hello,
can someone plz clarify wat facilities do we get during the language course?i m married and would certainly like to take the family along as i have a lil kid too.how wud that be possible?also after stp do u get a family accomodation at islamabad or not?

the chances of getting an accommodation in islamabad for a new CSP are slim to none..single officers get a room in the hostel if they r lucky..coz there is a serious shortage of living quarters...

1. On a language course almost all of the stations offer airline ticket for the officer ONLY, not to his spouse or kids. China is the only station where FSP officer gets airline tickets for his wife and kids as well on a language course. Accommodation is provided accordingly, that is, in china you'll get facilities for your family, but other than china, you'll need to arrange tickets etc etc for your family from your own pocket.

2. Yes, after stp or even during your stp, you can have one room in Foreign Office Hostel, whether you're married or not.

My brother is in FSP(married with two kids), he got one room in hostel when he was on his stp, and after stp in Islamabad. Now a days he's in New York on a language course. As i already stated, he himself arranged tickets for his wife and kids as government provided airline ticket to him only. Even on a language course, he's getting enough money to have a small but beautiful apartment and other facilities. Once you get posted(not language course, proper posting as a 3rd Secretary), then you get everything from the government that is tickets, accommodation, other facilities to you and your family(wife and kids).

I hope I've answered your queries.

__________________
Doing your best means never stop trying !!

thanku so very much flavia nd mossavir.i m pretty clear on everythng now
regards
saman chughtai

mossaver i ve certain querries i ll b obliged if u answer em...iz there ny charm in fsp fr a girl stayin at isb if she waives foreign postings n iz dat pssbl ..n wt r da job commitments at f.o .....n does da group is a top group havin alot ov potential wid da current almost failed forien policy..n r da promotions rapid..iz dis group equally gud fr girls as well ...?..as ill try to change my current allocation in fsp by opting fr mlcg or ny othr group in 2010 interview..im realy afraid dat i should not join fsp i made a wrong choice due t alot of misinformations like foriegn postings r optional widout creatin ny difference in da career ...n forien office postings n postings abroad r two diff n parallel departments of fsp..etc...?

1. Yes, FSP has a lot of charm when you're posted aboard. In Pakistan officers stay is relatively small, and the charm is less I'm afraid. In 30-33 years of career, an officer spends some 20 years aboard. Good protocol is provided when you're abroad, it is no doubt a very respectful job. An officer must be posted aboard to learn different language courses, diplomatic techniques etc etc. But you can not stay only in Pakistan, it's NOT possible and if suppose it is possible then why you're joining FSP? I would suggest you not to join it then.

2. Yes, the promotion is relatively quick. My cousin(FSP, 28th Common) is in 19th grade now. he is probably 39 or 40 years of age. If I'm not wrong FSP has the quickest promotion ratio compared to any department in the civil bureaucracy.

3. Duties of a new CSP in Foreign Office varies from post to post. Most probably you'll be Assistant Director of services, security, or you'll be working at some country's desk. Following are the JOB TITLES/RANKS in Pakistan as well as abroad.

1) Assistant Director(Security, Services, Country Desk)/Section Officer
2) Director
3) Director General
4) Additional Foreign Secretary
5) Foreign Secretary. (BPS 21)

Junior officers begin their diplomatic careers abroad as Third Secretary.

1) Third Secretary or Vice Consul
2) Second Secretary,
3) First Secretary or Consul
4) Counsellor
5) Minister or Consul General
6) Ambassador/High Commissioner/Permanent Representative. (BPS 22, Career diplomats/non-career diplomats).

NOTE: If you're not interested in going aboard and working there then obviously i would suggest you to opt for some other group. Otherwise FSP is very suitable for girls. In order to know about MLCG, please go through my thread in the MLCG section. Also mention your top 5 or 6 department choices, so that I'm able to guide you or suggest you some suitable solutions.

__________________
Doing your best means never stop trying !!

mossavir..da info u ve provided is of gr8 help ..thanx..i had heard dat theres sum policy of interchange of allocations among various groups but on da forum smbdy told me dat theres no such provision n all u can do iz juss an appeal t pm wid a vry bad prognosis so i thnk its juss wastage of tym..do u knw nythng abt it..?i believe fsp s got alot ov charizma bt fr girls only prob iz dat life iz bit unsettled sort of n ofcourse ur husband vil never move wid u quittin his career n all nomatter how accomodative he is..n family lyf iz mor imp dan career i believe.. ll juss try t make wise choices in my coming intrview..once i decide ill ask u abt my querries..thanx alot

On Language course , you are provided accomodation ( Studio Appartment) on all stations except on Japanese.

Rest u are medically insured for ur self, for family all expenditure is urz....

Accomodation is avaiable in islamabad, but it depends what u want to get,
a flat, a lodge ( Foreign Office), a proper home etc etc...all have merits and demerits....

would u kindly inform us which language courses are offered n when ,after stp or fpoe?do we get conveyance after stp n during language course?what perks n priviliges we get after compltion of stp n lanuage course? thanking u in anticipation.

Languages depends on the vacancies every year and also already officers doing languages. like we have been offered 9 languages including chinese, russian, japanese, portugese, spanish, german, arabic, and turkish. u have to clear your fpoe to qualify for going on language training... yes u get conveyance after stp and during language training. no special perks and privileges after stp except u start getting house rent , i.e. 45% of ur basic pay.