Information ministry withholding results of officers seeking foreign postings.

Byline: Kalbe Ali

ISLAMABAD -- The Ministry of Information has withheld the results of officers who have qualified to be posted abroad, leading to criticism and panic among successful candidates.

The new selection process for press officers in Pakistani missions abroad includes a written test and an interview, and the final decision is made by the prime minister.

Candidates sat their tests at the National University of Modern Languages on Oct 2, but senior ministry officials have delayed the announcement of their results. The ministry received the results more than a week ago but has not released them to the candidates or to the public.

The test was held because officers currently posted at 17 high commissions completed their three-year tenures in September.

These include a grade 20 press minister in New Delhi whose seat has been vacant for some time. A grade 18 press attache is currently posted in the Indian capital.

There are 11 posts for press counsellors in Brussels, Tehran, New York, Dubai, Singapore, Paris, Ottawa, Dhaka, Jeddah, Kabul and Tokyo. There are also four press attache positions in Cairo, Colombo, Beijing and Washington D.C.

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