Our new ambassadors

Out with the old and in with the new is the PTI government’s other motto. In favourable fashion, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Administration is upholding its vow to adopt merit-based appointments in various departments. The trend started even before the party assumed power; Finance Minister Asad Umar, for example, rose from being a successful executive at a national company to his current position based on his experience, not because of his friendship or kinship with the PM. In its latest uprooting of appointments based on favouritism, a new list of Pakistani ambassadors has been proposed to major capitals of the world, as announced by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Although pending agreement by host nations, the mass shuffle brings excitement and curiosity.

Unsurprisingly, Pakistani Ambassador to Beijing Masood Khalid will retain his position; his work has not only meant a thriving business relationship for both countries by inviting Chinese investment, but has also motivated many Chinese hopefuls to cross the border to Pakistan. The increased investor confidence has resultantly brought other foreigners to the country and we welcome the diversity. Likewise, Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi has seen success by garnering attention for the Kashmir issue, for example, and will remain in place. On the other hand, there are some interesting shuffles where diplomats working in one landscape have been shifted to an entirely different political and economic landscape — such as Raja Ali Ejaz going from New York to Riyadh, Sahibzada Ahmad Khan going from the UK to Havana, and Dr Asad Majeed Khan going from Tokyo to Washington, DC.

The overhaul is a positive development with the caveat that the major jumbling will require some adjustment at a pivotal moment in time. Persons who were previously appointed possibly owing to their closeness with ousted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, include Nadir Chaudhry and Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, perhaps will better serve their interests elsewhere. We will gloat on the fact that the current leadership has made a prudent and fair call to appoint career diplomats based on merit rather than friendships.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2018.

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