ISLAMABAD, March 4: Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan hosted a reception here on Friday evening to bid farewell to outgoing Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Khan , who is all set to take over as Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva next week.

The guest list was dominated by national and foreign media representatives who have been covering Mr Khan's weekly news briefings for the past year and a half. A large number of Foreign Ministry officials were also there to say goodbye to their promising colleague.

Former foreign secretary Riaz Khokhar, who had appointed Masood Khan as the Spokesman in June 2003, was also present on the occasion. The last guest to arrive was Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri. Masood Khan became the first director-general rank official to be appointed Foreign Office Spokesman. Earlier, this position was assigned only to additional secretaries.

Able, articulate and media-friendly, Mr Khan developed good rapport with local and foreign journalists and was accessible at all odd times. To quote his colleague Jalil Abbas Jilani, who now replaces him as spokesman: As a spokesman Mr Khan set very high standards that will make the job of his successor difficult.

Mr Khan, who had been working as director-general (United Nations) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has vast experience in multilateral diplomacy and served in Pakistan's Permanent Mission to UN in New York from 1993 to 1997. He has also held important diplomatic assignments in Pakistani missions in Beijing, The Hague and Washington DC.

On Monday, he held his last news briefing at the foreign office at which he also introduced his successor Jalil Abbas Jilani, director-general (South Asia) at the Foreign Ministry. Mr Khan ended the briefing on a sentimental note, quoting Robert Frost's famous verses: The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.