BEIJING, July 24: Ambas-sador Riaz Hussain Khokhar will assume the charge of Foreign Secretary in Islamabad on Saturday.

He has been acting as Pakistan’s ambassador to China since September 1999, after serving in the same capacity in India and United States. He was elevated to the position of Foreign Secretary on the appointment of Inamul Haq as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Khokhar will be replaced by Riaz Mohammad Khan, a seasoned diplomat, who is likely to take over his new assignment in Beijing by the middle of next month.

Riaz Khan, currently the additional secretary, the UN and European Community, has served as ambassador to Brussels and Kazakhstan, and held important position at the Pakistan mission in New York.

To bid farewell to Ambassador Khokhar, a reception was held here last night, which was largely attended by the top-ranking civil and military officials of the Chinese government.

Prominent among those were, Liu Haiqui Minister of the State Council, Wang Guangya Vice Foreign Minister, Cai Wu Vice Minister International Liaison department of the Chinese Communist Party, Li Tingfan Vice Minister Science and Technology, Liu Shiuqin former Vice Foreign Minister and Liu Jianchao, spokesman of the Foreign Office, besides senior diplomats and the representatives of the Press.—APP