Hina Rabbani Khar addressing the media. - File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday approved the summary for the appointment of Hina Rabbani Khar as the new Foreign Minister, DawnNews reported.

The summary has now been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for his approval.

Government sources told DawnNews that the complete absence of a Foreign Minister was not only affecting the foreign ministry but also the foreign policy.

Pakistan has had no foreign minister since Shah Mehmood Qureshi was dropped in a cabinet reshuffle in February, during which time it has had to navigate a huge crisis in US relations over the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Peace talks scheduled for July 26 in New Delhi mark the first foreign minister talks between Pakistan and India in a year.

“The government wants Pakistan to be represented by a full-fledged foreign minister in the forthcoming talks with India and it is because of this reason that the position of Hina Rabbani Khar is being elevated,” an official told AFP.

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...