ISLAMABAD - Following the ouster of the previous government and induction of Bilawal Bhutto as foreign minister of Pakistan and Hina Rabbani Khar as minister of state for foreign affairs, top officials previously working with former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi have been posted out to other departments within the foreign ministry.
Special Secretary Raza Bashir Tarar, working with former FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has been transferred and posted as special secretary in policy planning.
Muhammad Hasan, an ex-staff officer to former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, has been appointed as director in the minister of state office with Hina Rabbani Khar.
Dr Bilal Ahmed, who was earlier serving as DG Middle East, has been transferred and posted as DG minister of state office.
Entire senior and junior officials, working under Shah Mehmood Qureshi at foreign minister’s office, have been replaced with new staff.
M Aftab Chaudhary has been appointed as DG foreign minister office, and Bilaal Riaz, who earlier served as the spokesperson, has been posted to FM office as AD.
Meanwhile, the posting plan of the fresh Pakistani ambassadors, which was halted earlier due to the change of the government, is being revived and a summary is being prepared to be sent to the prime minister for approval of appointments of new ambassadors abroad.
At present, over 20 ambassadorial positions abroad are vacant, and filled by officials with acting charge.
Interestingly, Foreign Office has not yet officially declared Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as foreign minister on its official website despite notification issued by the Cabinet Division.
On the official webpage of the foreign ministry, Bilawal Bhutto’s name and picture as country’s foreign minister are still missing, which shows extreme incompetence on the part of the IT and web team of the foreign ministry.
World over, foreign ministries of the various countries follow the official page of the foreign office and accordingly communicate with the foreign minister of Pakistan.
Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, who was posted to PM office as joint secretary and played important role in ‘Lettergate’, has been called back and posted as DG Middle East desk at the foreign ministry.
Similarly, Director General South Asia Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamanai, who also heads SAARC desk, has also been transferred and posted as DG Europe.
Special Secretary Raza Bashir Tarar, working with former FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has been transferred and posted as special secretary in policy planning.
Muhammad Hasan, an ex-staff officer to former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, has been appointed as director in the minister of state office with Hina Rabbani Khar.
Dr Bilal Ahmed, who was earlier serving as DG Middle East, has been transferred and posted as DG minister of state office.
Entire senior and junior officials, working under Shah Mehmood Qureshi at foreign minister’s office, have been replaced with new staff.
M Aftab Chaudhary has been appointed as DG foreign minister office, and Bilaal Riaz, who earlier served as the spokesperson, has been posted to FM office as AD.
Meanwhile, the posting plan of the fresh Pakistani ambassadors, which was halted earlier due to the change of the government, is being revived and a summary is being prepared to be sent to the prime minister for approval of appointments of new ambassadors abroad.
At present, over 20 ambassadorial positions abroad are vacant, and filled by officials with acting charge.
Interestingly, Foreign Office has not yet officially declared Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as foreign minister on its official website despite notification issued by the Cabinet Division.
On the official webpage of the foreign ministry, Bilawal Bhutto’s name and picture as country’s foreign minister are still missing, which shows extreme incompetence on the part of the IT and web team of the foreign ministry.
World over, foreign ministries of the various countries follow the official page of the foreign office and accordingly communicate with the foreign minister of Pakistan.
Muhammad Saeed Sarwar, who was posted to PM office as joint secretary and played important role in ‘Lettergate’, has been called back and posted as DG Middle East desk at the foreign ministry.
Similarly, Director General South Asia Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamanai, who also heads SAARC desk, has also been transferred and posted as DG Europe.
