Maliha Makhdoom, Daughter of Amin Fahim : Another Lucky Daughter

Maliha Makhdoom, daughter of the PPP diehard loyalist and Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim (MAF), has been appointed as first secretary to Ireland. She has been hired as a Foreign Service official without fulfilling the prerequisites of appearing in the CSS examination and going through 18-month training in two different academies.

Her appointment has been facilitated at the behest of the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. While following PM’s verbal orders, Foreign Secretary’s office moved the summary for appointment of Amin Fahim’s daughter.

While talking to The News, Maliha Makhdoom confirmed that she would be leaving for her high profile job of a diplomat in the first week of January. When this correspondent asked Maliha Makhdoom if she had taken the CSS examinations as a must requirement, she refused to respond. When this correspondent told her that she had been appointed on the verbal orders of the prime minister, she said there was no harm in it.

This correspondent confronted by asking her if it was the right way to occupy a challenging post of a diplomat. To this she said, “Ask the relevant department.” According to the summary approved by the PM on 28th November, she would draw a salary of $3000 a month. Along with the perks and privileges of a diplomat, she will have a residence with $2500 monthly rent. The summary also says that Maliha Makhdoom, born on 11th February 1980 is appointed as 18-grade officer. Other than her Masters degree, there is no mention of her prior work experience in public service or of her any other relevant training. Maliha Makhdoom did her masters in English Literature from Brunel University, London in 2007.

Although there have been political appointments of the ambassadors, but it has never happened in the history of foreign services that a high profile post of a first secretary is filled by using political influence.

Foreign Office spokesman, when reached for his comment was unaware of any such appointment. After passing the tough CSS examination, the successful candidates are required to take a collective training of 9 months at CSS academy Lahore, followed by another separate training of 9 months at Foreign Services Academy, Islamabad. After eighteen months of rigorous training, final passing out examination under FPSC certifies the candidate for Foreign Office service.

After going through all these procedural requirements, a successful foreign service personnel works on his first assignment as assistant director. After serving for 2 years at the headquarters, the official is then posted abroad as 3rd Secretary for three years.

After a series of postings back to headquarters and abroad, the official reaches the rank of First Secretary. Hence it requires at least ten years of Foreign Service experience to be elevated to such a high position. At some Pakistani missions abroad, First Secretary is the second highest post while at others it’s the third highest.

According to a long-serving diplomat and former Ambassador to Washington Tariq Fatmi, “It’s a very sensitive position. She will not only be privy to all the secret communications but in the absence of the ambassador, she will act as head of the mission.”

He said, “It’s time to move towards professionalism. And nowhere in the world now, political appointments are made at the diplomatic level.” Regarding Maliha Makhdoom’s appointment as First Secretary to Ireland, he said; “Since Ireland is EU member, hence the First Secretary will have a heavy responsibility of fighting Pakistan’s case at a huge platform as EU.”

These days Pakistan is striving hard at the diplomatic level to have a greater access to the European markets. First Secretary’s responsibility is even huge and sensitive, considering Pakistan’s terrible security situation and faltering economy with foreign reserves below 8 billion dollar. “Such a high profile posting, without prior Foreign Service experience, will be highly damaging for Pakistan,” observes Fatmi.

Source: The News