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