shahid Bashir who, according to insiders, is due to retire from service in months to come is again reportedly active in Islamabad to extend his service in WTO. There are, however, clear orders of the Supreme Court that retired government servants should not be reappointed.
However, an official of Commerce Ministry stated that the performance of WTO Mission deserves special appreciation. After few months of his appointment as ambassador to the WTO Shahid Bashir became the chair of committee on development where all issues of interest of developing countries are discussed. Pakistan once again became a member of the green room which helped Pakistan to get a waiver from WTO for a duty-free access to the EU, according to sources.
For the first time Pakistan became chair of DSB, a body where all trade disputes of WTO members are dealt with, the official added. If allowed to retain the services of Shahid Bashir, then Pakistan may become chair of General Council, the highest decision making body of WTO, the official argued.
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