DNA

ISLAMABAD: Employees of Pakistan’s foreign missions in various countries have not been paid for the last three to four months, due to the shortage of dollars in the country, a fact confirmed by the Foreign Office Spokesperson when contacted by media people.

The details have revealed that employees of Pakistan’s missions abroad in various countries, including in France, Germany, the United States, Oman, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan etc are facing problems due to the non-payment of their salaries, being paid to them in dollars.

They said that these missions have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the problems being faced by their employees due to the pending salaries of three to four months. They added that some missions have also conveyed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that diplomatic staffers are also facing serious problems in meeting their expenses including handling routine affairs.

So much so, the local staff in respective Pakistani missions has also not been paid for many months, which has created embarrassment. The Foreign Office Officials say the delay is caused due to the overall economic situation of the country.

Sources say, there are some missions who even don’t pay anything to the local staff. A top diplomat told this newspaper on the condition of not being named that the Pakistani mission in Geneva had hired serves of the local staff however the staff was not paid.