The United States has cleared Rizwan Saeed Sheikh as Pakistan’s new ambassador to Washington and he will take charge of his office by month-end, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday, quoting diplomatic sources.

The US authorities has approved Rizwan Saeed Sheikh’s agrima and Pakistan has received it now.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also approved the appointment of Lt-General (retd) Muhammad Amir as Pakistan’s new ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

According to the diplomatic sources, there is a possibility of more changes on the diplomatic front.

It may be mentioned here that the Foreign Office had announced the appointment of Rizwan Saeed Sheikh as the new ambassador to the United States in last June. “The Government of Pakistan has decided to appoint Additional Foreign Secretary (Middle East and SIFC) Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh as Pakistan’s new ambassador to Washington DC,” Foreign Office said then.

The replacement of the envoy in Washington DC was long overdue. The current ambassador, Masood Khan had already received a three-month extension after his contract ended in March.

Reporter Anwar Abbas