Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the federal cabinet on February 4, 2026. Screen recording
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved 24 key diplomatic appointments and transfers in the Ministry of External Affairs, including the appointment of Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations and the appointment of a new high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
As part of the reshuffle, Captain (retd) Usman Tipu has been appointed as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, replacing Dr Faisal, who is among the frontrunners for the post of Foreign Secretary following Amna Baloch’s scheduled retirement in September.
The prime minister approved a total of 24 important diplomatic positions and transfers. Bilal Ahmad has been posted to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan’s mission to the UN in Geneva, replacing Ahmed Farooq, who will return to Islamabad. Meanwhile, Mudassir Tipu has been transferred from Iran to Uzbekistan.
New ambassadors have also been appointed to Afghanistan and Sweden. Dr Syed Asad Ali Gilani has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, while Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani has been posted to Sweden.
Salman, who is currently working in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as ambassador to Germany, while Sania Afzal Qazi has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been appointed as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Other positions include Asim Ali Khan as ambassador to Norway, Siraj Ahmed Khan as consul general in Los Angeles, Asad Shehzad as ambassador to Uganda and Mohammad Faisal Abro as consul general in Montreal.
Sources said Pakistan’s ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, ambassador to Italy Ali Javed and ambassador to Greece Aamir Aftab Qureshi have been granted extensions despite completing their terms.
