ISLAMABAD - Amid foreign policy challenges, Pakistan will soon have two bosses at the Foreign Office - both from the Pakistan People’s Party - apart from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who would oversee its implementation.
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to join as Foreign Minister in the coming days if all goes well. The FO already has Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is also affiliated with the PPP.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi was briefly given the charge of the Foreign Office but PM Shehbaz later withdrew the portfolio. His status was, however, upgraded to the Minister of State.
“In partial modification of this earlier notification of even number dated April 20, 2022, the Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973, read with serial number 1A of Schedule V-A of the said Rules, has been pleased to appoint Syed Tariq Fatemi as ‘Special Assistant to the Prime Minister’ and grant him the status of Minister of State,” a new notification dated April 20 read.
Fatemi served as the SAPM on foreign affairs during the previous government led by the PML-N but was removed in 2017 for his alleged role in leaking a story about a high-level civil-military meeting.
Hina Rabbani Khar has already started meetings with the foreign envoys and counterparts over the telephone.
Bilawal and Khar will have challenges as they take charge of the foreign ministry. There are many questions about how Pakistan’s foreign policy is going to be shaped with a new government in place.
Pakistan and US are having wavy relations over the recent months, especially after former prime minister Imran Khan blamed Washington for ‘conspiring’ to topple him.
There is a lot debate going that perhaps a step towards China or a step towards Russia means a step away from the US. Pakistan always insists that it is not in any bloc politics and was looking towards following its national interest.
Hina Rabbani Khar from PPP has already assumed charge as minister of state
After his election as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif gave his policy statement regarding economic condition and improving the foreign policy.
Interdependent aspects of the economy and foreign policy are going to be a next challenge for the incumbent government. They will have to make Pakistan an investment friendly country and take steps to strengthen the already deep friendship between Pakistan and China.
The government also has to speed up the pace of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. PM Shehbaz has vowed to improve relations with US, UK and the EU and also offered India to work jointly for the betterment of the masses to get the region out of the poverty.
China is extremely important for Pakistan when it comes for the trade and economy. The trade between China and Pakistan is about $17 billion out of which Pakistan exports only $2.5 billion to China.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s exports towards the European Union are around $9.6 billion. Apart from this, the influence that US can exert on countries like Canada, Australia or non EU countries is something that can impact Pakistan economically.
After US exit from Afghanistan this whole region is less important for them while looking into the current Ukraine crisis. Biden administration is concentrating on the Indo Pacific Pivot but Pakistan still has the significant importance in the great power game between the US and the China.
There is a view in Biden administration that does believe that it is in their interest to improve relations with China. Pakistan can certainly play a role in this US choice of improving relations with China.
PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to join as Foreign Minister in the coming days if all goes well. The FO already has Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, who is also affiliated with the PPP.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi was briefly given the charge of the Foreign Office but PM Shehbaz later withdrew the portfolio. His status was, however, upgraded to the Minister of State.
“In partial modification of this earlier notification of even number dated April 20, 2022, the Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973, read with serial number 1A of Schedule V-A of the said Rules, has been pleased to appoint Syed Tariq Fatemi as ‘Special Assistant to the Prime Minister’ and grant him the status of Minister of State,” a new notification dated April 20 read.
Fatemi served as the SAPM on foreign affairs during the previous government led by the PML-N but was removed in 2017 for his alleged role in leaking a story about a high-level civil-military meeting.
Hina Rabbani Khar has already started meetings with the foreign envoys and counterparts over the telephone.
Bilawal and Khar will have challenges as they take charge of the foreign ministry. There are many questions about how Pakistan’s foreign policy is going to be shaped with a new government in place.
Pakistan and US are having wavy relations over the recent months, especially after former prime minister Imran Khan blamed Washington for ‘conspiring’ to topple him.
There is a lot debate going that perhaps a step towards China or a step towards Russia means a step away from the US. Pakistan always insists that it is not in any bloc politics and was looking towards following its national interest.
Hina Rabbani Khar from PPP has already assumed charge as minister of state
After his election as the 23rd Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif gave his policy statement regarding economic condition and improving the foreign policy.
Interdependent aspects of the economy and foreign policy are going to be a next challenge for the incumbent government. They will have to make Pakistan an investment friendly country and take steps to strengthen the already deep friendship between Pakistan and China.
The government also has to speed up the pace of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. PM Shehbaz has vowed to improve relations with US, UK and the EU and also offered India to work jointly for the betterment of the masses to get the region out of the poverty.
China is extremely important for Pakistan when it comes for the trade and economy. The trade between China and Pakistan is about $17 billion out of which Pakistan exports only $2.5 billion to China.
On the other hand, Pakistan’s exports towards the European Union are around $9.6 billion. Apart from this, the influence that US can exert on countries like Canada, Australia or non EU countries is something that can impact Pakistan economically.
After US exit from Afghanistan this whole region is less important for them while looking into the current Ukraine crisis. Biden administration is concentrating on the Indo Pacific Pivot but Pakistan still has the significant importance in the great power game between the US and the China.
There is a view in Biden administration that does believe that it is in their interest to improve relations with China. Pakistan can certainly play a role in this US choice of improving relations with China.