Foreign Service of Pakistan

Specialized Training Program:

After completing Common Training Program (CTP) at Civil Service Academy, Lahore, the probationers of Foreign Service of Pakistan join the Foreign Service Academy, Islamabad for a nine-month-long Specialized Diplomatic Course. Following subjects are taught in Specialized Diplomatic Course : 

• Foreign Policy
• Diplomatic Theory and Practice
• International Politics
• International Law
• Pakistan’s Foreign Trade
• International Economics

Upon completion of this course, the trainees have to sit for the Final Passing Out Examination (FPOE) conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC).

Language Courses:

Foreign language training is an essential component of training of a Foreign Service officer. A few months after graduating the Foreign Service Academy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nominates officers for foreign language courses to study Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish at premier language institutes in the countries where these languages are spoken. The duration of language courses vary according to the level of difficulty of a language. The objective is to make the diplomats fluent in the language they specialize in.

Degree Programs:

Foreign Service officers are encouraged to pursue further studies to enhance their knowledge and expertise in foreign affairs. A large number of scholarships are offered by foreign governments exclusively for Foreign Service officers and every year several of them proceed abroad to study in following subjects at leading international universities and institutes.

• International Relations
• International Law
• Public Policy
• Environmental Law
• WTO Law
• Human Rights
• Diplomacy and Management

Short Courses:

A number of short courses are also offered by foreign universities and institutes including sister institutes of the Foreign Service Academy.

Promotion Courses:

All Foreign Service officers are also required to qualify certain mandatory training courses at different intervals in their career. These courses are mandatory for their promotion to the next grade and include

• Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC)
• Senior Management Course (SMC)
• National Management Course (NMC)