Pakistan has no plans to open new missions Saturday, 04 February 2012 00:13

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar yesterday apprised the Senate that at present 118 Pakistani missions are working in 86 countries and there is no proposal under consideration to open new embassies.

Replying to questions during question-hour in the House, Khar said that Belgium, being an important country of European Union (EU), was a very important station. Limited staff of 13, including five officers and an ambassador, was deputed there.

She said that due to efforts of the Pakistani mission in Belgium, the EU extended maximum support to the flood-affected people.

To another question, she said that as per policy, two children aged between five and 18 years of age of Pakistan-based officials posted at missions abroad were entitled to education subsidy of 90 per cent of the actual cost of the fee structures duly approved by the ministry. The mission paid the amount directly to the school, she added.

Responding to another query, the minister said the expenditures incurred on Pakistan embassy in Belgium during the last three years were $139.948m in 2010-11, $133.171m in 2009-10 and $113.941 million in 2008-09. She said that expenditures slightly increased in 2010-11 due to creation of a new post, replacement of an old vehicle and devaluation of Pakistani currency.

The minister said the expenditures of Pakistani missions were very nominal as compared to those of other countries. The mission applied cuts in its expenditures as per instructions received from the Finance Ministry, Khar said, adding that instructions of the ministry regarding financial discipline were being followed in letter and spirit.

She also told the Senate that there were 14 Foreign Ministry officials working in Pakistan High Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The ministry had no proposal concerning reduction in number of such employees as the mission already had bare minimum staff.

Internews

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