Foreign Secy Amna Baloch retires today; Asim Iftikhar to replace

ISLAMABAD, Sep 17 (APP): Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch will conclude her diplomatic career spanning over three decades on Thursday evening, passing the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Ambassador Asim Iftikhar.

“I would like to acknowledge the retirement of Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, who will complete her distinguished diplomatic career this evening after more than three decades of dedicated service to Pakistan,” Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan announced at his weekly press briefing.

He said that throughout her illustrious career, Ambassador Baloch has made valuable contributions to Pakistan’s foreign policy and diplomatic service through her professionalism, commitment, and exemplary leadership.

Ambassador Amna Baloch assumed the charge as the 33rd Foreign Secretary of Pakistan on 11 September 2024.

Her last appointment was as the Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union from May 2023 to September 2024, before serving as High Commissioner of Pakistan to Malaysia from 2019 to 2023 and Consul General at Chengdu, China from 2014-2017.

Ambassador Baloch joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991. At the Ministry’s Headquarters, she served in various roles in political, administrative and protocol divisions. She has held important positions at the Prime Minister’s Office and served as Additional Secretary at the Foreign Minister’s office from 2018-2019.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that Ambassador Amna Baloch would be replaced by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, who was currently serving as Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

He added that Ambassador Amna Baloch would assume charge as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye after her retirement, expressing confidence that she would continue to serve Pakistan with distinction in her new role.