ISLAMABAD, July 25: Dr Maleeha Lodhi has been appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

She has had a distinguished career as journalist, academic and diplomat. Currently, she is a member of UN Secretary General‘s Advisory Board on disarmament affairs.

Dr Lodhi has twice served in the US as Pakistan‘s ambassador (1994-97) and more recently from (1999-2002).

She was editor of The News from 1990 to 1993 and 1997 to 1999. She also remained the editor of The Muslim from 1987 to 1990.

In March, this year Dr Maleeha Lodhi was conferred the Hilal-e-Imtiaz by the President for setting the “highest standards of professional excellence” in diplomacy and for her contributions as an eminent journalist and academician.

Her academic career included teaching at the London School of Economics from 1980 to 1985. She also lectured at Quaid-i-Azam University in 1977-1978.

Maleeha Lodhi obtained her Ph.D from the London School of Economics in 1980 and her B.Sc (Economics) in 1976 also from the London School of Economics.

She has been a prolific writer contributing to numerous journals and publications. She is the author of two books: Pakistan‘s Encounter with Democracy (Lahore, Vanguard, 1994) and The External Challenges. In 1994, Time magazine chose her as one of a hundred people - the only one from Pakistan - who, it said, will help to define the 21st century.

Meanwhile Attiya Mahmood has been appointed ambassador to Morocco.

Ms Mahmood is currently serving as minister at Pakistan High Commission, London, since 2001.

She joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1979 and held diplomatic assignments in Pakistan missions at Toronto (1984-87), Ankara (1991-95), Manila (1995-97) and London (2000-2001)

She served at headquarters as section officer (1980-84) and director (1987-91 and 1997-2000).

Ms Mahmood will soon reach Morocco to take charge of her new appointment.