NA panel reviews Pakistan's overseas missions

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Monday reviewed a range of policy, administrative and oversight matters relating to Pakistan's foreign missions abroad during a meeting held at Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Hina Rabbani Khar.

The committee, while reviewing recommendations regarding the transition from rented to owned properties for foreign missions and consulates, including the development of a structured mechanism to address repair and maintenance expenditures, examined various options, including long-term mortgages and other viable financing mechanisms.

The parliamentary committe emphasized the need for a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to reduce recurring rental expenditures over time through the creation of owned assets or mortgage-based arrangements.

The chair underscored the need for measures aimed at enhancing the administrative efficiency, professionalism, and overall robustness of Pakistan's foreign missions.

While discussing the agenda relating to the exploration of the option to merge WTO mission operating under the MoC with Pakistan's Mission to the UN in Geneva, the Committee suggested that the WTO mission may be subsumed within the Pakistan Mission to the UN in Geneva, in view of the existing workload, efficacy, the relevance of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the contemporary global trade environment, and the overarching international trade framework.