Pakistan Tightens Rules for Overseas Trade Mission Jobs With Mandatory Exams and Training

The federal government has introduced a merit-based policy for appointments at Pakistan's overseas trade missions, requiring government employees seeking foreign postings to pass written examinations, skill tests and interviews. The Ministry of Commerce issued the new framework, which applies to Commercial Assistants, Drivers, Messenger-cum-Drivers and Security Guards.

Under the policy, selection will rest on merit, eligibility, seniority and past performance, with candidates required to meet specific service and qualification criteria. For Commercial Assistants, written examinations will carry 60 percent weightage, interviews 30 percent and past performance the remaining 10 percent. The examination will be worth 70 marks and the skill test 30 marks, and candidates scoring below 50 percent in the examination will be declared ineligible.

All applicants must sit their examinations at the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) in Islamabad. Successful candidates will also have to complete a mandatory four-week training programme before departing for their overseas assignments.

Drivers and Messenger-cum-Drivers will be selected on the basis of seniority and eligibility. Applicants must hold a valid driving licence that is at least five years old and will undergo driving skill assessments, including tests of their ability to use GPS and Google Maps for navigation.

The policy requires all applicants for overseas appointments to have completed at least five years of continuous service in the Ministry of Commerce. Employees returning from an overseas assignment will become eligible for another posting only after a mandatory two-year gap, while the normal tenure at an overseas trade mission has been fixed at three years.

Employees who have already completed two overseas postings will not qualify for further assignments, and those who have served continuously for six years at the same trade mission will be barred from applying for another posting. The changes are intended to standardise recruitment and ensure that overseas missions are staffed by qualified personnel.

The new rules signal a shift toward transparent, examination-based selection for foreign postings, which are often viewed as sought-after roles within the civil service. By tying eligibility to service length, performance records and formal testing, the Commerce Ministry aims to reduce discretionary appointments and improve the quality of Pakistan's trade representation abroad.