Islamabad, April 6, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet on Monday called for long-awaited reforms in the Commerce & Trade Group to improve efficiency and productivity in the Ministry of Commerce. The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, was attended by Senators Anusha Rahman, Saadia Abbasi, Atta-ur-Rehman, and Mohammad Abdul Qadir, while Senators Saleem Mandviwalla and Amir Waliuddin Chishti participated virtually. Federal Minister for Commerce, Secretary Cabinet Division, Secretary Establishment Division, and senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce also attended.
The Secretary Establishment Division briefed the committee that the hierarchical structure of the Commerce & Trade Group follows a pyramid system governed by rules framed in 1994. He noted that the Grade-22 post of Secretary Commerce is not exclusively reserved for the Commerce & Trade Group, allowing officers from other ministries and departments to be deputed.
The committee raised concerns over staffing patterns across Grades 17 to 21, noting that many key positions in the Ministry of Commerce are filled by officers from unrelated services, reducing opportunities for Commerce & Trade Group professionals. Members observed that such practices undermine the Ministry’s efficiency and demotivate specialized officers, especially at a time when the Prime Minister has set a target of increasing Pakistan’s exports to USD 25 billion.
The committee highlighted that appointing officers from unrelated backgrounds, such as Customs or IRS/FBR, to senior positions may not be optimal due to their limited exposure to commerce-specific policymaking. Commerce & Trade Group officials informed the committee that most foreign postings and senior ministry positions are filled on deputation rather than being encadred for the group, with only around 50% of Trade & Investment Officers (TIOs) in missions abroad drawn from the commerce cadre. In contrast, other groups, such as the Information Group, fill overseas positions exclusively from their cadre.
Commerce Minister endorsed the committee’s concerns, emphasizing the need to strengthen the base of the Ministry and safeguard the interests of Commerce & Trade Group officers.
The committee recommended a comprehensive review of the 1994 rules to align them with current trade and export objectives. It stressed that foreign postings should primarily be allocated to Commerce & Trade Group officers to ensure continuity in policymaking and maximize expertise.
It was further decided to constitute a sub-committee to examine the issue in detail and propose specific recommendations for encadrement and career progression of Commerce & Trade Group officers in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
