‘Funds’ for Pakistan missions abroad released

Spokesperson says SBP also gave nod to provision of foreign exchange for this purpose

ISLAMABAD:

Amid ongoing fiscal crunch, the finance ministry has released the funds needed to meet the needs of the country's embassies and missions abroad including the payment of salaries of their employees.

A finance ministry spokesperson said the funds for several Pakistani embassies and missions abroad up to the third quarter had been released to the foreign affairs ministry.

The spokesperson added that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had also approved the provision of foreign exchange for this purpose.

It had come to the fore that the salaries of the employees of several Pakistani missions abroad had been stopped for four months because a shortage of dollars had compelled the finance ministry to refrain from releasing the funds.

Several missions from Europe had also sent letters to the foreign affairs ministry, in which they had complained about the shortage of funds they were facing and their salaries, which stood at $5 million in the last four months, remained unpaid.

Sources said the Pakistani Mission in Germany had written to foreign affairs ministry that the shortage of funds was obstructing its regular functioning.

They added the employees in the US, France, Germany, Oman, Vienna, and Belgium missions had also not received their salaries.

The salaries of the foreign affairs ministry's employees in Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan had also been delayed.

The foreign affairs ministry informed the finance ministry about the situation through a letter, but the authorities concerned were not releasing the funds because of low dollar reserves.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, the finance ministry spokesperson said the funds to meet the fiscal needs of Pakistani embassies and missions abroad — including the payment of salaries to their employees — had been released.

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The spokesperson added that the central bank had also approved the provision of foreign exchange for this purpose.

The spokesperson for the Foreign Office said releasing the funds for the Pakistani missions abroad involved a series of steps and transactions, which sometimes were hit by delay.

Responding to the media reports, the spokesperson replied that the foreign affairs ministry was working with the finance ministry and other related departments to address the issue.

“It is the policy of the government to ensure the functioning of Pakistani missions abroad and all relevant departments are committed to this end,” the spokesperson added.

The FO spokesperson further said Pakistani diplomats and missions abroad were committed to representing the country and performing their duties.