A circular issued by the Cabinet Division to all federal government departments and provincial governments states, "Only ministers and secretaries and such officers as may be authorised, shall act as official spokesmen of the government. No statement involving foreign policy shall normally be made by a person (other than the Minster of State for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister) without prior consultation with the ministry".
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs observed that at times, ministries, divisions and departments under control of the federal and provincial governments do not comply with the provisions of Rules of Business, 1973, while dealing with matters relating to foreign relations of Pakistan. The circular further states, "the relevant provisions of the Rules of Business, 1973, Foreign Affairs Division shall, subject to orders in pursuance of any general or special delegation made by that Division, be consulted on all matters which affect the foreign policy of Pakistan, or the conduct of its foreign relations."
The Ministry has directed that all proposals for entering into any cultural or other agreements with any foreign government shall, in the first instance, be submitted to the Cabinet for approval in principle and actual negotiations shall be initiated only after the proposal has been approved by the Cabinet:
The Foreign Affairs Division shall issue necessary instructions to the provincial governments regarding correspondence with the government of a foreign country or a Pakistan diplomatic mission abroad or a Foreign Mission in Pakistan or an international organisation. provided that by means of general or special orders to be issued by the Foreign Affairs Division, direct correspondence may be allowed under such conditions and circumstances as may be specified.
All requests to a foreign government or an international organisation for economic or technical assistance shall be made through the Economic Affairs Division, which shall correspond with the foreign Government, etc. The Economic Affairs Division may allow, by general or special orders, such requests to be made direct. All ministries/ divisions and provincial governments are, therefore, requested to comply with the above provisions of the Rules of Business, 1973 and to also bring the instructions to the notice of the departments/ autonomous bodies/ semi-autonomous bodies/ entities under their administrative control.