In a major reshuffle in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the appointment of ambassador Munir Akram as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, the Foreign Office announced on Monday.
Akram will replace Dr Maleeha Lodhi, who has held the office of Pakistan’s envoy to the UN since February 2015.
Akram has served as Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN previously as well, holding the office for six years between 2002 and 2008.
The sudden announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi returned to Pakistan after wrapping up their visit to the United States to attend the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
During his “Mission Kashmir” visit to New York, the prime minister addressed the 193-member UNGA, attended UN summit meetings, met a number of world leaders on the sidelines of the session including US President Donald Trump, addressed think-tanks and interacted with international media. Ambassador Lodhi accompanied the premier at a number of these engagements.
The government did not provide a reason for the replacement of Dr Lodhi. She has not been assigned any other portfolio as of now.
Other postings
Among other changes approved by the prime minister, Khalil Ahmad Hashmi, who is at present serving as director general (UN) at the foreign ministry, has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN in Geneva.
Muhammad Aejaz, the Additional Secretary (AIT) at MoFA, has been appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Hungary.
The Pakistani Charge d’ Affaires to Pyongyang, Syed Sajjad Haider, has now been posted as the new ambassador to Kuwait.
Imran Ahmad Siddiqui, who is presently serving as Pakistan’s consul general in Toronto, Canada, has been appointed as the high commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh. He will be replaced by Abdul Hamid.
Pakistan’s new envoy to Muscat, Oman will be Ahsan K.K. Wagan, who currently holds the office of Charge d’ Affaires in Niamey, Niger.
According to the FO statement, retired Maj Gen Muhammad Saad Khattak has been appointed as the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Abrar Hussain Hashmi has been appointed to serve as the Pakistani consul general in Houston, Texas, USA.
