RAWALPINDI: The Foreign Minister-designate, Mian Arshad Hussain, who arrived here this morning from Lahore, will be sworn in as member of the President’s Council of Ministers tomorrow [May 7] afternoon, according to a President’s House source.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place in the President’s office at 5-30 p.m. President Ayub will administer the oath of the office.

Mian Arshad Hussain succeeds Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, who resigned as Foreign Minister, and proceeded on leave from May 1. Mr Pirzada will return to the post of Attorney General, which he held before joining the President’s Council of Ministers.

Talking to newsmen at Chaklala airport on arrival here, Mr Hussain said, “It is a great honour the President has conferred on me. I will devote all my mental and physical resources to the service of the Government and people of Pakistan.

“As far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned, I have therein all friends and colleagues and I hope to receive help from them in the discharge of my duties.

“My wife and I are very glad to be back in Pakistan after nine years of stay abroad. We used to come to Pakistan but only as visitors. Now we will stay in Pakistan and go abroad as visitors,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2018

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