ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday appointed journalist-turned-diplomat Dr Maleeha Lodhi as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations based in New York.

"Dr Lodhi will assume her responsibilities in February 2015," a Foreign Office statement said.

Previously, Lodhi has twice served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States (1993-1996 and 1999-2002) and as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2003-2008).

She has also served as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Affairs (2001-2005).

She has taught at the London School of Economics and Political Science, has been a Fellow at the Institute of Politics, Harvard University, as well as an international scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, Washington, DC.

She is a member of the National Defence University’s Senate and a member of the advisory council of the London-based International Institute of Strategic Affairs.

Dr Lodhi has also remained editor of leading English dailies in the country.

She is the recipient of the presidential award Hilal-e-Imtiaz for public service.

She will replace incumbent Ambassador Masood Khan whose contract will expire in February 2015.