ISLAMABAD: In a fresh round of ambassadorial appointments, the government posted envoys across Europe, Africa and Asia, with several senior diplomats reassigned and a few vacancies filled. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, while announcing the new appointments, emphasised economic diplomacy as a central focus of Pakistan’s external engagement.

“Building on the momentum of the last two years of robust foreign policy engagement and international outreach, may our envoys carry this mission forward with clarity of purpose and wisdom, with a clear emphasis on economic diplomacy,” Mr Dar posted on X.

In Europe, Saadia Altaf Qazi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Norway, has been posted as ambassador to Thailand. She will replace Rukhsana Afzaal in Bangkok. Her transfer created a vacancy in Oslo, where Asim Ali Khan will replace her. Salman Sharif, presently serving at the Prime Minister’s Office, has been named ambassador to Germany. He will take over from Saqlain Syeda in Berlin.

Pakistan’s embassy in Sweden will be headed by Ahmed Amjad Ali, currently consul general in Los Angeles. He replaced Bilal Hayee in Stockholm.

Dar says clear emphasis on economic diplomacy, terms it central to external engagement

In the United Kingdom, where Pakistan maintains a high commission, Tipu Usman, currently chief of protocol at the Foreign Office, has been appointed high commissioner to London. He replaced Dr Mohammad Faisal, who will return to the FO.

At the United Nations in Geneva, Tahir Hussain Andrabi, who is serving as Foreign Office spokesperson, has been appointed Pakistan’s permanent representative. He replaced Bilal Ahmed. In a corresponding move, Mr Ahmed has been appointed as ambassador to Kenya, replacing Ibrar Hussain Khan in Nairobi.

In Central Asia, Irfan Ahmed, director general for Europe at the Foreign Office, has been posted as ambassador to Tajikistan. The position in Dushanbe had been vacant.

Meanwhile, Mudassir Tipu, currently Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, has been appointed ambassador to Uzbekistan, replacing Ahmed Farooq in Tashkent. His move cleared the way for Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, presently additional secretary at the Foreign Office, to take over as ambassador in Tehran.

In Africa, Hasnain Yousaf, currently director general of the Special Investment Facilitation Council at the Foreign Office, has been appointed ambassador to Tanzania, replacing Siraj Ahmed Khan in Dar es Salaam.

Ashar Shahzad, presently deputy consul in Houston, has been named ambassador to Uganda, replacing Hassan Wazir in Kampala.

In South Asia, Mohammad Aamir Khan, director general for the Americas at the Foreign Office, has been appointed ambassador to Nepal, replacing Abrar Hashmi in Kathmandu.

In addition to the ambassadorial postings, the government also announced appointments to several consul general posts. Ali Anser Zaidi has been posted to Frankfurt, Yasir Iqbal Butt to Guangzhou, Shahbaz Hussain to Kandahar, Siraj Ahmad Khan to Los Angeles, Awais Ahmad Khan to Mazar-e-Sharif, and Faisal Abro to Montreal.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2026