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 in 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 nominated as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, replacing Dr. Faisal, who is among the leading contenders for the post of foreign minister after Amna Baloch’s expected retirement in September.
The Prime Minister approved a total of 24 important diplomatic postings and transfers. Bilal Ahmad has been deployed 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 ambassador 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 in the Prime Minister’s Office, has been appointed as Ambassador to Germany, while Sania Afzal Qazi has been appointed as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi has been appointed as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN 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 Pakistan’s ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, ambassador to Italy Ali Javed and ambassador to Greece Aamir Aftab Qureshi have been given extension despite the end of their tenure.
