Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the federal cabinet on February 4, 2026. SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved 24 key diplomatic appointments and transfers at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the nomination of Foreign Office 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 nominated as Pakistan’s high commissioner to the UK, replacing Dr Faisal, who is among the leading contenders for the post of foreign secretary following the expected retirement of Amna Baloch in September.
The prime minister approved a total of 24 important diplomatic postings and transfers. Bilal Ahmad has been posted to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan’s UN mission in Geneva, replacing Ahmed Farooq, who will return to Islamabad. Meanwhile, Mudassir Tipu has been transferred from Iran to Uzbekistan.
New ambassadorial appointments have also been made for Afghanistan and Sweden. Dr Syed Asad Ali Gilani has been appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, while Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani has been posted to Sweden.
Salman, currently serving at the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed ambassador to Germany, while Sania Afzal Qazi has been named Pakistan’s ambassador to Thailand.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been appointed Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
Other postings 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 that Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Ambassador to Italy Ali Javed and Ambassador to Greece Aamir Aftab Qureshi have been granted extensions despite the completion of their tenures.
