PM Shehbaz approves appointment of new Pakistani ambassadors to UAE, Russia
Pakistan
Shafqat Ali Khan named as Pakistan's envoy to the UAE
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved appointment of two new ambassadors of Pakistan to Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Soures said the premier had approved a summary sent by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Shafqat Ali Khan, who is currently serving as a Foreign Office spokesperson, has been appointed Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE. He has served as ambassador to Russia and Poland besides holding several key posts.
Sources added that Faisal Niaz Tirmizi has been transferred to Russia as new ambassador of Pakistan from the UAE.
Profile of Faisal Niaz Tirmizi
Holding a Master of Science (M.Sc.) and a Master’s Degree in International Studies & Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), United Kingdom, the diplomat joined the Foreign Service in 1993. Since then, he has held key positions both at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in Pakistan’s missions abroad.
At the Ministry’s Headquarters, he has served in various capacities including Section Officer (1995, 2000–2001), Deputy Director (2002–2003), Director (2011–2013), Director General (2019–2020), and most recently as Additional Secretary from 2020 until October 2022.
His foreign postings reflect a broad international experience. He was stationed in Ashgabat (1996–1999), at Pakistan’s Mission to the United Nations in Geneva (2003–2006), and at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi (2007–2010). He later served as Consul General at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Chicago from 2013 to 2018.
In 2018, he was appointed as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, a position he held until 2019.
Profile of Shafqat Ali Khan
He is currently serving as Spokesperson and Additional Foreign Secretary (Strategic Communications Division & Public Diplomacy), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. He also continues to serve as Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe). Prior to his current appointment, he served as Ambassador of Pakistan to the Russian Federation (March 2020-September 2023) and to the Republic of Poland with concurrent accreditation to Estonia and Latvia (July 2017-March 2020).
Ambassador Khan has held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions abroad, including at the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York (1998-2001), the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing (2007-2010), and the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva (2010-2013).
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, Ambassador Khan served as Additional Secretary (Europe), Director General (Europe) (2016-2017), Diplomatic Advisor to the Speaker of the National Assembly (2014-2015), Director (Human Rights) (2006-2007), Deputy Director (Foreign Secretary’s Office) (2002-2003),Deputy Director (India) (2001-2002), and Acting Director (Disarmament) (1996-1998). His first assignment at the Ministry was as Section Officer (UN) from February to October 1995.
Before joining the Foreign Service in 1993, Ambassador Khan worked as a Lecturer in Strategic Studies at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad (1991-1993). Ambassador Khan holds a Master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, a Master’s degree in Intelligence and International Security from King’s College London, and a Diploma in Conflict Studies from Uppsala University, Sweden.
