Appointment of ambassadors, HCs: Merit-based policy being pursued: Qureshi

Five former major generals, one air marshal and a vice admiral have so far been posted out as ambassadors against 20 percent civilian quota for non-career diplomats.

In a written reply to National Assembly during the question-hour, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi insisted that non-career ambassadors and high commissioners are appointed by the Prime Minister from various walks of life against 20 percent quota.

The two-star retired generals who managed to get posting abroad as ambassadors include Maj Gen Sajid Iqbal (retd), Maj Gen Waqar Ahmad Kingravi (retd), Maj Gen Zahid Mubashir Sheikh (retd), Maj Gen Muhammad Khalid Rao (retd), and Maj Gen Abdul Aziz Tariq (retd).

Waseem Akram, a retired vice admiral, and Rashid Kamal, who happens to be a retired air marshal, also got posting abroad as ambassadors. Munir Akram and Dr Saeed Khan Mohmand are the only civilians who were appointed as ambassadors against the 20 percent no-career diplomat quota.

Apprising the House of the policy and procedure for appointment of an ambassador, high commissioner, consul general and other foreign postings at Pakistan's missions abroad, Qureshi said that ambassadors, high commissioners and consul general are posted at different missions with the approval of the Prime Minister.

The minister said that a merit-based policy is followed in postings of ambassadors and high commissioners at foreign missions.

In this regard, he said that a number of aspects i.e. functional requirements, skillset of a particular officer, language proficiency, and expertise in specific field or region are taken into consideration.

Qureshi said that after approval of the Prime Minister, agrément from the receiving government is sought by the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Once the agrément is accorded, credentials of the ambassador-designate are prepared.

Afterwards, he/she calls upon the leadership of the country and proceeds to his/her place of posting. He said the entire process may take one month to four months because of agrément process which depends upon different timelines followed by different countries.

Qureshi also informed the House that from September 2018 to date, 22 foreign visits - all official - have been undertaken by the Prime Minister. A total expenditure incurred on these visits is Rs 119.57 million. A total of 440 persons accompanied the Prime Minister on these 22 visits. During 20 official visits, the government aircraft was used. On one visit a commercial flight was used while on another visit a charted flight was used. The expenditure on aircraft is being compiled which will be presented before the house as soon as it is finalized, he added.

The National Assembly was informed that the revenue of Power Ministry has increased to Rs 229 billion in one year due to the corrective measures taken by the government.

Minister for Power Umer Ayub said that Rs 112 billion was generated through recoveries and taking action against power pilferage. He said 7,000 people involved in the pilferage were arrested.

Ayub said the government reduced the flow of circular debt to Rs 10-12 billion per month from Rs 39 billion per month left behind by previous PML-N government.

He said that 80 percent of the total feeders have been cleared of load shedding. He said a significant progress has been made in exploiting the wind, solar and biomass potential available in the country.

Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Andleeb Abbass said legal aid is provided to Pakistani prisoners languishing in foreign jails.

The House offered Fateha for those killed in recent terrorist attack in Quetta. Fateha was also offered for ormer Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and those who died due to rains in Balochistan.