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.