High Failure Rate in Written Test for Trade and Investment Officer Positions
Approximately 60% of federal government officers who appeared in the written test for Trade and Investment Officer (TIO) positions in Pakistani missions abroad have failed to qualify. According to results from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), out of 178 candidates, 106 did not secure the required 60% marks, leaving only 72 successful candidates.
Breakdown of Successful Candidates:
- BPS-18: 37 officers
- BPS-19: 22 officers
- BPS-20: 13 officers
Candidates by Service:
The majority of qualifying candidates belong to the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) with 25 officers, followed by the Commerce & Trade Group (19), Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) (13), Customs (8), Pakistan Audit and Accounts Service (PAAS) (3), and 2 each from the Office Management Group (OMG) and Economist groups.
Selection and Appointment Process:
- The written test accounts for 60% of the total evaluation, while 40% will be based on interviews.
- 28 positions for Trade and Investment Officers are available in Pakistani missions abroad, with five posts exempted from the written test. These positions include:
- Ambassador WTO-Geneva (BS-21/22)
- Economic Minister Brussels (BS-20)
- Two Trade and Investment Counsellors (TIC)-WTO in Geneva (BS-19)
- Director (ECO) in Tehran (BS-19)
These positions will be filled through the Special Selection Board (SSB).
Policy Guidelines for Recruitment:
- All TIO posts are advertised with eligibility criteria.
- Quotas are reserved for officers based on grades:
- 40% for BPS-20
- 50% for BPS-19
- 60% for BPS-18
- 10% of positions are reserved for Pakistani diaspora and private-sector candidates (Pakistani nationals) who meet the eligibility criteria. Diaspora candidates can only be considered for posts in countries where they hold foreign nationality or residency.
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Specialized Test Components:
Shortlisted candidates will take a specialized test before final selection.
Mission Postings:
Successful candidates will be posted in 23 missions worldwide, including:
- Kabul, Moscow, Istanbul, London, Athens, Urumqi, Baghdad, Singapore, Chengdu, Beijing, Paris, Frankfurt, Tehran, Tashkent, Los Angeles, Budapest, Muscat, Darussalam, Maputo, Kuwait City, Brussels, Doha, and Dushanbe.
This selection process ensures that the officers are prepared to effectively represent Pakistan’s trade and investment interests globally.
