ISLAMABAD: The government has approved a series of key diplomatic appointments and transfers within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including changes in major international postings.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given formal approval for 24 important diplomatic postings and reshuffles. Under the new appointments, Captain (Retd) Usman Tipu has been named Pakistan’s new High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, replacing Dr. Faisal.
Dr. Faisal, the outgoing high commissioner to the UK, is considered a strong candidate for the post of Foreign Secretary following the expected retirement of Amina Baloch in September.
The current Foreign Office spokesperson, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, has been appointed as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
In other key postings, Bilal Ahmed has been transferred from Pakistan’s UN Mission in Geneva to Saudi Arabia, where he will replace Ahmed Farooq, who is set to return to Islamabad. Mudassir Tipu has been transferred from Iran to Uzbekistan.
For Afghanistan, Dr. Syed Asad Ali Gillani has been appointed as Pakistan’s new Ambassador, while the outgoing ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani has been posted to Sweden.
Additional appointments include Salman as Ambassador to Germany and Sania Afzal Qazi as Ambassador to Thailand.
Furthermore, Asim Ali Khan has been appointed Ambassador to Norway, Siraj Ahmed Khan as Consul General in Los Angeles, Asad Shehzad as Ambassador to Uganda, and Muhammad Faisal Abro as Consul General in Montreal.
Sources also confirmed that Khalil Hashmi (China), Ali Javed (Italy), and Aamir Aftab Qureshi (Greece) have been granted extensions despite completing their official tenures.
