Amna Baloch to be appointed foreign secretary, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch Ambassador to France

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan’s new Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch will assume office next month, replacing the retiring Dr Syrus Sajjad Qazi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved Baloch’s appointment, based on the recommendation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Qazi is expected to be appointed as an ambassador in an important country after his retirement.

Additionally, the government has approved several other changes to Pakistan’s diplomatic corps. Ambassador Muhammad Saleem has been appointed High Commissioner to Canada, while Mumtaz Zahra Baloch will serve as Ambassador to France, replacing Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who has been designated as Pakistan’s Additional Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Other appointments include Janbaz Khan as Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Syed Faisal Niaz Tirmizi as Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, and Malik Muhammad Farooq as High Commissioner to South Africa.

Baloch is a Grade 22 officer of the Foreign Service of Pakistan and currently serving as the country’s Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg. She has a distinguished career, including serving as Consul General in Chengdu, China, and Minister Counsellor in Colombo, Sri Lanka.