The Ministry of Abroad Pakistanis and Human Useful resource Growth made the primary try final 12 months when it performed a written take a look at for the choice of CWAs. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The duty pressure on abroad employment and welfare of abroad Pakistanis has proposed that the federal government ought to allocate 20% quota for the Group Welfare Attaches (CWAs) in overseas missions to consultants working within the non-public sector on a contractual foundation, a transfer which will open a Pandora’s field.
Earlier, the prime minister had authorised the allocation of 20% quota for abroad Pakistanis for posts of commerce officers within the overseas missions. Now, the duty pressure on abroad employment has give you a proposal that 20% of CWAs ought to be picked from the open market on a contractual foundation.
The duty pressure, headed by the adviser to prime minister on abroad Pakistanis, additionally despatched different proposals to the federal government for approval.
The federal government has directed the Ministry of Abroad Pakistanis and Human Useful resource Growth to submit an in depth report on the progress made by the ministries and divisions involved in mild of the suggestions made by the duty pressure on abroad Pakistanis.
The efforts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) authorities to nominate CWAs in overseas missions have been marred by controversies. It has been greater than a 12 months for the reason that course of was began however the Ministry of Abroad Pakistanis has not been capable of appoint the welfare attaches.
The ministry made the primary try final 12 months when it performed a written take a look at for the choice of CWAs via the Institute of Enterprise Administration (IBA) on March 10, 2019. Outcomes of the take a look at have been introduced on March 19.
A majority of the candidates couldn’t clear the written take a look at and solely 11 have been chosen for interviews.
With the prevailing coverage intact the place most weightage of 80% is given to the written take a look at consequence whereas interview has a weightage of solely 20%, the ministry rejected seven candidates out of the 11, who later approached the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom (IHC).
Following failure of the primary part of choice course of, the ministry launched into the second part and an commercial was revealed on October 27, 2019. One other take a look at was held on November 24, 2019 and outcomes have been introduced inside every week.
This time, over 50 candidates handed the take a look at and have been known as for interviews. A revised coverage, the place extra weightage was given to interview (40%), was authorised by the prime minister on December 10-12, 2019, effectively after the written take a look at and the declaration of consequence.
The IHC has put aside this coverage as it’s not relevant to the take a look at held in March 2019 and to the examination organised in November of the identical 12 months because the approval got here in December.
Sources informed The Categorical Tribune that in mild of the IHC orders, the Ministry of Abroad Pakistanis had began negotiations with the petitioners and allotted overseas missions for posting as CWAs.
Questions have been additionally being raised over the choice of 12 candidates within the second part as one candidate was mentioned to be an in depth relative of a bureaucrat.
Equally, the ministry was mentioned to be constantly altering overseas missions for its favoured candidates as the sooner listing had totally different stations for candidates and the one being despatched to the prime minister for approval had totally different stations.
When requested for remark, Ministry of Abroad Pakistanis’ spokesperson mentioned, “Check was performed with solely 11 candidates passing out of the 410 who appeared. This quantity was far lesser than the vacancies and it was proposed {that a} recent course of be initiated for the remaining positions as an alternative of a compromise on high quality by selecting from the prevailing pool.
“A special selection board was constituted with Adviser to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Zulfikar Bukhari as its chair for this particular assignment only by the federal cabinet.”
The spokesperson mentioned, “The current screening process is an example of purely merit-based informed decision-making by a panel whereby it is necessary to ensure a candidate’s suitability to the requirement of role in addition to their interest.”
The spokesperson added, “The interviewing process was challenged in court by some candidates after they failed to clear the panel interviews. Apart from those candidates, others are being screened in accordance with the latest selection policy that has been decided by the federal cabinet.”
When contacted for remark, Bukhari denied allocation of 20% CWA quota for professionals within the open market. He additionally denied that the ministry didn’t appoint the welfare attaches.
Revealed in The Categorical Tribune, March 29th, 2020.
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