Commercial Attachés of Pakistan

[waqasshah]

AOA... Can someone (Respected Member of the Forum) draw an attention on Pakistan's Commercial Attaches's contribution to uplift Pakistan's Export in international market.. Does they really working or what?

[marilatif]

Originally Posted by waqasshah

AOA... Can someone (Respected Member of the Forum) draw an attention on Pakistan's Commercial Attaches's contribution to uplift Pakistan's Export in international market.. Does they really working or what?

commercial attaches' are the civil servants of commerce and trade group who are usually posted abroad to promote pakistani exports to the foreign countries. they are mostly posted in all the countries with whom pakistan usually trade.

regards

[Raz]

Originally Posted by waqasshah

AOA... Can someone (Respected Member of the Forum) draw an attention on Pakistan's Commercial Attaches's contribution to uplift Pakistan's Export in international market.. Does they really working or what?

Performance:
Performance of Commercial Attaches varies from person to person depending upon his/her competency and integrity level and from country to country depending upon the trade ties, complexities of relations and business environment.


Selection:
Their selection is not restricted to Commerce and Trade Group only rather a mixed strategy is applied for the selection of Trade Officers/Commercial Attaches.
Officers from Commerce & Trade, PAS, Customs, IRS, PAAS, OMG, Secretariat Group, Planner and Economist Group, Private Sector can be selected for commercial Attaché position.

Selection Procedure:

1) Written Test: To be conducted by LUMS
Syllabus: http://www.commerce.gov.pk/Downloads...icers_2012.PDF

Model Paper:
http://www.commerce.gov.pk/Downloads...Paper_Lums.pdf

2) Final Interview: To be Conducted by Selection Board comprising key secretaries of relevant ministries, Chief TDAP, and Commerce Minister.

Quota: Quota to be maintained for Commerce and Trade Officers, and rest of the seats to be allocated in above mentioned civil servant groups and private sector.

Positions:
Commercial Secretary
Commercial Counselor
Consul General
Trade Minister/Economic Minister

Tenor: 1-3 years extendable based on your performance

Eligibility: Minimum 3 years experience and BPS-18 officer if he is from the above mentioned groups.
Age: Minimum 21 years Maximum 45 years.

http://www.commerce.gov.pk/jobs/Sele...e_Officers.pdf

http://www.commerce.gov.pk/Downloads...d_05092012.PDF

http://www.commerce.gov.pk/jobs/Priv...icers_2011.PDF


Their Role and Function include:


A: I. ROLE

1. The role of Pakistani Trade Officer stationed abroad is to increase the foreign exchange earning of Pakistan through promoting and facilitating the expansion of Pakistan’s visible and invisible exports to the territory to which he is assigned. His principal responsibilities are therefore:
To enhance Pakistan’s reputation as reliable trading partner
To develop favorable commercial relation between trading enterprises in Pakistan and his post territory
To ensure that relevant Government bodies, commercial organization and the Pakistani export community have up-to-date knowledge of trading conditions and export prospects and opportunities in his territory.


2. Through fulfillment of this role, the Trade officer will not only contribute to his Government’s economic and trade related objectives, but also assist in the strengthening of Pakistan’s general bilateral relations with the countries of his Post territory.

II. Functions

3. To perform this role effectively, the trade officer will be expected to:
Seek out and create opportunities for Pakistan’s exportable goods and service and to ensure that concerned parties in Pakistan are quickly informed of the opportunities identified;
Assist Pakistan exporters to exploit these opportunities fully through the provision of advice and support to specific export initiatives;
To contribute, through a systemic reporting programme, to the evolution of Pakistan’s trade policy and export strategy.
4. Particular duties relating to the above functions which the Trade Officer will be expected to perform include:
To collection and interpretation of economic, commercial and trade information relevant to trade policy and export strategy and the dissemination of such information to appropriate organization and enterprises in Pakistan;
The processing of trade inquiries originating in the both Pakistan and post territory and the provision of assistance to the private sector, and to semi-government export enterprises in Pakistan, in establishing contacts in the post territory in appointing local agents/representative and in following up export opportunities and prospect;
The organization of a suitable publicity programme to support Pakistan’s export drive and the provision of advice and assistance in Pakistan participation in fairs and exhibitions;
Through representational activities, the maintenance of cordial relations with government official and members of business community of the post territory;
The provision assistance in the settlement of trade dispute;
The provision of assistance in the procurement of imported supplies.
5. In addition, the Trade Officer should seek to attract foreign investment into Pakistan, to encourage Pakistan’s participation in major project abroad, and to simulate tourist interest in Pakistan:
6. Form time to time, the Trade officer may also be required to: • Negotiate and sign sales and purchase contracts on behalf of Government and Semi-government agencies; • Participate in bilateral and multilateral meeting convened in the post territory; • Provide assistance on the securing and implementation of economic assistance programme.
7. In certain posts, the Trade Officer may, in addition, be responsible for servicing Pakistani residents in post territory with respect to provisions for imports into Pakistan against their foreign exchange earning under the Gift Scheme and the Baggage Scheme. For this activity he should be guided by instructions issued by the FBR, as amended from time to time.




http://www.tdap.gov.pk/faqs.php


Pakistan Missions Abroad:http://www.mofa.gov.pk/green_book/green_book.htm

last updated strength:http://www.commerce.gov.pk/?page_id=1636




Regards

[Usman Cheema]

In the above post brother Raz has mentioned is the standard procedure of selection of Commercial Attaches. But the ground realities are little different. 26 Commercial Attaches were selected for different countries last year. 24 among of them were employees of Government departments and autonomous bodies and 2 were from private sector. Among these 2 one selected candidate was the son of Sardar Latif Khosa, he was posted in London. One candidate named Azhar Hashmi was a close friend of Dr. Farooq Sattar who was crying about the corruption in selection of Commercial Attaches a day or two before. Furthermore, the same candidate doesn't even fulfill the requirement of minimum 3 years of service in BS 18. In the past Amin Fahim's daughter who had failed in CSS twice was also sent to Switzerland as Commercial Attache.

Regards,

[Raz]

Originally Posted by Usman Cheema

In the above post brother Raz has mentioned is the standard procedure of selection of Commercial Attaches. But the ground realities are little different. 26 Commercial Attaches were selected for different countries last year. 24 among of them were employees of Government departments and autonomous bodies and 2 were from private sector. Among these 2 one selected candidate was the son of Sardar Latif Khosa, he was posted in London. One candidate named Azhar Hashmi was a close friend of Dr. Farooq Sattar who was crying about the corruption in selection of Commercial Attaches a day or two before. Furthermore, the same candidate doesn't even fulfill the requirement of minimum 3 years of service in BS 18. In the past Amin Fahim's daughter who had failed in CSS twice was also sent to Switzerland as Commercial Attache.

Regards,

This selection process was in abeyance for last 3 years because CTG officers filed petition and got stay order. During stay order, vacancies were filled out by alternate modes.

Selection process of new trade officers is in pipeline. Result is suposed to be declared shortly.

[Jetpack2]

Is there a quota for officers of ctg group for trade officers postings?

[Muhammad T S Awan]

Originally Posted by Jetpack2

Is there a quota for officers of ctg group for trade officers postings?

Yes. However, am not sure about the exact percentage/quota ratio.

Regards

[Raz]

Deadline: April 25, 2015

http://lums.edu.pk/MOCTradeOfficersTest/


LUMS Written Test for Selection of Trade Officers, 2015

Overview
Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad has initiated the selection process of 40 trade officers in BS-18, BS-19 and BS-20 for postings in Pakistani missions abroad. The Ministry has invited applications from eligible public and private sector candidates through their advertisement in national dailies. The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has been contracted to conduct a written test of eligible candidates to be held at LUMS premises in Lahore.

The written test is designed to assess readiness of the candidates for appointment as trade officers in Pakistan’s foreign missions. This exam provides equal opportunity to all candidates to qualify for the interview to be conducted by the Ministry of Commerce in due course. Only candidates securing 60% marks in the LUMS written test will qualify for the interview stage.

This website is meant to provide all the necessary information required by the potential candidates including, but not limited to, syllabus, test date, venue, sample test, application form, call for applications and declaration of results, etc. For further information, please contact the designated individuals of the Ministry of Commerce and LUMS.

Applications are invited on prescribed application form, from public and private sector candidates fulfilling the following eligibility criteria for selection of 41 Trade Officers with 09 posts in BS-18, 26 posts in BS-19 and 06 posts in BS-20 in Pakistan’s Trade Missions abroad.

Eligibility Criteriaa.

For Public Sector Candidates
Officers working in BS-18, BS-19 and BS-20 having served for 3-5 years on relevant positions in the following divisions and departments of the Federal Government: Commerce and its attached departments; Finance; Economic Affairs; Revenue; Privatisation, Planning, Development & Reform; Textile Industry; Industries & Production; Board of Investment; or in the following departments of Provincial Governments: Commerce; Planning and Development; Finance; and Industries, may apply.

b. For Private Sector Candidates
Minimum qualification required is a Master’s degree (16 years of education) or its equivalent from a recognized Pakistani or foreign university in Business Administration, Economics, Commerce, Trade Law, International Law, Economic Development, Banking, Finance, Public Administration and having 5 years of relevant experience for posts in BS -18, 10 years for BS-19 and 15 years for BS-20 (with 5 years at a senior position) in the field of International Marketing and International Trade, Sales, Finance, Economics, Export/Import and trade related sectors in banking.

c. Age
For Posts in BS-18 upper age limit is 40 years, for posts in BS-19 upper age limit is 48 years and for posts in BS-20, upper age limit is 55 years.

Application Guidelines
1.Register at http://lums.edu.pk/MOCTradeOfficersTest/ to obtain a unique identification number (ID). This ID would also be required to view your test result.
2.Electronically fill the application form. It takes around 30 minutes to complete the form. All the fields with (*) are mandatory. The form can be saved and completed later. Do not refresh page while filling the application form.
3.Electronically submit the completed application form. Once submitted, no changes could be made.
4.Print two copies of the application form and dispatch them together with two attested copies each of
(i) CNIC
(ii) Recent colored photographs
(iii) Domicile; and
(iv) All Degree / Certificates to:

Professor Abid Aman Burki
Room 248
Economics Wing, Academic Block
Lahore University of Management Sciences
Opposite Sector U
D.H.A, Lahore Cantt 54792
Phone: 042-3560 8223

The applications complete in all respects must reach LUMS on or before April 25, 2015.



Important dates and venue
Application Deadline: April 25, 2015

The applications complete in all respects must reach LUMS on or before April 25, 2015.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Tentative Test Date: May 24, 2015

Test Venue: LUMS, DHA, Lahore

For more information, please contact
LUMS
Mr. Abubakar Memon
Phone: 042-3560 8145
Cell: 0322 432 3831
Fax: 042-3589 3990
moc@lums.edu.pk

Ministry of Commerce
Mr. Zahid Hussain Abbasi
Section Officer (Admin-II)
Phone: 051-920 3896
Fax: 051-920 5241
zhabmp73@gmail.com
www.commerce.gov.pk