The government has decided to appoint Abdul Basit as new Foreign Secretary in place of vice Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary.
Foreign Secretary, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary has been designated to as envoy to the United States.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who approved appointments has also concluded consultations for appointing new administrative boss of the Foreign Office.
Abdul Basit, who is Pakistan’s High Commissioner in India and senior most among the contenders of the slot.
According to sources, other key candidates were included,
- Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Geneva headquarters Ms. Tehmina Janjua.
- Pakistan’s former Chief of Protocol and Ambassador to France Ghalib Iqbal, Ambassador for Denmark Masroor Junejo.
- Pakistan’s High Commissioner for United Kingdom Syed Ibne Hasan
Pakistan’s ambassador for the United States Syed Jalil Abbas Jailani has relinquished the charge on completion of his contractual period as ambassador in Washington.
Aizaz Chauduary has planned to leave for the United States immediate after the ECO summit in the first week of next month, the sources added. Pakistan will take decision about new high commissioner in India after return of Abdul Basit, the sources said.