Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday okayed a policy for the appointment of 40 new trade officers for posting in Pakistan’s missions abroad in approximately 14 countries, reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to sources, the trade officers will be tasked with promoting exports and foreign direct investment in Pakistan.

The trade officers will be appointed in Sydney, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta, Riyadh, Washington, London, Kandahar, Tokyo, New Delhi, Bangkok, New York, Madrid, Jeddah, and other stations.

Under the new policy, eight trade officers will be posted as trade officers in Pakistan missions abroad on the post of BS-20 for posting.

Nine trade officers will be appointed on grade 19 posts, and 23 on grade 18 posts. As many as 10% quota is allocated for overseas Pakistanis in the vacancies and private sector.

Forty percent quota has been allotted for commerce and trade group grade 20 in the vacancies. Fifty percent quota has been fixed for commerce and trade group grade 19, 60% quota for grade 18.

The upper age limit for appointments is 56 years and appointments will be for three years.

The candidates will have to go through the process of tests and interviews for the postings.

The PM had directed the Ministry of Commerce to revamp the entire system of appointing trade officers who are posted abroad to promote the trade and commercial interests of the country.

The new policy focuses on a transparent and merit-based selection of the trade officers inculcating market diversification, involvement of the Pakistani diaspora, rationalizing the expenditure, broad-based monitoring and performance evaluation, and automation of the processes.