Pakistan appoints envoys at 18 stations abroad, including China, India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday appointed its ambassadors and counsel generals at 18 stations abroad, including China and India.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi made the announcement in that regard following his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan here at the PM Office in the afternoon, who gave approval of the appointments.

Qureshi, in a televised message, said he also held wide-ranging consultations with Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood and his predecessor Tehmina Janjua over the appointments.

He expressed confidence that the envoys would perform their new duties with due diligence and promote the country's image abroad.

Senior diplomat Naghmana Hashmi has been appointed as Ambassador to China after completion of the tenure of her predecessor Ambassador Masood Khalid.

The current ambassador to France Moeen ul Haq will take charge as High Commissioner to India.

Additional Secretary Imtiaz Ahmed has been appointed as Ambassador to Japan, Additional Secretary Europe Zaheer Janjua to Belgium, Additional Secretary Amina Baloch to Malaysia, Javed Khattak to Portugal and Saqlain Syeda to Kenya.

Rukhsana Afzal will take charge as Ambassador to Singapore, Khalid Jamali to Czech Republic,  Ata ul Manam Shahid to Algeria, Sarfraz Ahmed Supra to Sudan and Imran Haider to Tajikistan.

Maj Gen (retd) Abdul Aziz Tariq and Maj Gen (retd) Muhammad Khalid Rao have been appointed as ambassadors to Brunei and Bosnia Herzegovina, respectively.

Khalid Majeed has been appointed as Counsel General Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Ayesha Abbas Khan as Counsel General to New York, USA.

The current ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Moazzam Ahmed Khan has been appointed as Special Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad whereas ambassador to Kuwait Ghulam Dastagir will replace him in Abu Dhabi.

Ambassador to Russia Qazi Khalilullah has been given an extension of six months on his good performance.