Pak envoy to China Moeenul Haq tipped to be new Foreign Secretary

Islamabad, Oct 26 (UNI) Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moeenul Haq is tipped to be the country’s new Foreign Secretary, according to a new set of top level transfers and postings proposed at the Pakistan Foreign Office.
In case Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moeenul Haq is made the new Foreign Secretary, then the incumbent Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood is likely to replace him in Beijing, The News said quoting sources.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner for Canada Khurram Rathore has reached Saudi Arabia after being appointed as the new ambassador to Riyadh, replacing Lt Gen (retd) Bilal Akbar, who was appointed ambassador only earlier this year after recalling Raja Ejaz.
Well-placed diplomatic sources told The News that Khurram Rathore, a career diplomat who had assumed the High Commission in Ottawa only two months ago, has arrived in Saudi Arabia and joined Prime Minister Imran Khan’s entourage. The premier is there to attend the Middle East Green Summit.
Consent from the host country (Saudi Arabia) for his appointment as ambassador is yet to be ascertained. The sources said that the government has not yet formally informed Riyadh about the change of envoy.
Bilal Akbar was on a two-year posting as ambassador to Saudi Arabia after retirement from the army.
Some more changes of ambassadors in significant capitals are likely in a couple of weeks, the sources said. Aasim Iftikhar, Spokesman of the Foreign Office, wasn’t available for his comments.
The News, quoting sources, said that the list of the proposed changes has been sent to Imran Khan for approval.