Cabinet proposes envoys can lead consultations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. PHOTO: FILE
Cabinet members have called for authorising the Pakistani ambassadors posted abroad to head bilateral political consultations in a bid to reduce travel expenses on officials going from the country for talks amid financial crunch.
A cabinet member suggested in a recent meeting that relevant ambassadors of Pakistani missions overseas should be nominated as the head of consultations to avoid unnecessary foreign travel costs because of the financial constraints faced by the government.
He added that for countries having more strategic importance, the ministers concerned could lead the consultations.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised that such institutional arrangements reflected a deeper engagement and higher importance for bilateral relations with a country through greater cooperation and, therefore, the representation by ambassadors, which was an everyday affair, would not signal the desired level of commitment.
However, the ministry agreed on the need for reduction in the frequency of such consultations, wherever possible.
Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefed the cabinet that the government’s ‘Engage Africa’ policy, which was one of the main pillars, was aimed at renewing focus on revitalising and qualitatively enhancing relations with the African continent. To this end, it was explained, instituting a regular bilateral political consultation mechanism was an important way of providing direction to the relationship and maintaining a steady momentum in the growth of bilateral cooperation.
The cabinet was informed that in this context a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs of Pakistan and Gambia had been agreed, which was also vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
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In terms of Rule 16(1)(h) of the Rules of Business 1973, approval of the cabinet was solicited for signing the MoU between Pakistan and Gambia.
The cabinet was apprised that while the government of Pakistan had a number of such arrangements with other countries, the proposed MoU would be the first such institutional arrangement with Gambia.
Pakistan has had cordial foreign relations with Gambia since 1965 and it attaches importance to the strengthening of cooperation with the African nation.
Responding to a question, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the head of consultative groups was either a director general or an additional secretary, depending on the level of engagement.
The cabinet considered a summary titled “MoU on Bilateral Political Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Gambia,” submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and approved the proposal.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2024.
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