Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a wide-ranging reshuffle of Pakistan’s diplomatic corps, endorsing the appointments and exchanges of ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls general on a summary moved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic sources said.
According to sources, the prime minister approved the posting of 20 ambassadors and senior envoys to key missions abroad.
Usman Tipu, currently serving as Chief of Protocol at the Foreign Office, has been appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. Salman Sharif, presently posted at the Prime Minister’s House, has been approved as ambassador to Germany.
Asim Ali Khan, who is serving as Consul General in Los Angeles, USA, has been appointed ambassador to Norway, where he will replace the current envoy. Sadia Altaf Qazi has been approved as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand.
Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) at the Foreign Office, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, has been appointed ambassador to Iran. He will replace Mudassar Tipu, who is being posted as ambassador to Nairobi, Kenya.
Ali Ansar Zaidi, currently posted at the Foreign Ministry, has been approved for appointment as Consul General in Frankfurt, while DG Faisal Abro has been approved as Consul General in Montreal, Canada.
Diplomatic sources said the prime minister also approved conditional appointments for new ambassadors to Geneva, Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. The current ambassadors at these stations will continue to serve until the end of the year.
Ali Asad Gilani will assume his responsibilities as ambassador to Afghanistan by the end of the year, replacing Obaidur Rehman Nizamani.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been designated to serve as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, replacing Dr. Bilal, who will continue in the role until year’s end. Dr. Bilal’s appointment as Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia has also been approved, where he will replace Ahmed Farooq.
The Establishment of these new postings is expected to take effect in phases as current envoys complete their tenures, sources added.