Amna Baloch likely to be Pakistan’s new foreign secretary

Post will be vacant on September 9 when incumbent Syrus Qazi will reach the age of supernation

ISLAMABAD:

Amna Baloch, Pakistan’s current Ambassador to Brussels and EU will likely be the country’s new foreign secretary, official sources confirmed here on Wednesday.

The post of foreign secretary will be vacant on September 9 when the incumbent Syrus Qazi will reach the age of supernation.

Amna Baloch was the frontrunner for the top job.

According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the summary regarding her appointment. However, neither foreign office nor the Prime Minister Office confirmed the decision officially.

Sources, nevertheless, told The Express Tribune that the foreign office was informed about the key decision by the Prime Minister Office.

Amna Baloch will only be the second female foreign secretary. The first was Tehmina Janjua.

Baloch is a career diplomat and has vast experience in serving in different capitals.

Meanwhile, Faisal Trimizi, Pakistan’s current Ambassador to UAE, will likely succeed Amna Baloch as the country’s envoy to Brussels and EU.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch is being appointed as Pakistan’s Ambassador to France. The incumbent Asim Iftikhar was recently appointed as Pakistan’s additional permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

It is believed that Ambassador Asim Iftikhar will eventually take over the charge from Ambassador Munir Akram, the veteran Pakistani diplomat.

In other transfers and postings, Janbaz Khan was appointed as new Ambassador to Brunei, Malik Farooq would be the new envoy in South Africa while Mohammad Saleem will be Pakistan’s Ambassador in Canada.