ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has once again sent a summary to the prime minister for approval to fill long-vacant positions of press attachés and press counselors in Pakistani embassies abroad.
Sources in Prime Minister’s Office have confirmed the summary has been received this week.
In the new summary, it has been recommended Fatima Sheikh be posted to Moscow instead of Washington, Zobia Maqsood to Washington instead of Dhaka, and Shaid Ullah to Moscow instead of Dhaka. Sohail Aftab is proposed to remain in Berlin. All these press counselors are Grade-19 officers of Information Group.
Four Grade-18 officers of Information Group are to be appointed as press attachés: Sidra Hussain to Ankara; Umar Liaquat to Riyadh; Adeela Rabab Kazmi to Baku, and Zil Huma to New Delhi. Their appointments will be for three years.
Due to delays in new postings, several press attachés and counselors at different stations have not relinquished charge and continue to perform their duties. Only three officers have vacated their posts so far. Currently, positions in Moscow and Cairo are vacant. The remaining five press officers have not relinquished their posts despite completing their three-year terms.
Sources say process of completing tenures of eight press officers abroad began about one and a half years ago. The selection board, chaired by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, conducted interviews in June, and the summary was sent to Prime Minister in July. Since then, approval has been pending for nine months.
