My batchmates in FSP say otherwise. The pay offered to these people is meant for places like New York and Tokyo where 1 kg tomato goes around 30-40 dollars.

But yes, the Foreign exposure, Foreign travelling and meeting with sophisticated people cannot be denied. Having said that, that's the only charm about it. If the Foreign Service will not have Foreign exposure or international travelling, its very rationale would fall flat

@Amin Shah
First, Foreign exposure, living abroad and meeting with sophisticated people is a great benefit that only FSP provides.

Second, diplomats are adequately paid, their kids education is free, they get best salary package in occupational groups of CSS. Its the only service that provides savings and financial security, REST OF THE OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS OFFER ONLY 40,000 SALARY, no way 1 could provide financial security to his family in such meagre income not to even talk of savings.

Third, PEACE ITSELF IS A GREAT BLESSING THAT FSP PROVIDES.

1 KG tomatoes for 40 dollars??? It cant be true. In UK 1 KG tomatoes cost 2 pounds max

In New York, one Kg tomato = $ 5.12.

And New York commodities prices are 120 times higher than Riyad (Saudia Arabia).

But in Tokyo price of one kg tomato = $7 or 746 yen.

And i think, Tokyo is the 5th most expensive city of the world.

Here is the list of top 30 most expensive cities of world.

2016 2015 CITY COUNTRY
1 2 Hong Kong Hong Kong, China
2 1 Luanda Angola
3 3 Zurich Switzerland
4 4 Singapore Singapore
5 11 Tokyo Japan
6 13 Kinshasa Dem. Rep. of the Congo
7 6 Shanghai China
8 5 Geneva Switzerland
9 10 Ndjamena Chad
10 7 Beijing China
11 16 New York City United States
12 14 Shenzhen China
13 9 Bern Switzerland
13 20 Lagos Nigeria
15 8 Seoul South Korea
16 17 Victoria Seychelles
17 12 London United Kingdom
18 15 Guangzhou China
19 18 Tel Aviv Israel
20 35 Abuja Nigeria
21 23 Dubai United Arab Emirates
22 32 Osaka Japan
23 42 Brazzaville Congo
24 24 Copenhagen Denmark
25 33 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
26 37 San Francisco United States
27 36 Los Angeles United States
28 30 Libreville Gabon
29 26 Nanjing China
30 27 Tianjin China

Dear, the first point is already agreed.

Third point of peace is relative. I remember I initially placed OMG on 11th during my attempt and just a night before interview, I placed it on 9th. But believe me if I am given a chance again, I would place it as down as at No. 5 max. And I would place FSP below it.

Regarding the Financial security, its surely applicable as long as you're abroad. In Pakistan, please visit the ADs and DDs and just check their condition and pay. You'll get the answer 😊.

At the end, again at the cost of repetition, its not a good or bad service but a compatible or non-compatible service.

__________________
In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure....

I am sorry. I wanted to say 400 yen in Tokyo and in a hurry, typed 40 dollars.

My bad guys.

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In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure....

@ Amin Shah
3 lacs salary abroad at grade 17 while free housing, education of kids and healthcare is an excellent package that even corporate sector cant afford.
In other services, salary is too low, education of kids is not free.
In Pakistan, yes FSP officers face problems for 18 months before new foreign posting but the fact is that they already save 15/16 lacs easily everytime they are back in Pak.
Even if we set aside the salary packages, FSP has no match. It gives peaceful life vs depressed life in groups like PAS. It provides postings in beautiful capitals abroad while in Pak, posting in Islamabad vs remote areas in PAS.
After devolution in 2001, DMG lost its charm as no 1 group and PSP became no 1 preference of candidates because our society likes power.
Rationally FSP has no comparison whatsoever wether it is salary or personal exposure, personal life etc.

@ Talha Majeed

Expensive cities are there no doubt but quality of life matters. It does not matter how powerful one's post is if he is in a remote and isolated desert area as compared to an FSP officer posted in Rome or Baku.

Dear, do check the allocations of top 20 or 30 positions since 2011 and you'll see whether it is FSP or PAS/PSP as top choice.

FSP maybe 3rd in frequency if I am most lenient.

The 3 lac salary that you say is again a benefit when posted abroad and I have never denied that. But the comparison drawn here is too optimistic in my opinion.

Civil or Public Service is by large, more about identity and less about monetary benefits. Seeing on this benchmark, I think FSP is less recognized to a common man viz a viz PAS, PSP, Customs, IRS and even OMG.

__________________
In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure....

@ Amin Shah

Totally agreed with you on point of power and authority.
Toppers chose PAS/PSP due to their social recognition, so agreed there also.

But if one looks at the total cost benefit analysis of services, FSP is an excellent, neat and clean service with good monetary prospects.