QUETTA, Nov 30: The Government of France has appointed Brigadier (retd) Abdul Razzaq Baloch as new Honorary Consul General of France in Quetta.

The announcement in this regard was made by the French Ambassador to Pakistan Regis De Belenet while speaking at a reception he hosted here on Thursday.

He lauded the services of Sardar Naseer Khan Tareen, the outgoing Honorary Consul General of France in Quetta, and said that he played an important role in promoting close relations between the two countries. Sardar Tareen had been appointed on this post in 1994 and he represented France in Balochistan for 12 years.

Consul General of Iran Ali Arian Nejad, Consul General of Afghanistan Ali Babik, Consul General of Japan Nadeem Shah, leading business leaders of Balochistan and officials attended the reception.

The French envoy, while introducing the new honorary Consul General in Quetta, expressed the hope that the newly-appointed Honorary Consul General of France in Quetta Brigadier Razzaq Baloch would also bring both the countries closer in the field of trade and other sectors.

The French Consul General based in Karachi paid rich tribute to Sardar Tareen for his excellent services he made for strengthening bilateral relations between France and Pakistan in this part of the country. He, while introducing Brig Razzaq Baloch, said that he was a well-educated personality of Balochistan.